Toby Flood to miss Six Nations opener

06/01/2012

Toby Flood is set to miss England's Six Nations opening game against Scotland at Murrayfield with a knee injury.

His club side Leicester Tigers have said he will be out with ligament damage for between four and six weeks, which may also put his appearance against Italy in Rome in doubt.

Fans enjoying corporate hospitality at Twickenham on February 25th will hope there are no further complications so the fly-half can take his place in the line-up against Wales.

Leicester's director of Rugby Richard Cockerill told the Leicester Mercury it was thought at first that the problem - sustained last week against Sale - was only a dead leg. 

"But it swelled up overnight and he went to see a specialist to determine the exact nature of the injury," he added.

One player who will not be lining up at all for England in the tournament is Danny Care, who was dropped from the squad by stand-in coach Stuart Lancaster after being arrested for drink driving, a charge the player will plead guilty to in court.

By Sam Smith