Six Nations: Townsend to miss England clash

Gregor Townsend will miss the Six Nations clash with England on March 3 after failing to recover from a knee injury.

Townsend has undergone new tests at a clinic in Toulouse.

He suffered the injury after just four minutes of Scotland's opening Six Nations clash against France on February 4,

Castres sports director Jacques Cauquil said: "The injury is healing, but we will only know on Friday after another set of tests whether the player can start rugby training again.

"For the time being Gregor Townsend will only be able to exercise in the swimming pool and run in straight lines.

"In the best case scenario Townsend will be able to make his return in the French league in three weeks' time against Mont-de-Marsan.

"He will therefore miss the Six Nations match against England on March 3."

An initial scan revealed damage to a ligament in the 27-year-old stand-off's right knee.

The French club had hoped Townsend would be able to play within three weeks of sustaining the injury, but it is taking longer to heal than first thought.

Townsend missed Scotland's 28-28 draw with Wales at Murrayfield on Saturday.