Six Nations: Vickery to miss Six Nations opener

Phil Vickery is likely to miss England's opening Six Nations matches against Scotland and Ireland.

The Gloucester prop has broken a bone in his hand.

Scans revealed the British Lions forward suffered the break in his side's Parker Pen Shield victory in La Rochelle.

The Cherry-and-Whites captain has been told that he faces a lay-off of between five and six weeks.

That will definitely rule him out of the Calcutta Cup clash at Murrayfield on Saturday, February 2, and makes him doubtful for the home game with Ireland a fortnight later.

Vickery missed the defeat by Ireland in October with a knee injury but played in England's last match, the defeat of world champions Australia, on November 10.

The injury is also a major blow to Gloucester, who will be without Trevor Woodman for six weeks after he was banned for stamping in the match against La Rochelle.

Woodman was in line to play for England A against Scotland A at Northampton on February 1.

The props will be absent for Gloucester's quarter-final ties in both the Powergen Cup and the Parker Pen Shield against London Irish and Ebbw Vale.