Vickery back for further examination

England prop Phil Vickery is to have his back injury re-assessed by a specialist next week in the hope he can return for the latter stages of the RBS 6 Nations.

Vickery has been out of action because of the pain in his back after he suffered a disc problem during a training session earlier this month.

Bristol consultant Richard Nelson is to examine the Gloucester skipper on February 25 – just four days before Gloucester play Leicester in the Powergen Cup semi-final.

Director of rugby Nigel Melville is hoping Vickery will be fit for the game against Leicester, but that may now turn out to have been an optimistic aspiration.

“It is improving and getting better slowly and I will be seeing Richard Nelson again on 25th for re-assessment,” said Vickery.

“All I can do is see what Mr Nelson says just to know where we are with it.”