Paul out for rest of season

Gloucester and England centre Henry Paul will not play again this season because of a knee injury.

The medial-ligament damage he suffered while playing for England at the World Cup sevens in Hong Kong will keep him out of competitive action for eight weeks and the rest of the campaign.

It is a blow for Gloucester as they battle for a top-three place in the Zurich Premiership. Paul will see a specialist next week to discover whether he requires an operation.

Gloucester are now battling to get Duncan McRae back into action as quickly as possible.

Director of rugby Nigel Melville hopes to see McRae on duty against Leeds at Kingsholm on April 9.

As Melville rules one player out, he is preparing to welcome back not only McRae but two others.

Phil Vickery and James Simpson-Daniel may get a run-out in Monday’s A team fixture against Saracens at Kingsholm.

Vickery may recover from a broken arm in time to face the Tykes. He has been out since shattering his right forearm against Bath in February.

A virus kept Simpson-Daniel out of the victory over London Irish but he is fit again.