6 Jan 2012

Flood in doubt for England's Six Nations opener

6:38 am on 6 January 2012

The England first five Toby Flood could miss the start of the Six Nations rugby tournament after suffering a knee injury.

The Daily Mail says the 26-year-old Leicester playmaker is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines, leaving him in doubt for England's opener with Scotland at Murrayfield on February the 4th and the following match against Italy in Rome.

Any injury to Flood would give interim England coach Stuart Lancaster a major selection headache, with Jonny Wilkinson also announcing his retirement from Test rugby last month.

Flood's absence potentially opens the door to Saracens youngster Owen Farrell and Gloucester's Freddie Burns.