Six Nations: Injury could force Euan Murray out

Euan Murray is a doubt for Scotland's Six Nations campaign. Picture Ian Rutherford

The veteran Lions prop will be out of action for another month after suffering Achilles tendon damage during the autumn Test series.

And it looks highly unlikely the former Glasgow player will be fit to play before the later stages of the tournament at the earliest. Murray hasn’t appeared for Worcester since the November tussles with Japan, South Africa and Australia.

And club director of rugby Dean Ryan said: “I don’t expect to have Euan back for at least four more weeks.

“He is still being troubled by his achilles, which had to be stripped out after his last stint with Scotland.

“Euan is still in pain and hasn’t yet been able to run, so it is not a short-term problem.”

Murray would not have been in Scotland supremo Scott Johnson’s plans for the Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin on 2 February because his religious beliefs prevent him playing on Sundays. And even if his recovery is quicker than Ryan expects, he will have little opportunity to prove his match-fitness before the tussle with England at Murrayfield the following weekend, or the clash with Italy in Rome on 22 February.

Scotland’s other games are at home to France on 8 March and Wales in Cardiff a week later.