Dawson forced to withdraw from England squad
January 8, 2002

England scrum-half Matt Dawson has been forced to withdraw from the Six Nations squad to face Scotland due to an ankle injury he picked up at the weekend.

Dawson suffered ligament damage while playing for Northampton in the Heineken Cup match against Glasgow on Friday.

"Realistically, I'd look to be back in five weeks or so. It's a shame because my form has been good," Dawson told the Daily Mail.

Saracens' Nick Walshe is one of those tipped to receive the call with promising scrum-halves Hall Charlton of Newcastle and Harry Ellis of Leicester in the frame for the other place.

Coupled with the impending disciplinary action against Austin Healey, it seems likely that England coach Clive Woodward will be forced to bring in untried players to his squad for the Lloyds TSB Six Nations opener on February 2.

Healey has already been fined £1,000 and suspended for two weeks by his club Leicester for allegedly kicking an opponent in a match against Sale but is expected to face further sanctions when he appears before a Rugby Football Union tribunal on Thursday.

If found guilty of the offence the standard punishment is a six-week suspension, meaning he too would miss the international match at Murrayfield.

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