Doctors give Richie Gray some hope of recovering in time for Lions tour

Scotland lock Richie Gray has been given hope of playing again this season after suffering a hamstring injury which forced a premature end to his involvement in the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Gray was taken off on a stretcher during the 28-18 loss to Wales and tests on the injury suggested he will be out for around eight weeks.

The player underwent a scan at Spire Murrayfield Hospital.

“The normal period of rehabilitation from injuries of this nature is in the region of eight weeks,” said Scotland doctor James Robson.

“We have kept his club medical team at Sale Sharks fully appraised and he will now commence his recovery with his club with a view to playing before the end of the season.”

It remains to be seen if that would give Gray long enough to win a place in the British and Irish Lions squad to tour Australia this summer, a squad he was widely expected to make before the injury.