Tindall was carried off and taken straight to hospital following a collision with his England colleague Toby Flood during Gloucester's 19-12 Guinness Premiership defeat against Newcastle at Kingston Park on Friday.

Tindall, capped 53 times, started four RBS 6 Nations Championship games this season and is a key part of Brian Ashton's World Cup planning. England will hope Tindall's injury does not prove serious enough to jeopardise his chances of appearing in the tournament.

Recalling the accidental clash, Flood said: "I stepped one way and I think Mike instinctively stepped the other, then I felt his shin hit my thigh really hard. It was just one of those things nobody can do anything about, but I feel desperately sorry for Mike. It is deeply upsetting to see anybody seriously injured, and I wish him all the best."