British and Irish Lions

Abbott, a member of England's World Cup winning squad, is suffering from an ankle injury that will keep him out of action for several weeks, meaning he could miss the first two matches of the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Abbott said: "My main focus at the moment is to get my ankle healed. The injury will keep me out longer than expected."

The player does not expect to be fit for England's opening game of the RBS 6 Nations against Italy in Rome on February 15 and the visit to Scotland on February 21.

He added: "It's the same injury that occurred during the England v Barbarians game. I'm hoping to return to action for our Powergen Cup game against the Pertemps Bees on February 29.

"I'm very disappointed and frustrated at not being able to play but these things happen."

Three former British & Irish Lions will line-up against an England XV at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday as the Barbarians warm-up for their showdown with the 2013 tourists in Hong Kong next week.

Radike Samo, one of only two players still playing top level rugby in Australia who placed against the 2001 British & Irish Lions, will return to top flight action with Queensland Reds against the Stormers in Cape Town on Sunday.

British & Irish Lions hookers Dylan Hartley and Tom Youngs will fight out their own private duel in the Aviva Premiership final at Twickenham on Saturday and then become team mates for the next six weeks a day later.