England captain Jonny Wilkinson looks set to miss the autumn Tests as a result of his latest injury.

Wilkinson's club Newcastle have confirmed the outhalf will be sidelined for between four and six weeks because of a haematoma in his upper right arm.

England kick off their autumn programme against Canada at Twickenham on November 13th, and it looks certain Wilkinson will miss that game, plus the subsequent appointments with South Africa and Australia.

However, new England coach Andy Robinson has refused to rule Wilkinson out. "This is disappointing," he conceded yesterday. "But we will wait and see how Jonny responds to treatment in the next few weeks. I am not discounting him yet for next month's internationals."

England's retired World Cup winners are unlikely to be considered by their former coach Clive Woodward for the Lions tour of New Zealand next summer.

Although Lawrence Dallaglio, Martin Johnson and Neil Back are still playing top-flight club rugby, Woodward is set to concentrate his selection focus on the current international stage.

"Fundamentally, everyone is available," said Lions head coach Woodward. "But I see the Lions (squad) being selected from people who are playing international rugby. If I feel we need to bring in a retired player, there would have to be a compulsive, cast-iron reason."

Next month's busy autumn Test schedule and the 2005 Six Nations Championship in February and March will provide Woodward with his main selection guides.

He has also insisted no decisions have yet been made on the Lions captaincy, despite a recent report that Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll had been approached for the role.

The 44-man playing squad probably will not be announced until after the Six Nations finishes in late March.

Zurich have announced they will not be renewing their sponsorship of the English Premiership when their current deal expires at the end of next season.