Leicester's Martin Castrogiovanni out for up to six weeks

Castrogiovanni has been the cornerstone of a powerful Italian scrum

Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill expects prop Martin Castrogiovanni to be out for up to six weeks with a broken rib.

The Italian was hurt playing against England in Saturday's Six Nations game.

Cockerill told BBC Radio Leicester: "Not only do England take our players - now they are breaking them. It's just one of those things - purely bad luck.

"Castro fell on the ball and got a bang on a rib and we reckon it will be four to six weeks of rest time."

The injury means Castrogiovanni will miss the rest of Italy's Six Nations campaign. The Azzurri face Ireland in Dublin a week on Saturday before matches against Wales in Cardiff and Scotland in Rome.