England centre Mike Tindall will miss the entire 2004 Six Nations Championship after suffering ankle ligament damage during Bath's 24-15 Zurich Premiership victory over Saracens.

Tindall sustained the injury as he twisted and gathered the ball on the try-line following Olly Barkley's chip through and although initial fears that he had broken his leg proved unfounded, he is still facing a 12-week stint on the sidelines.

The results of an MRI scan at Royal Bath United Hospital yesterday morning revealed that the centre, who featured heavily in England's triumphant World Cup campaign, had ruptured all three of his lateral ligaments in his right ankle.

The severity of the injury means Tindall must undergo an operation this week and it also rules him out of large chunks of Bath's Premiership, Powergen Cup and Parker Pen Challenge Cup campaigns.

His loss is a bitter blow for the west country club who are already stretched in midfield with centres Mike Catt and and Robbie Fleck both in the treatment room and robs Clive Woodward of one of England's most solid performers.

Tindall was dropped for the World Cup semi-final against France to make room for Catt but was restored for the Sydney final showdown against Australia which provided the stage for his crunching tackle on Wallaby skipper George Gregan.

"It is a great shame for Mike. The X-ray showed that there was no fracture, but ligament damage is often worse than a break," said Bath head coach John Connolly.

"It looks as though he will be out for around 12 weeks which means that he will certainly miss the Six Nations.

"Our thoughts are with Mike and we would like to wish him a speedy recovery."