STAR Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg has been ruled out of their next game against France but head coach Gregor Townsend says he has not given up on the chance the player could make it back in time for the final two games of the Six Nations, against Wales and England.

Townsend was unhappy at the way Hogg was hurt, being upended in a clearly illegal late tackle from Ireland flanker Peter O’Mahony, but is relieved the scan on the injured shoulder is not as bad as some reports had made it appear.

“We obviously have to wait for news of how he’s getting on,” Townsend admitted.

“He’s currently in the process with the shoulder expert we use, and I think it’s safe to say he’s probably not going to be an option for the French game, but we’re hopeful he’ll take a bit part in the tournament after that – but we’re still waiting for that information.

“I don’t think there’s any tear. He landed on the point of his shoulder and there was some damage to his AC joint, and from that the question is how quickly it can recover, and whether it did any more damage – which didn’t seem to be the case after the game.

“We will see how he recovers over the next couple of weeks. He was in pain after the game and we know from the initial scan what the injury is, but the shoulder expert will give us more information on when he can come back and train or play.”

He pointed out that Hogg has a history of recovering from injuries quickly, so the the Wales game is not out of the question – which is also the case for Huw Jones, who is also in the hands of a specialist after scans earlier this week, and Sam Skinner, the lock or back row.