Dan Cole unlikely to play in England's Autumn Internationals as he is to undergo surgery on a bulging disc in his neck that will keep him out for six months

Cole has been out since March but a period of rest has not corrected the trapped nerve and his could miss the rest of the year

Tighthead prop Dan Cole has been ruled out of the rest of the Six Nations after sustaining a neck injury (Getty Images)

England prop Dan Cole is to undergo a neck operation next week and will miss the autumn's QBE Internationals, it is understood.

Cole has been out since March after it was decided he needed rest to heal a bulging disc that was trapping a nerve.

It was hoped the spell on the sidelines would correct the problem, but the British and Irish Lions tighthead has now been told he requires an operation entailing six months of rehabilitation.

More to follow...