Scotland prop Nel ruled out by neck injury and Lions hopes in jeopardy

Lions hopes in doubt as Fagerson steps in

Scotland’s RBS Six Nations hopes were dealt a significant blow when it was confirmed prop WP Nel will miss the entire competition.

Head coach Vern Cotter last week named the South Africaborn tighthead in his 37-man squad for the Championship.

But the 15-cap forward – tipped for a British and Irish Lions call-up – has been forced to withdraw after aggravating a neck injury while on duty for club side Edinburgh last week.

His chances of joining Warren Gatland’s touring party for the summer trip to New Zealand may also be thrown into doubt after the SRU announced the 30-year-old will meet a specialist to decide if surgery is needed.

In a statement, a spokesman said: “Scotland and Edinburgh Rugby prop Willem Nel has been ruled out of the forthcoming RBS Six Nations with a neck injury.

“An MRI scan on Wednesday at Spire Murrayfield Hospital revealed that the tighthead prop damaged an intervertebral disc in his neck during a significant collision in his club’s European Challenge Cup win over Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday [14 January].

“Nel will now have a second specialist assessment at Spire this Monday to consider his programme of recovery, including whether corrective surgery is required.”

Nel has already missed two-a-half months’ worth of action – including Scotland’s November Test clashes with Australia, Argentina and Georgia – after suffering an earlier neck injury while playing for Edinburgh. He lasted just 26 minutes of his return to action against Quins before being helped off after a head knock which has caused his latest setback.

Cotter will now have to turn to Glasgow’s Zander Fagerson to deputise. The 21-year-old is highly rated by the outgoing Scotland coach and started all three Autumn internationals in Nel’s original absence.