England's Luke Cowan-Dickie to miss start of Six Nations

England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie is a doubtful starter for the Six Nations campaign following an ankle injury.

Cowan-Dickie sustained the injury during Exeter's recently concluded game against Northampton Saints and will require a surgery to address the problem.

The 29-year-old did not travel with Exeter's squad for the Heineken Champions cup game against Bulls on Saturday and is expected to be the on the sidelines between 10 to 12 weeks according to Rob Baxter.

“I believe he is seeing a surgeon today and the surgeon will then give us an indication,” Exeter rugby director Baxter said.

“I think at this stage, we have got to say it is relatively bad.

“I don’t want want to be flippant and say it will be eight weeks, 10 weeks, 12 weeks (out).

"You are not going to be seeing him running around in the next three or four weeks

“I think we are assessing that, but you are not going to be seeing him running around in the next three or four weeks.”

England will kick-start their Six Nations campaign with a clash against Scotland on 4th February at Twickenham Stadium,