WP Nel ruled out of Scotland's Six Nations 2017 campaign

Scotland's upcoming 2017 Six Nations campaign has suffered a major setback as Edinburgh prop WP Nel has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury.

The 30-year-old was named in the 37-man Scotland squad by head coach Vern Cotter but he has failed to recover from a neck injury which he sustained while playing for Edinburgh in last week's European Challenge Cup encounter against Harlequins.

His possible participation in the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand in June might also be under doubt as he will meet a specialist on Monday to ascertain whether a surgery is required.

The news was confirmed by a spokesperson of Scotland Rugby.

"Scotland and Edinburgh Rugby prop Willem Nel has been ruled out of the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations with a neck injury it was confirmed today.

"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."

This was Nel's second neck injury in the last one-year while playing for Edinburgh as the earlier one sidelined him two-and-half months' worth of action - including Scotland's autumn international clashes against Australia, Argentina and Georgia.

Glasgow Warriors' Zander Fagerson has been named as Nel's replacement for the Six Nations tournament.