England second row Joe Launchbury is set to miss the Six Nations Championship after Wasps announced he will face up to four months out of action following neck surgery.

Launchbury was ruled out of last month’s autumn series at Twickenham because of a recurring nerve problem in his neck and at the time was told he would need six to eight weeks of rest to recover.

However after consultations with specialists the 23-year-old will undergo surgery on Friday before beginning a longer rehabilitation process, meaning he will miss Leinster's Champions Cup visit in January.

Wasps announced in a statement on Thursday: “The club today confirmed that second row Joe Launchbury will undergo surgery to decompress a nerve in his neck.

“Launchbury hasn’t played since the beginning of November due to a bulging disc. He will undergo a routine decompression of the nerve this Friday and is expected to be out of hospital on Saturday. A rehabilitation period of approximately three to four months is anticipated.”

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young said: "As you would expect, this is a frustrating time for Joe, but the most important thing in all of this isn't rugby, it's Joe's long-term health. We have consulted specialists in this field and they have recommended surgery as the best option to get him back to full fitness for the long term.

“Joe is in good hands, being looked after by one of the world’s leading surgeons and he will have the full support of the Wasps and England medical teams during his rehabilitation period.”