Gethin Jenkins is likely to miss the whole of the Six Nations after confirming he’ll have an operation on Wednesday, which will keep him out until the end of March.

Key player Jenkins will have surgery to rectify a toe injury  and is likely to be replaced by Paul James as Wales seek to shore up their scrum with a man who has been an automatic choice in the last few seasons.

Wales coach Warren Gatland is already without banned scrum-half Richie Rees for the whole Six Nations Championship and Shane Williams is racing to be fit for the Championship opener against England on 4 February.

The decision has been made now so Jenkins will be fit for Cardiff Blues’ end of season run-in and the World Cup.