England rugby international Lesley Vainikolo's miserable past few months continued on Tuesday as he was ruled out of the upcoming Six Nations after undergoing surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The 29-year-old Tongan-born Gloucester star - capped five times - suffered the injury in last Saturday's 22-16 Premiership win over Saracens and is expected to be out for at least seven months.

Former Canberra Raiders winger Vainikolo - known as 'The Volcano' and scorer of eight tries in 17 appearances this season - is the latest injury blow to Gloucester, who lost former All Black prop Greg Somerville for two months in late December.

"Les is a massive part of our squad and it will leave a very significant gap," said Gloucester coach Dean Ryan.

"With the current injuries we have in the squad, at the moment this could not have come at a worse time."

Vainikolo played rugby league for New Zealand but qualified for England through residency, earning his first cap in last year's Six Nations.

He appeared in court earlier this month charged with causing grievous bodily harm following an incident in which a man was taken to hospital with head injuries.

Vainikolo was arrested after the incident outside a nightclub in Bath, southwest England, in October.

The case was sent to Bristol Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on January 13.

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