SYDNEY, October 8- Senior lock Nathan Sharpe said Thursday he needed shoulder surgery and would miss the Wallabies' tour of Japan and the United Kingdom in October-November.The Western Force captain, the most experienced second-rower in the Australian squad, injured his shoulder against New Zealand in Sydney in August but had been setting himself for the tour.
However, he said will undergo an operation on Monday which is expected to sideline him for another three to six months.
"I had a period from when I injured it to this training camp to try and get it right and it’s just not improving," Sharpe said.
"Obviously, there is a structural element to it. The surgeon will get in there and have a look at it and he will assess what he needs to do."
Sharpe’s Force teammate, winger Nick Cummins, has also been ruled out of Wallabies’ tour contention with a foot ligament injury.
Coach Robbie Deans is to announce his 35-man squad on Friday.
The Wallabies will play New Zealand in Tokyo on October 31, England on November 7, Ireland on November 15, Scotland on November 21 and Wales on November 28.