Springbok and Cheetahs flanker Heinrich Brüssow will have to undergo follow-up surgery to his knee, which will delay his return to action.
The operation, set to be performed on Tuesday afternoon, means Brüssow will be unavailable for selection for the Springbok tour of Europe in November.
Brüssow was assessed during the recent Springbok training camp in Johannesburg, and it has been agreed a second operation is needed in order to ensure he should be 100% fit and available for the 2011 season, which includes the Rugby World Cup.
Brüssow had surgery earlier this year after sustaining a severe knee injury in a Super 14 match.
Surgery on the major structures of the knee was successful, but Springbok and Cheetahs medical staff have agreed a follow-up operation is required to guarantee Brüssow’s long-term recovery, and to prevent further risk to damaging the successfully reconstructed cruciate ligament. — Sapa