Last updated: 3rd January 2009
Rennie: Second operation
Edinburgh forward Ross Rennie faces another long period on the sidelines after undergoing a second knee operation.
The flanker, who had been tipped for a call-up into the Scotland side for the RBS 6 Nations, had exploratory surgery on the problem in London after which doctors operated further.
It is another blow for the promising 22-year-old, who only returned from a seven month absence in October following an initial operation on the same knee.
"We have been told that Ross will have a long period of recuperation and will not be available to us for the rest of the season," head coach Andy Robinson told the Daily Mail.
"Ross is a very important player for us and will be a big miss."
Captain and scrum-half Mike Blair added: "This is a big blow for Ross. He was a key guy for us last season.
"He has not been completely comfortable when he has been playing this year and maybe he wasn't feeling good after his first knee operation back in March.
"He has been performing to an impressive level but he told us he wasn't at the level he wanted to be and couldn't do all the stuff he wanted to.
"I'm sure he can come back as good, if not even better, than he was last season."

Pictures from the British and Irish Lions victory in the third and final Test in Johannesburg.
The British and Irish Lions take time out to go on safari ahead of the third test against South Africa.
Pictures from an enthralling second Test between the British and Irish Lions and South Africa.
It's win or bust for the Lions but before they head to Pretoria, there was some last-minute training.
Pictures from the British and Irish Lions victory in the third and final Test in Johannesburg.
| Result |
|---|
| Guinness Premiership |
| Saturday 16th May |
| Guinness Premiership |
| Leicester 10 - 9 London Irish |
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