The Springbok and Cheetahs flanker Heinrich Brüssow will undergo follow-up surgery to his knee which will delay his return to competitive rugby.
The operation, set to be performed this week, means Brüssow will be unavailable for selection for the Springbok tour to Europe in November.
Brüssow was assessed during the recent Springbok training camp in Johannesburg and it has been agreed that a second operation is needed in order to ensure that he is 100 percent fit for the 2011 season, which includes the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Brüssow had surgery earlier this year after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament, tearing both the lateral and medial meniscus, and tearing the medial collateral ligament and medial capsule in a Super 14 match.
The surgery was successful but Springbok and Cheetahs medical staff have agreed that 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.
