Edinburgh's Ben Cairns ruled out for season

Image caption, Cairns aims to be fully fit in time for the start of next season

Scotland centre Ben Cairns will play no part for Edinburgh this season due to a second knee injury.

The 26-year-old had surgery after a pre-season injury and returned to training in December, only to rupture his anterior cruciate ligament.

Cairns now requires a full reconstruction, with surgery scheduled for the end of this month.

He then faces eight months of rehabilitation and hopes to be ready for the start of the next campaign.

"As a professional athlete I have the scope to dedicate all my time to making sure I come back healthy," said Cairns, who won the last of his seven caps in November 2009.

"I'm taking the positives from this in that at the end of my recovery my knee will be back to 100% and I'll be in the best shape possible, returning faster, stronger and fitter."