South Africa flanker Heinrich Brussow will undergo a second operation on his injured knee, delaying his comeback and ruling him out of the Springboks' end-of-season tour to Europe.

The South African Rugby Union says Brussow will have the follow-up operation on Tuesday "to ensure that he is 100 per cent fit and available for the 2011 season, which includes the Rugby World Cup."

Brussow had surgery earlier this year after sustaining a serious knee injury in a Super 14 match in March.

It was thought the dynamic 24-year-old loose forward might be fit to return in November.

SARU says it agreed with medical staff at Brussow's provincial team, the Cheetahs, that the second surgery was required "to guarantee Brussow's long-term recovery."

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