Springbok loose forward Arno Botha has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2013 season after rupturing ligaments in his knee during the Castle Lager Incoming Series victory over Scotland in Nelspruit on Saturday.

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Botha was forced to leave the field in the fourth minute of only his second test for South Africa when he injured his left knee.

The former SA Under-20 captain was taken for scans in Pretoria on Sunday, which confirmed the diagnosis of an injury to his medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments. It will require surgical correction and he will be out for the remainder of the season.

“Losing Arno is a big blow as he had a very good test debut last weekend against Italy,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.

“Luckily he is still very young and I’m sure with the correct medical treatment and rehabilitation we will see him back on the field again in 2014.”

Meyer said that a call on a possible replacement for Botha will be made at a later stage.

“We do have good cover at loose forward – Siya Kolisi, Marcell Coetzee and Pieter Labuschagne are all capable replacements. Furthermore Francois Louw is back tomorrow and Willem Alberts has responded well to treatment and will probably in the frame for selection this week,” said Meyer.