Ryan injury is blow to Dundee High

Dundee HSFP have been dealt a blow ahead of the Premier One rugby season with the news that influential back-row Greig Ryan will be out for the rest of 2010.

Ryan, the 24-year-old former Ellon player, suffered a torn Achilles tendon in last weekend's loss to Glasgow Warriors and following an operation on Monday will be out for some months.

Dundee HSFP coach Ian Rankin said: "It is a big blow for Greig and for the club because he had a good season last year and has been on the fringes of the Scotland Sevens set-up."

Meanwhile, a number of Scotland age-grade caps have joined the club. Centre Fraser Clark has moved from Howe of Fife, full-back Jamie Urquart has come in from Dollar Academy and prop Gavin Robertson and second-row Andrew Redmayne head to Mayfield from Melrose and Kilmarnock respectively. Other players new to Rankin's squad - who are heading to Kendal this weekend for their last pre-season match include former Canada age-grade centre Conor Wade, stand-off Ali O'Connor from Dunfermline and No 8 Richie McIvor from Harris. Hooker Simon Forrest has arrived from Otago and second-row Andy Linton from Ulster Ravens.