Knee injury scuppers Jonny Gray's Scotland RWC hopes

"From what I've been told, unless the operation goes exceptionally well and his recovery is exceptionally quick, I would say he is very doubtful for the World Cup," club director Rob Baxter told a press conference on Wednesday.

"It's a patella tendon injury, he's dislocated his kneecap. Fortunately the other major ligaments within the knee are all stable.

"It's a relatively complex patella tendon injury, which is going to require surgery this week, and there's a relatively long period of rehab," Baxter said.

The World Cup kicks off in France on September 8 and runs until October 28.

Scotland are in a tough-looking Pool B with Ireland, Tonga, Romania and defending champions South Africa.

They kick off their campaign against the Springboks on September 10 in Marseille. .