Taylor, who will be 27 on Thursday, visited leading sports surgeon Gordon Mackay for his three-month check-up on Tuesday morning, following a successful medial ligament reconstruction.

The Edinburgh Gunners number eight, who was injured in the game against Connacht on May 5 and underwent an operation later the same month, said: I am happy with what Gordon has said.

It is really positive news and encouraging to be able to move on to more intensive rehabilitation.

Taylor is progressing exactly as predicted at the 12-week stage and is on course to begin his next phase of accelerated rehabilitation over the next month with Edinburgh Rugby physiotherapists Stephen Mutch and Dan Moore.

He will now start running on grass, undertake cone drills, balance exercises and a more challenging strength and conditioning programme.

This intense period of rehabilitation will continue for a month at which point he will again meet the surgeon to assess his progress.