Highlanders prop Brendon Edmonds has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Edmonds suffered the injury in the first few minutes of the Highlanders' victory over the Western Force last Friday, with scans later confirming he had ruptured ligaments in his left knee.

He will require a full reconstruction, ruling him out for the remainder of the Highlanders' title defence.

"This is really bad luck for Doogie," Highlanders' coach Jamie Joseph said.

"He is such a great guy in the environment as well as being an outstanding prop. We hope he recovers from the surgery quickly and rehabs well."