Alan Tait is on the verge of retirement, the veteran expected to succumb to his long standing back injury.

Reports indicate that the specialist's report into Tait's injury will advise the veteran Scotland and British Lions international to quit the game.

Tait has been suffering with the injury since the recent World Cup and the Edinburgh Reivers' management were hoping for a favourable diagnosis.

However, it appears the opposite is the case and it seems the 35-year-old now has no option other than to bring down the curtain on an illustrious career which has spanned both rugby codes.

``I am going to sit down with the club and the doctor but I have to be realistic,'' Tait said.

``The X-rays show that one of the discs in my back is well out of line and one more tackle in the wrong place could do a lot more damage.

``It's all to do with old age. Once I speak to the Reivers and make a decision it will hit me but there are a lot of people a lot worse off.''

Tait's glittering career spanned 18 years during which he played 509 matches and scored 223 tries.

He played 27 times for Scotland scoring 17 tries, 13 Tests for the Great Britain rugby league team (eight tries) and two Tests for the for the Lions (one try)

Edinburgh Reivers are facing a massive injury crisis ahead of their vital Heineken Cup trip to Grenoble on Saturday.

The Scottish Super District must win in France to retain any hope of qualifying for the knock-out stages.

But coach Ian Rankin faces going into the game with a depleted squad after back row Iain Sinclair was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Sinclair had an X-ray on the injury sustained in Friday's 23-20 win over Neath, and although there is no break or ligament damage, the problem is serious enough to rule him out for six weeks.

Full-back Derrick Lee is also struggling to overcome a shoulder problem, while Graham Dall is unlikely to be risked as he returns to fitness from a hamstring strain.