For now he will turn his attention to coaching and while he refused to rule out a return to top level rugby, he admits it will be tough to come back.
He told the Scotsman: "I have not completely turned my back on pro rugby because you never know.
"It's frustrating because I believe that I have the ability to play at the highest level and so I think to myself 'maybe with time off and a summer away from rugby, my body might be able to cope for a bit longer, but the truth is that when you get back into the intensity of training required for pro rugby these days the injury flares up.
"Last season it was fantastic to be playing regularly through a great Heineken Cup with Edinburgh. I think I played ten games on the trot at one point and my form was good but then the groin injury came back just before the quarter-finals and I was out for the rest of the season.
"I had an operation, which really improved it, but I still haven't been able to train fully so it's been a struggle to get selected this season and it's not just the physical side but, mentally, it's draining.
"I've had to accept that my body maybe won't allow me to achieve what I want in the game. I would love to stay at Edinburgh, because it's a good club, but it's not meant to be."
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