Thursday 8 December 2016 16:25, UK
After seven months on the sidelines, Kurtley Beale is closing in on making his Wasps debut and could feature against Connacht this weekend.
The Australian international suffered a patella tendon injury while playing for the Warathas back in May just 24 hours after agreeing a deal with the Coventry-based side and is yet to play for his new club.
However, after seven months the 27-year-old has featured in training ahead of Sunday's Champions Cup tie and is looking forward to put his long injury lay-off behind him.
"It is obviously very exciting times for myself to get back out there with the lads and throw the rugby ball about," said Beale.
"It was a long time. During my rehab I had to make sure I got everything right got me to get out and start running again. I had to grow the confidence back to where it was before the injury and I feel like I am at that stage now.
"It is just a case of getting those repetitions in with my training and understanding the detail that needs to be done. At the moment I am ticking all those boxes and it is exciting times."
With Wasps flying high in Beale's absence, sitting second in both the Aviva Premiership and their Champions Cup pool, the 60-cap international knows his place in an already star-studded backline is far from guaranteed.
"The boys have been playing some outstanding rugby this year. We have some quality players across the whole field, so it is a matter of contributing as much as I can, not over playing my hand and just doing my part for the team."
Next up for Wasps are back-to-back meetings with the current Pro12 champions and pool three table-toppers Connacht, a team left reeling from the upcoming departure of their coach Pat Lam but a side that provides Beale with the type of challenge he has been relishing while away from the game.
"We have got a big game against Connacht, the Pro12 champions from last year," he said. "They are an exciting team but obviously I rate ourselves as one of the most exciting teams in the competition so it is going to be a huge battle and if all goes well I will be very excited to participate as much as I can
"There is no doubt that this weekend is going to be a fantastic challenge against Connacht who I think play a very similar style to the way Wasps play. For me to be able to be a part of that game it will be extra special and not a bad game to come back to."
