Regan's nightmare almost behind him

By rjlloyd

REGAN King will look to put a 'nightmare' 11 months behind him when he runs out for his long-awaited return to the Scarlets starting XV on Saturday.

The All Black centre will be in Nigel Davies's line-up for the first time since February 21 last year as the Scarlets go chasing a place in the LV= Cup semi-finals against Cardiff Blues at Parc y Scarlets.

After recovering from a serious hamstring injury, King was given 30 minutes as a replacement in the win over London Wasps last weekend.

But the midfield ace has admitted it will take time before he is back to his majestic best.

"Mentally, the last 11 months have been a nightmare, but finally the hard work has paid off and I am back on the field again," said a player widely regarded as one of the most creative centres in the European game.

"At the moment I am really jittery, a bit on edge, and last week against Wasps I was really nervous before I went on.

Contact

"I was worried about going into contact, but I hit a few rucks and it held up all right.

"Hopefully, I can get a bit more game time and find a bit of form."

The Scarlets have hailed the New Zealander's much- anticipated comeback with posters proclaiming 'The Return of the King', but the laid-back centre has told Scarlets fans not to expect too much to begin with.

"I think the PR are trying to milk it a bit! I am not expecting too much from myself and the coaches have told me just go out and don't try too hard," he added.

"It will take time. I am still rusty in training, still trying to find my running lines, and I will need to get match fit."

Reflecting on his injury, picked up in a Magners League defeat to Leinster at Parc y Scarlets, King said: "When I did it, it felt horrendous. I knew I did something bad. I told the physios when they came on 'I am done here', but then it went numb and I thought I might be all right, but I tried to get up and nothing was there, I was in agony.

"The muscle needed to be reattached, in two places I think.

"The whole back of my leg, from my bottom to my ankle, was black with bruising for a couple of weeks.

"I had initially hoped to be back around November, but things weren't progressing as well as I would have liked. I had a nerve test done on my hamstring and we found there was nerve damage and that is why it was taking so long.

"I just had to keep digging in and eventually I would get there."

The 29-year-old will come into a side in buoyant mood after four successive victories, and a win on Saturday will only add to the region's feel-good factor, as well as sealing a home tie in the semi-finals of the Anglo-Welsh competition.

"The boys are on a high at the moment. I have been at the club five years now and don't know if we have ever won four on the bounce," he added. "We have put ourselves in a great position in this tournament and are going all out for a win against the Blues."

Robert Lloyd