Watkin back after 'hardest 11 months of rugby life'

Wales centre Owen Watkin is ready to put the "hardest 11 months of his rugby life" behind him when he returns to action for Ospreys this weekend.

Watkin has been named as an Ospreys replacement for the European Challenge Cup tie against Montauban on Saturday for his first game in almost a year.

The 29-year-old suffered a serious knee injury while playing for Wales in the 43-0 Six Nations defeat against France in Paris in January.

"This has been a big week for me after a long time out," said Watkin.

"It's definitely made me a lot more resilient and mentally tough, knowing I've probably been through the hardest time of my life in terms of rugby.

"It is motivating knowing I want to get back to the level I was before my injury."

Watkin explained what it is like to be a long-term injury casualty.

"It is super tough and I don't think people realize how daunting it can be in terms of day in, day out," said Watkin.

"You're going through the motions in terms of the same thing. You see the boys going away for games or they're training and you're pretty much stuck in the gym all day.

"Some players get back fit and then someone else comes into the [rehabilitation] group.

"I was still there throughout the whole season which was difficult."

Watkin says he was grateful for the support of Ospreys and his family.

"It makes you take nothing for granted," said Watkin.

"You have days where you think you don't want to do this anymore because it's the same old thing.

"You lean on your team-mates and the medical staff in work and your family outside to get you through those tough times.

"My wife knew how to deal with me on my down days which has been awesome for me.

"Then the boys in work push and motivate you to get back fit as soon as possible. They get you through this."

It did not help Watkin that he had setbacks in his rehabilitation from the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) he suffered at the Stade de France.

"It was massively important for me to play before the end of the year," said Watkin.

"When I did the original injury, my goal was to start the season in September.

"Unfortunately I had to go out and have another surgery because I've had some issues in the knee.

"That was tough to take considering how I'd done so well with the first rehab.

"So to get a couple of games on my belt now going into the Christmas period is exciting."

Watkin can draw on previous experiences having suffered the same injury on the other knee in 2016 when he was ruled out for 14 months.

"I've been unfortunate to pick up lot of knee injuries in my career," said Watkin.

"But also I've been there and done it before. I have had all these setbacks, five or six surgeries now.

"This was a little bit shorter than last time. I was a lot younger then so my rehab wasn't as proactive.

"Pretty much as soon as I soon as I had done my ACL against France, within 10 days I had surgery.

"I knew what I needed to do to get back, and although I had a setback, it is still pretty good going."

Watkin was injured playing his 43rd international for Wales and hopes to return to the highest level.

"I'm still only 29, still pretty young but think I've got a lot of experience now," said Watkin.

"I just want to get back playing, find a bit of form and see what happens.

"I'd love to get back in the red jersey one day and don't want that game in France to be my last one.

"I'm still massively motivated to do that but the main point is get back playing, enjoy it and stay fit."

Watkin is also involved in an Ospreys side battling for its survival with question marks over the future of many of its top players.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is determined to cut one of the professional teams with the governing body stating they propose to grant three licences for men's clubs.

There will be one in Cardiff, one in the east and one in the west, which is expected to result in a straight survival fight between Ospreys and Scarlets in Llanelli.

Another option that has now emerged is Ospreys owners, Y11 Sport & Media, taking over WRU-owned Cardiff, which could produce the WRU's desired number of three professional sides.

"There's a lot of tough things going on in Welsh rugby at the minute, but to be an Ospreys player, the tightness of the group is one thing that doesn't change," said Watkin.

"We are a team that is always going to look after each other in the highs and the lows, we are always there for each other."

Watkin is joined on the replacements bench by number eight Morgan Morris who has been sidelined since April.

Ospreys are missing rested Wales stars Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas, Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Rhys Davies, James Ratti and Harri Deaves, with fly-half Jac Walsh leading the side.

Montauban include former Scarlets back rower Vaea Fifita in the starting side.

Montauban: Tuculet; Ahmed, Fonnicola, Popoali'i, Vallee; Fortunel, Zabalza; Aouf, Maurouard, Simutoga, Bitz, Kanika, Quercy, Fifita, Viiga (capt),

Replacements: Firmin, Bue, Ma'afu, Uanivi, Castel, Leflamand, Mathy, Pomponio.

Ospreys: Nagy; Conbeer, Boshoff, Cokanasigsa, Giles; Walsh (capt), L Davies; C Jones, L Lloyd, Henry, Sutton, Fender, Moriarty, G Evans, Morse.

Replacements: Daniel, S Thomas, Hire, L Jones, Morris, Hardy, Watkin, Hopkins.

Referee: Adam Leal (Eng)

Assistant referees: Hamish Grant (Eng), Wayne Falla (Eng)

TMO: Stuart Terheege (Eng)