After a season of so many ups and downs, lets hope Josh ends on a high

IT has been a season of fluctuating emotions that Josh Adams certainly won’t forget.

And there may still be one or two final twists and turns of the rollercoaster ride to come.

Last week, Adams was back in West Wales in his home village of Hendy.

Had circumstances been different, the 23-year-old would have been across the pond in Washington DC getting ready to win his third international cap.

As it was, the Worcester Warriors speedster would have sat down in front of his television, seen his former schoolmate Steff Evans limp off against the Boks at the Robert F. Kennedy and been left wondering whether 2017-18 might still have some life left in it.

On Sunday, that question was answered when the call came to pack his bags and head to South America.

Adams, of course, had been part of Warren Gatland’s original tour party for the June Tests against South Africa and Argentina.

However, with last weekend’s match against the Springboks sitting outside of World Rugby’s international window, Premier Rugby Limited – the body that represents England’s top-flight clubs – refused permission for him, Tomas Francis (Exeter) and Luke Charteris (Bath) to be involved. With the trio unable to be part of preparations in Washington, Gatland opted to leave all three players at home.

Following the knee injury to Evans and ongoing concerns over Samson Lee’s fitness, he has since called up both Adams and Francis for the Argentina series and with it launched another broadside at Premier Rugby for their stance, dubbing it a “sad indictment on the politics of the game”.

Had Adams been available for the whole trip, you would have thought he would have been above Scarlets wing Tom Prydie in Gatland’s pecking order.

And even if his lack of preparation time means he doesn’t make the starting XV to face the Pumas in San Juan this Saturday, Wales’ limited back-three options could see him come off the bench.

That would be further reward for a champagne season at Sixways, a campaign that saw Adams finish as the joint top try-scorer in the Aviva Premiership – alongside Newcastle’s Vereneki Goneva – with 13 to his name. Considering the Warriors finished one off the foot of the table, it was an impressive achievement and that was recognised when he was named in the Premiership’s 2017-18 Dream Team.

As for the international stage, Adams will feel that he has something to prove.

Injuries to Liam Williams and George North saw him drafted in for his first cap in the Six Nations opener against Scotland in Cardiff, a game where he hardly put a foot wrong in a 34-7 victory at the Principality Stadium.

However, Twickenham a week later delivered the harsh realities of Test rugby and with Williams returning to fitness following a groin issue, Adams quickly found himself back in Worcester colours and played no further part in the tournament.

To his credit, he refused to allow the disappointment affect his game, maintaining the same predatory instincts for the Warriors.

A week after the England loss he crossed in the home win over Gloucester, added a double against Sale and another against play-off contenders Wasps.

And amongst it all, there has been ongoing speculation of an imminent return to Welsh rugby, with the Dragons understood to be leading the chase for his signature.

Adams has another year remaining on his current Worcester deal, but the events of recent weeks will have made it crystal clear that he needs to be back this side of Offa’s Dyke if he wants to remain part of Wales’ plans.

For a player who spent the early part of his senior career in the shadow of others, the former Scarlet has revelled in the spotlight this season.

What odds on a final flourish in Argentina?