Watkin about to realise his dreams after year absence
OWEN Watkin is ready to put more than a year of injury hell behind him and team up with childhood heroes James Hook and Ashley Beck at the Ospreys this season.
Centre Watkin had a breakthrough campaign in 2015-16, but suffered a horror anterior cruciate knee ligament injury in training last July. Now back fit, Watkin can’t wait to return to the field alongside experienced duo Hook and Beck, men he idolised growing up.
“I’m fully fit now. It’s been great to get back working with the rest of the team,” Watkin told The Rugby Paper.
“It’s tough mentally when you’re injured. You feel isolated and my injury was such a bad one it meant there were a lot of ups and downs.
“I was so used to playing week in, week out, so to go from that to not playing for nearly two years was a big shock. Now I just want to get out there.”
Watkin’s passion for rugby burns bright and when new Ospreys signing Hook and fellow midfielder Beck are mentioned, his eyes light up.
“As a youngster I looked up to James so to be training with him everyday just doesn’t feel real,” he added. “He’s always there to help which is great for me because he’s had such an incredible career.
“Ashley Beck was another player I idolised as a youngster. I haven’t played with him yet, but again to train with him in this environment at the Ospreys is just surreal. He’s such a skilful player and hopefully I can pick some of that up.”
Watkin is highly rated in Welsh rugby circles. Before his injury, he’d helped Wales Under 20s to a Six Nations Grand Slam and taken to life with the Ospreys like a duck to water.
A powerful ball carrier with expert running and handling skills, the future looks bright for a man best utilised in the No 12 shirt.
“The coaches are just watching my workload to see how I react, but I’d have been fit to play this weekend if I was needed. I’m flying and we have Leicester on Friday,” he said.
“I’m hoping I can get a few minutes there to get back into it. It will have been 16 months out by that time, so I just need to get that first game over and done with.
“If something does come with Wales then I’d be over the moon, but I just need to concentrate on playing for the Ospreys first.”