Watkin back on top after long injury nightmare

A FORTNIGHT ago Owen Watkin was lining up for Bridgend against Carmarthen Quins in front of 150 people.

Fast forward two weeks and the 21-year-old centre was opposite France international Remi Lamerat as the Ospreys faced Clermont in the Champions Cup.

The contrast perfectly sums up Watkin’s career to this point. There have been highs and lows, with the young midfielder touted for a Wales cap 18 months ago on the back of some impressive regional displays.

However damaged knee ligaments saw Watkin miss the entire 2016-17 campaign and a head knock stemmed his progress this term.

Now he hopes he’s back for good telling TRP: “After the head injury in preseason I was fortunate to play for Bridgend, who are my local team.

“It was a joy to be able to play three 80 minutes of rugby down there, but it is nice to be back in the Ospreys team now and i want to play as much as possible. Having missed all of last season it did take a long time to get back where I needed to be to play at this level.”

Watkin has both the ability and frame to play international rugby.

At more than 16 stone he is a fearsome physical presence, but combines that with a deftness of hand in the tackle and a deceptive turn of foot.

Watkin is determined to remind Warren Gatland of his telants but admits he did question whether he would ever return from his long spell on the sidelines.

“You do have those days where you think you aren’t going to make it back,” he said. “I sometimes thought I wouldn’t be able to perform like I did or that my knee wasn’t going to get back to how it was. Luckily the surgeons are so good.

“When you’re injured your weight training slots are at a different time so you’re not with the boys. It’s not nice because you feel a bit separated, but as soon as you get back into it you’re with everyone.

“Thinking about where you were before the injury happened motivates you to get back playing as soon as possible.”