Brits battling to reach milestone in Dublin

ALL-ACTION Saracens hooker Schalk Brits is targeting an earlier than expected return from the serious injury that threatened his hopes of a glorious swansong.

Brits, 36, below, tore adductor muscles in his pelvis during November’s home defeat by Exeter, but is bidding to confound medical opinion by returning in mid-February.

He told TRP: “I had an adductor repair which was reattached to the abdominal muscle and for the first six weeks you can’t do much. But I saw the specialist a week ago and he said crack on, so I’m really happy that I can step up my rehab.

“They operated at the beginning of December and said it could take up to four months. I’m at eight weeks now but, hopefully, I’ll be back well before that.

“We’re pushing as hard as we can as Jamie George and Chris Tolofua are on international duty with England and France. We’ve got great cover in Scott Spurling and our academy hooker Tadgh McElroy, but we’re just lacking a bit of experience.”

With 49 Champions Cup appearances to his name, Brits is desperate to achieve the half-century when Saracens meet Leinster in the quarter-finals.

Mark McCall’s men are in sight of a third successive title and Brits said: “We got into the last eight on our backsides but the important thing is we’re there. The whole team is very excited and by the time Leinster comes around we should be at full strength. “Make no mistake, Leinster are a top side, but we went to Munster last season and won a semifinal so we’ve done this sort of thing before. “The difference now is we’re ranked No.8 and they’re first, but we don’t mind going somewhere like Dublin. “I’m on 49 European matches so if I’m available, hopefully, selected, I’ll get my 50th. I’ll be gutted if I end up retiring at the end of the season on 49.” Brits will retire come what may, adding: “The boys want me to carry on and are giving me grief but there’s no chance – I’ll be hanging up the boots.”