Ellis Jenkins will finally make his long-awaited return to rugby this week - after an absence of 812 days.
The Wales flanker hasn’t played since suffering a catastrophic knee injury in the final seconds of a Man of the Match performance against South Africa in November 2018.
He has had to undergo three operations and has suffered a number of setbacks along the way in his bid to get out on the field again.
But now his moment has arrived.
The 27-year-old will line up for Cardiff Blues against the Ospreys on Friday afternoon in a Welsh derby friendly at the Arms Park.
It’s a sight that will be warmly welcomed, as Jenkins has been through a hell of a lot over the past couple of years.
He is also one of Wales’ biggest talents, with his ability to excel right across the back row and his leadership qualities, which have seen him captain his country at both U20s and senior level.
There were signs he was close to a return last month when Blues director of rugby Dai Young said he was now “injury free”.
Young explained he just wanted to give him a bit more training time to help him gain more fitness and confidence in the contact area.
With that additional mileage in his legs, the 11-cap Jenkins is now ready to go.
His horrific injury came just as he looked to be hitting the peak of his powers, having produced an outstanding display against the Springboks at the Principality Stadium, packing down at both blindside at No 8.
While being cleared out at a ruck in the final play of the game, he suffered damage to his anterior cruciate ligaments, medial collateral ligaments and tendons,
After receiving lengthy treatment on the pitch, he was stretchered off the field while receiving pain-killing gas.
That was to be start of a long, long road to recovery with plenty of bumps along the way.
But now he has finally reached the end of that road.
The friendly against the Ospreys will also see a return for injury-plagued winger Owen Lane who has been sidelined since the end of November.
It will be the first match played at the Arms Park since February 2020, due to the ground’s supporting role to the Dragon’s Heart Hospital and subsequent pitch renovations.
The encounter, which kicks off at 2.30pm, will be streamed live by S4C, as well as on the Blues and Ospreys Facebook pages.
“It will be brilliant for all of us to get back to the Arms Park,” said Young.
“We have been training there for the last few weeks and it’s a fantastic new surface, which is conducive to attacking rugby.
“After almost a year without games at our home ground, I know everyone is very excited to run out at the Arms Park once more.
“We have an important block of fixtures approaching and this game gives me the chance to see what players, who may not have featured over Christmas, are really about in a competitive encounter.
“The boys involved will be eager to get back out on the pitch and can put their hands up for selection in the weeks ahead and ensure competition for places is fierce.”
