It’s a sight which should gladden the hearts of pretty much every rugby supporter in Wales.
After 619 days on the sidelines with injury, Gareth Anscombe is back on a training field running, twisting and generally starting to look like his old self again.
He posted a short video of himself on his Instagram page, where footage shows the 27-cap Wales international training on a sunny morning at St Helen’s in Swansea.
He has been fighting an injury battle since damaging knee ligaments playing for Wales during a World Cup warm-up match against England at Twickenham in 2019.
Since then he has undergone three bouts of surgery in an attempt to return to playing action.
There have been setbacks and considerable anxieties along the way.
But the video clip shows the Ospreys man is unquestionably now heading in the right direction. Anscombe is seen running from post to post and sharply changing direction. There are changes of pace thrown into the mix for good measure.
It’ll be encouraging for the Ospreys, who have yet to see their 2019 acquisition from Cardiff Blues play for them.
But it’ll also go down well in the Wales set-up, with Anscombe having been first-choice No. 10 under Warren Gatland prior to his injury.
The Ospreys have said Anscombe could feature before the end of the season.
Just maybe, in his mind’s eye, current head coach Wayne Pivac can see the 29-year-old coming into the picture to challenge for a place in the autumn internationals.
But let’s see.
Anscombe's first goal will be to ease his way back at regional level.
With his vision, skill, eye for a gap and appreciation of space, he’s a player who has been missed.
