ON Saturday, the Sixways faithful welcomed back one of their favourite sons as Chris Horsman appeared in a Worcester Warriors shirt for the first time in eight weeks.

Part of that absence was spent serving a ban for stamping and part of it receiving treatment for a persistent ankle problem, but the inspirational prop has also found the time to carve out a fledgling international career with his adopted country.

English-born Horsman rejected the advances of the country he represented at U21 level to play for Wales, where he has lived for three years.

And nobody can question the allegiances of the tight-head who delivered some typically spirited scrummaging during the autumn internationals.

"It was brilliant," he said. "It was absolutely fantastic. I had trained with them a fair bit but actually being in the camp in the Vale of Glamorgan for the build-up to the games was a mind-blowing experience.

"Anybody who knows me knows that I am a competitive person. I was glad to be in the squad and to have started three out of four games was fantastic."

Horsman, as you might expect from a man who has battled cancer and a serious spinal injury, is not the sort to take things for granted.

So when he was told that Wales coach Mike Ruddock wanted him in his squad he could have been forgiven a small celebration.

But Horsman was aware that the dream could still turn into a nightmare because, at the time, he was facing an RFU charge for stamping on an opponent in Worcester's Premiership game with Leeds. While he was found guilty, the ban ended in time for him to make his bow as a substitute in Wales' showdown with New Zealand.

"Because of the disciplinary hearing I was told I was in the squad before the official announcement," he said. "It wasn't how I wanted to find out about being in the squad."

Horsman is not one to count chickens but he can't help but get excited at the prospect of playing in the Six Nations and a potential showdown with Worcsester captain Pat Sanderson when Wales and England get the tournament underway.

"If I get selected and I'm involved, I'm looking forward to it immensely," he said. "We've got some fantastic games to look forward to."

One obstacle for Horsman may be the ankle problem that caused him to limp out of Saturday's victory over Connacht and also curtailed his involvement in Wales' superb win against Australia.

The problem is unlikely to go away without surgery but, with Horsman playing such a big role for club and country, he may have to play through the pain barrier until the back end of the season.

But that is a price he is willing to pay if it means giving back something to the club that has provided him with the platform to build an international career.

Horsman is particularly grateful to director of rugby and forwards specialist John Brain.

"It's great to be working with John. He's probably the best forwards coach around and Anthony Eddy is a great coach so, in that respect, it's just as professional at Worcester as it is at Wales.

"A lot of what I've achieved is down to John and the boys at Worcester. We've got a competitive, aggressive unit and it's nice to get some recognition for it."