Luscombe’s international goal

4:46pm Saturday 5th July 2008

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HAL Luscombe, living back in Gwent after joining Mike Ruddock's Worcester, is targeting a place back in the Welsh team next season.

The former Newport and Newport Gwent Dragons outside centre won the last of his 16 caps against Ireland in the Six Nations opener in 2007 - on the wing rather than in his preferred number 13 position - before a succession of injuries meant an abrupt halt to his international career.

The 27-year-old South African-born player, who spent seven seasons at Rodney Parade before joining Harlequins and now Worcester, has got his eyes on a Wales recall.

He accepts it may not be in time for the autumn internationals because he is currently recovering from a knee operation, but is aiming for a slot in the Six Nations again.

"I've had an operation which meant putting a screw into my knee because a bone was loose," Luscombe explained.

"I'm hoping to be able to train in six weeks time and play in around two months, so I may miss the first few games for Worcester.

"They have been very good to me already, I've been up there and I must say I haven't been to a better set-up.

"The start of the season will be most important, we need to get a few wins under our belt and end up in the right half of the table.

"I accept it might be tight to challenge for a place in the autumn internationals after my operation, but I would definitely like to be pushing for a spot in the Six Nations."

Luscombe is excited about the prospect of playing alongside Southern Hemisphere stars Rico Gear, the ex-All Blacks wing, and Chris Latham, the Australian superstar full back, who is joining Worcester this summer.

But Luscombe's next sporting role will not be on the rugby field, rather the cricket pitch and the charity match in aid of LATCH between a Sporting Celebrity XI and a South Wales Businessman's XI at Ponthir on Sunday, July 20.

A former batsman of note, Luscombe role will be confined to umpiring after his knee operation. His company Rent Your Own Homes, of which he is a director helping people who can't get on to the property ladder, is sponsoring the match.

Ruddock is captaining the sporting celebrities team and among the stars due to take part are Wales' Grand Slam captain Ryan Jones, James Hook and Scott Quinnell.