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FRUSTRATED Chris Horsman feels a huge part of his life is missing while he is unable to play rugby.

The Welsh international prop has endured injury and illness nightmares, but has vowed to come back stronger and is targeting playing again before the end of this term.

The 29-year-old front row man also insists he would love to play out the rest of his career at Sixways and has hinted he hopes to go on for nearly another decade.

He said: "It has been a difficult period personally because I really enjoy playing for Worcester. This is the only club that I have ever felt that I truly belonged at.

"I felt like I added value to the club and made a mark both on the field and off the field within the environment of the players and being truly accepted by the supporters, which is a nice feeling.

"Coming back to Worcester, I was so keen to do well but got injured 30 minutes into my first game back. It was hard because last season I missed a lot because of the Six Nations, the Autumn series and the World Cup. It gives the impression that I haven't been around.

"As much as it's a professional sport and injuries happen, I have not got a sense of shame but I am a proud person and I'm very competitive.

"I feel embarrassed when I hear supporters talking about me always being injured. I don't like that feeling.

"Everyone has been fantastic but, having the attitude I have towards life, I feel like a huge part of my life is missing by not playing.

"I still have a fair few years ahead of me, I'm coming up to 30 and looking at how long Reg (Tony Windo) is going on, I could have nine years. I would love to spend every single one of them at Worcester.

"The club is moving forward with the development and the ambition of Cecil Duckworth and Mike Ruddock."

Far from letting his injury troubles get him down, Horsman has been working hard in the gym and feels he is in the best shape of his career.

He added: "The real positive of this spell out is getting my body right. My body fat has gone down massively while the lean mass has been maintained.

"I just want to make sure when I come back I am back to the standard that people expect of me.

"The team has been playing particularly well with Dave (Tevita Taumoepeau), Reg, Matt Mullan and Darren Morris doing fantastically well in the front row.

"But I'm a competitive man and as much as I get on well with Dave, we both want to wear that shirt. I want to come back in and think I have got something to offer in these last few games."

Warriors director of rugby Mike Ruddock handed Horsman his first international cap and, understandably, the prop has a close relationship with his boss.

Horsman said: "I had dealings with Mike when I wanted to be involved with Wales.

"For him to tell me I was on the bench against the All Blacks and he wanted to bring me on was amazing. If you look at his CV and what he has achieved, it speaks volumes.

"He comes across as a jovial and easy-going character but there are no flies on him, he treats everyone with respect and is good to the boys as a person but on the rugby field he is ultra-professional.

"You don't achieve the results he has and attract the players he is to Worcester if you haven't got calibre.

"It has taken time for his ideas to bed in. What impressed me and a lot of the players was, at a point when results weren't going well, he put it to the team and said we can go back and play a conservative style of rugby but said, if we do it right, the other way would work. He has been proven right and can kick us on to be a team that can compete on the biggest stage."

8:15am Friday 18th April 2008

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