Justin Tipuric is set to put to the test the shoulder he damaged playing for the British and Irish Lions 12 months ago.
The Ospreys and Wales openside didn’t play a single game in 2021-22 after sustaining a scapula problem against Japan at Murrayfield last summer. So unusual was the bump that his regional head coach Toby Booth said the nature of it hadn’t been seen in rugby before.
Initially, the Ospreys were hopeful Tipuric might make a return around the festive period last year, but he hit a setback and has had to play a waiting game since then.
Read more: Welsh rugby's problem position and the experiment that's been shelved
But he started running again towards the end of last season and has been building his fitness by boxing. The hope is he will be involved in pre-season with the acid test set to come when he takes contact.
“Justin has been building nicely,” said a source near the Ospreys camp. “He’s looking good. He did some running at the back end of the campaign and has been boxing and doing quite a bit in preparation to start pre-season. We’ll see how he gets on, then, in terms of building the contact.”
The Ospreys will hope there are no further hitches, with master craftsman Tipuric a hugely-respected figure at the region not only for his on-pitch ability but also for the example he sets off the field. Read more in Tipuric's first interview after the injury he sustained last year.
The Ospreys have another stellar openside performer in Jac Morgan and the challenge for the selectors will be to come up with combinations that work. They also have young Harri Deaves in the system but in a season heading towards the World Cup there is quiet confidence there will be enough rugby for everyone, with the certainty being that Wales head coach Wayne Pivac will be keeping a close eye on developments.
Tipuric will be 33 in August but he will be targeting a spot in Wales’ World Cup squad, even though his famed modesty will prevent him from ever publicly touting his own claims.
His first goal, however, will be to get back on the pitch once again. This summer is set to be key to that process.
