Heineken Cup: Wales' Luke Charteris returns for Perpignan

Wales lock Luke Charteris made his first senior appearance this year off the bench as Perpignan lost at Gloucester in the Heineken Cup.

Charteris underwent surgery after rupturing knee ligaments playing for the French club in December 2012.

He returned in a 40-minute display for the Catalans' development side last weekend and the club say he suffered no adverse reaction.

Charteris, 30, won the first of his 40 Wales caps in 2004.

He joined Newport Gwent Dragons as Welsh regional rugby was launched in 2003 and joined French Top 14 club Perpignan ahead of the 2011-12 season.

But before doing so, the 6ft 10in forward played a starring role in Wales' 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign in which they finished fourth.

Charteris last played for Wales in December 2012, missing the 2013 Six Nation in the wake of the knee injury that also ruled him out of contention for the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia that followed.

Fellow Welshman James Hook scored all Perpignan's points in their 27-22 defeat at Kingsholm, where he continued at full-back for the Catalan club.