Adams primed for return after six-month absence

Josh Adams has not played since May 2024

United Rugby Championship: Cardiff v Dragons

Venue: Cardiff Arms Park Date: Saturday, 30 November Kick-off: 17:15 GMT

Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Sounds, plus live text on the BBC Sport website and app. Highlights later online.

Josh Adams hopes to end his six-month absence when Cardiff host Dragons in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday.

The Wales wing has not played for club or country since facing Sharks in May.

He missed the summer tour to Australia as well as the autumn series for Wales following a hernia operation.

"I finally feel good and I'm itching to get back out on there," said the 29-year-old.

"I thought I'd be back sooner, but I should know from previous injuries that things never go as smoothly as you want.

"Watching from the sidelines gets harder as time goes on. You miss those moments on the pitch and in the changing room after wins.

"As you get older you realise how quickly the first part of your career has gone and that you probably took things for granted. Now you appreciate things a lot more."

Adams has also resolved the knee issue he struggled with throughout the 2024 Six Nations.

That is a welcome boost for Cardiff and Wales given the loss of Mason Grady to a fractured ankle.

Grady has undergone surgery following the injury against Fiji and is expected to be out for several months.

Cardiff are looking at options for a short-term cover, but have played down speculation linking them with a move to sign Wales international Joe Hawkins from Exeter Chiefs.

Wales internationals Alex Mann, Seb Davies and Jacob Beetham have recovered from injuries during the autumn break while Taulupe Faletau, out since April, has returned to training and is expected back "in the next couple of weeks".

Head coach Matt Sherratt will assess the eight Cardiff players who were part of the Wales autumn campaign before naming his team to face Dragons.

He said: "It's not the physical demands of being in the Wales camp, but also the mental fatigue. But it's a derby match at home and they want to play."

Adams knows all about the transition from international to regional set-up and spent two weeks training with Wales as part of the final stages of his recovery.

"The boys still enjoy being part of the Wales camp, win or lose," he said.

"It's been difficult recently, but no one can say they don't care about playing for Wales. That's the pinnacle for all of us.

"They've gone hard in every game and some of them are pretty bashed up. Any campaign is strenuous so now it's up to us to pick their energy."