British and Irish Lions

The scrum-half was expected to miss five months after picking up an injury playing for the New Zealand Barbarians before Christmas.

He said: "My knee is a lot better now. I think from next week I will be able to start training and running, but without force too much. Maybe I will be back in a little less than five months."

Meanwhile, lock forward Gaston Llanos has been given the go-ahead to play for Italy, much to the player's delight.

The Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) have confirmed that the Padova second row, born in Argentina but an Italian passport holder, is available for selection.

The 23-year-old, part of John Kirwan's 38-man training squad for the RBS 6 Nations, said: "My great grandfather was Italian and even before I arrived in Padova three years ago, I had already chosen Italian citizenship.

"I have never represented the Pumas (Argentina) at any level," Llanos told the federation's official website, www.federugby.it.

"It has been wonderful to be called by Kirwan, I am really proud to be part of this group."

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.

Tom Youngs has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top of the British & Irish game but he won't be resting on his laurels ahead of his first Lions adventure.

Check out the video from the day the HSBC Cubs met The British & Irish Lions at the Vale of Glamorgan in a day they will remember for the rest of their lives.