Wales prop Samson Lee has ruled a late push for a World Cup place despite a successful return from 14 months out of the game.
Lee, capped 45 times, made a 40-minute cameo for part-timers Llandovery in the Welsh Premiership on Saturday.
The tight-head prop had not played since a career-threatening Achilles injury with Scarlets in March 2022.
However, the 30-year-old says it is still his “dream” to play for Wales as he plots his way back into the game.
When naming his extended 54-man World Cup training squad this month for autumn’s tournament in France, Wales head coach Warren Gatland admitted improving the tight five was a priority.
However Lee, a starter for Gatland at the 2015 World Cup, knows time is against him.
“I’m not going to have enough time to get match fit or anywhere near where I need to be for the World Cup,” he said.
“It’s still my dream to play for my country and if the call came, I obviously wouldn’t turn it down, but I don’t think this is my time.”
It took just two minutes for the international to make an impact on Llandovery’s Premiership game against Newport, winning a penalty in the game’s first scrum.
He was replaced at half-time and Llandovery went on to lose 52-33 at Rodney Parade. However Lee was content.
“It was always the plan to just get some game time and 40 minutes was enough. The lungs were blowing a bit, but it was just great to be playing again,” he said.
Lee was once hailed a “once in a generation” prop by predecessor and British & Irish Lion Adam Jones.
At 30, he should be reaching his peak as a tight-head. However, injuries have hampered his career, which he feared could be over when he ruptured his Achilles tendon while in South Africa with Scarlets.
“It’s been challenging over the last 14 months, lots of ups and downs but I just concentrated on what I had to do,” said Jones.
“For a tighthead prop to snap their Achilles, there is always the chance they won’t return because a lot of weight goes through that area.
“But I demanded of myself to get back out there and I had great support from the Scarlets. My physio had to put up with a lot of moaning.
“Now I’m just looking forward to whatever comes in the future for Scarlets and whatever else.
“I’m going to spend the summer building for next season to be ready to start and get as much game time as possible and, hopefully, give myself a chance for Wales again.”
Whether Lee runs out again for Llandovery in their play-off semi-final against Merthyr on Sunday will be decided this week by Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel.
