'You accept pain as part of the job'.

Byline: By Darren Witcoop South Wales Echo 

In the latest of our Saturday exclusives DARREN WITCOOP talks to Wales lock Brent Cockbain about the long road to recovery from a horrific injury.

'MEET me at the Vale of Glamorgan about four o'clock, I'll be doing some weights in the gym.'

And I as entered Wales' state-of-the-art training headquarters, I saw Brent Cockbain grinding his teeth on the bench press equipment.

He was alone, working on his upper body strength as part of his rehabilitation programme from injury.

Because while the rest of his Welsh team-mates had a rare day off from their gruelling Six Nations excursions, Cockbain was forced to work on his own exercise routines.

The current lonely dedication is a way of life the Ospreys lock has had to get used to in recent months.

Cockbain was the victim of a freak accident during last November's autumn series match with Fiji, when after being tackled to the floor he immediately felt a sharp pain - his hamstring had ripped off the bone.

At first it looked an innocuous challenge, but Cockbain immediately knew otherwise as he was carried off the field on the stretcher in obvious discomfort.

The doctor then gave him the bad news that he won't be back playing again for the best part of a year.

'I just seemed to slip on the pitch after the tackle and hyper-extended my leg,' he explained, as he took a breather from his three sets of weights.

'I basically pulled the hamstring tendon off the hip and it had rolled up in to a ball behind the knee.

'I knew straight away it was a bad one and it was pretty painful stuff I tell you.

'To repair the damage, the surgeon had to drill two hooks into the bone to re-attach the hamstring.

'But injuries are part and parcel of the game.

'I still count myself lucky that in 15 seasons of playing rugby I've only ever been out for six weeks with a hernia operation.

'And just looking at the work Kevin Morgan and Mark Jones have had to endure over the years with their serious injuries, I've been relatively lucky I'd say.'

It is a typically honest response from the likeable 31-year-old and typical of one of Welsh rugby's true gentlemen to see the bigger picture.

There is no airs or graces with the North Queenslander, what you see is what you get.

And instead of cursing his luck, Cockbain just believes injuries are becoming more prevalent in the modern game.

'I've tried to stay as much involved within the Welsh set-up as I can as I don't want to miss out,' he confessed, in his softly-spoken Aussie accent.

'It can get a bit lonely on your own at times - I do four weight sessions a week, rowing and pool work as well as the physio treatment I'm receiving.

'But I'm still in here with the boys catching up and doing weights with them occasionally and I've been to every game.

'But now instead of training I watch them work themselves into the ground.'

So when does Cockbain see himself returning to the rugby field.

'My target is September,' said 22-times capped Cockbain, who lives in the Heath district of Cardiff.

'I hope to start running in about eight weeks' time if I'm given the all-clear.

'The leg feels quite strong now, but I'm not going to rush back like a madman and make it worse for myself.

'My season's already over and the start of the next one is my goal with the start of pre-season at the Ospreys my aim at the moment.'

While most players take time out of the game completely when laid up, Cockbain has made the most of a bad situation.

He says the rehabilitation work has ensured he's now in the best shape of his life and plans to return as an even stronger and better player.

'The time off has been really productive as I've really worked hard to get myself at the top of the tree physically,' he added.

'I've really tried to take a leaf out of Lawrence Dallaglio's book.

'Just look at what a powerful and physical specimen he has returned as now, despite breaking his ankle just a few months ago.

'And that's why I want to make the most of my playing absence.' Cockbains' target is in sight: Brent Cockbain and his wife Kate are over the halfway mark towards their goal of raising pounds 500,000 in memory of their son Toby.

The couple, who lost Toby to a brain tumour just after his first birthday, are raising funds in the hope of purchasing special equipment for the Children's Hospital of Wales.

And the Welsh Grand Slam hero revealed that concentrating on the charity work provides him with an outlet while he recovers from his long-term hamstring injury.

"The time-out has at least given me the chance to raise awareness,' said Cockbain.

"The support we have had has been incredible.

"We had a fund-raising dinner at the Towers Hotel in Swansea recently and also just had another one at the Celtic Manor.

"That's why I love living in Wales so much, the people are so generous, friendly and supportive towards any cause.

He added: 'My family and I are settled in Wales I don't intend going anywhere.

'It is my second home.

'I have another two years to run on my Ospreys contract and don't intend going to play anywhere else.'