URC: Wales' Aaron Wainwright eyes swift return for Dragons

The 26-year-old number eight is currently on the comeback trail after rupturing his left hamstring when winning his 50th cap for Wales in the first Test defeat to Australia on July 6.

Wainwright, arguably the player of the season for Warren Gatland's side, swiftly flew home and had an operation just days after his teammates lost the second encounter with the Wallabies.

The influential back row forward is reluctant to set targets but he is making swift progress after the first major injury of his career.

The Dragons had expected him to be out of action until at least the Cardiff derby at the end of November but he could now provide a boost in October, which would also put him back in the mix for the autumn internationals.

BLOW: Aaron Wainwright was superb for Wales before his hamstring tear in Australia (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“I am getting there,” said Wainwright. “I went to see the surgeon again on Monday just to revisit a second scan and it’s healing well.

“Hopefully I will be back soon, I have been running and it’s just a case of getting my right and left legs up to the same strength.

“Me and the physio department have spoken about it but I don’t want to make any targets, I want to make sure it’s right and then go from there.”

The Dragons host the Ospreys to start and then head to Leinster before a pair of home fixtures against South African sides, with the Sharks followed by the Lions.

If Wainwright continues to make good progress then it is possible he could target the round five game against Benetton or final fixture of the block at Connacht.

“I keep having little battles with the physios about trying to push them to see how fast I can do things,” said the back rower, who has been picking the brains of captain Ben Carter after the lock suffered a similar injury last season.

“I have had three running sessions so far and Wednesday was my first with some of the other boys who weren’t training.

“I was trying not to push myself to keep up with them but at the same time I want to get back early if I can, as long as it is safe to do so.

LEADER: Aaron Wainwright is a key figure for the Dragons (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)

“There have been conversations about what game but a lot depends on how my strength comes back.

“I have done some testing scores that have been quite promising but whether they keep progressing as they have, we will see.

“I’ll take each week as it comes and if things start to speed up then I will hopefully align with that.”

The Dragons will also be without new signing Solomone Funaki for the opening rounds of the URC after the Tongan back rower had an operation to clean out his left knee.

An early return for Wainwright, whose salary is being covered as he was injured on international duty, would boost Dai Flanagan’s squad for a key first six fixtures, four of which are in Newport.

“The Ospreys will be a good game to see where we are at,” with the Welsh Shield holders visiting Rodney Parade a week on Saturday.

“The first block can set you up for the season and if we start well then it will build belief and momentum. We need to hit the ground running and use Bath on Friday as a platform for the Ospreys.”