RUNNING out at the home of English rugby after a two-year injury lay-off was a proud moment for Worcester Warriors’ giant lock Christian Scotland-Williamson.

The 23-year-old revealed there were “dark times” during his rehabilitation but never a moment when he considered packing in the sport he loves.

And Scotland-Williamson believes his Premiership debut against Saracens on his maiden trip to Twickenham earlier this month was a big thank-you to everyone who helped with his recovery from a serious back injury.

The 6ft 9in forward is on the replacements bench tomorrow for injury-ravaged Warriors’ trip to Bath (3pm) as he looks to further his comeback.

“When you’re a kid, you always imagine running out at Twickenham and playing in the Premiership,” said Scotland-Williamson.

“For those two things to happen at the same time was huge. I hadn’t expected to make my Premiership debut so early in the season.

“Afterwards, I kept asking my dad if he was happy because the whole journey has been a collective effort.

“There have been so many people involved in getting me back to playing that it was a thank-you to show the last two years of effort had been worthwhile.”

The academy product made his first-team debut with a try at Sixways in November 2013 after coming on as a replacement against Leicester Tigers in the LV= Cup.

But the former Loughborough Students second row missed two years in the sport after leaving the field 53 minutes into Warriors’ Championship derby with Moseley in September 2014.

“A few months prior to that Moseley game, I was involved in a small road traffic accident where a lorry collided with my mum’s car,” he recalled.

“I was in the passenger seat and that was the beginning of the trouble I started to have.

“I went to hospital briefly about a hip injury but that was nothing major and I then started three of the first five games.

“But it all came to a head in that Moseley game. My back just went and it took a long time to recover.

“I had surgery but I am fully recovered from that now.

“It never crossed my mind that I wouldn’t get back to playing and it was more of a case of when, so it was just a matter of time really. The club and medical department have been great.”

The London-born player, hails from a sporting family.

His dad Guy Williamson is a former ABA boxing champion and his brother Alexander Scotland-Williamson plays professional basketball in Europe.

“I used to play at centre-back in football when I was younger but got a bit bored because my team were quite good and the opposition never really attacked,” he said.

“One of my dad’s friends took me to my local rugby club and said I would like it and that was when I was nine. I have been hooked ever since.”

Scotland-Williamson shares a house in Worcester with fellow rookies Mike Daniels, who has been one of his best friends since university, and Perry Humphreys.

All three featured in Warriors’ 23-23 M5 derby draw with Gloucester last Friday and are retained in the squad for Worcester’s tough trip to Bath.

Scotland-Williamson said: “The biggest things I have learned over the last two years have been mental resilience and toughness.

“It would be easy to have given up but you need self-confidence and belief to realise that with the right support it is only a matter of time before you can overcome things that come your way.

“You have to play the hand you’re dealt with.

“I knew I had to be sensible and rehab properly rather than rush back, risk picking up another knock and face being out for a long time.

“I have put all that behind me now and am on the home straight.”