CHRIS Horsman aims to repay Worcester for standing by him during his injury-ravaged Warriors career now he is finally fully fit again.

The 31-year-old tight-head, who is entering his fifth year at Sixways, has spent more time on the treatment table than the pitch during his stint at the club.

But the feisty front-rower is optimistic he can now finally put his fitness problems behind him.

The 14-times-capped Wales forward has endured a catalogue of injuries since signing for Warriors, but is now raring to go ahead of the up-coming Guinness Premiership campaign.

An injury-free Horsman is an exciting prospect for Worcester and the former Bath, Bridgend and Celtic Warriors player said: “Now I feel great. It’s the first time in probably about three years that I haven’t had anything wrong with me, touch wood.

“I’m always excited about rugby because I love it but not to have any physical pain before you step on to the field, on top of the physical bashing you get, is so great.

“I’ve been getting up every day straight out of bed and not hobbling down the stairs or coming into training sessions and taking pain-killers just to get out there on the training field.

“There have been times when the fitness coaches and the physios would say ‘don’t train today’, but I can’t.

“So every day I’d go out and I was popping loads of pills just to get through training sessions.

“All the injuries have cleared up, I feel great and I feel as good as I did when I first joined Worcester before I had that catalogue of setbacks.

“My fitness has improved, my running, my weight training — everything’s going through the roof.

“I’m actually going out on the field, doing a contact session and the next day I’m getting up and thinking ‘great, I feel absolutely fine’.

“It’s such a nice feeling to be coming into something and thinking I can actually play the way I know I can play without being up to my eyeballs in pain-killers or having a niggle.”

He added: “All I can say is that if I’m not going to do well this season it will be because I’m not good enough.

“If I’m not good enough, then I’m not good enough, but I know it’s not for lack of trying.

“I always think of myself as quite a physical, on-the-edge player and that’s not going to change.

“I know now that I’ve got no injuries and I’ve got no niggles so, hopefully, I can be a bit more physical and last a few more games rather than playing three games then being out for three.

“I just want to get out there for Worcester, do the game I love, play week-in-week out and just repay the Warriors.”