Rugby - Cory Jane Eyes October Return

New Zealand international Cory Jane is close to a return to action after being sidelined since January with a knee injury.

Jane sustained the problem when he was training with the Hurricanes, damaging ligaments in his right knee when he fell awkwardly.

The 30-year-old had an operation in March and has pencilled in his comeback game as the Lions’ encounter with Auckland in Wellington on 5th October 2013

"I've done everything I'm supposed to with the physio. I'm working hard to get back out there," he said. "I know I've done all the hard work. The knee's fine. You just have to get the mental block out of it. Once I get into contact it will be scary at first, but it will be good to be out there."

Jane has revealed that he did strengthening work before his surgery that allowed him to get rid of his crutches and knee brace after a week. He was doing leg weights after four weeks.

Jane was a Wellington age group representative in 2002 and 2003 and played nine games while on loan at Hawke’s Bay in 2004 before returning to the Lions.

He was part of the New Zealand team that won the Rugby Sevens gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and scored six tries in that year’s Air New Zealand Cup.

Fans who bet on rugby will know that he enjoyed an outstanding 2009 Super 14 season, scoring five tries and being a rock in defence, and only missed one game in the 2010 campaign - against the Bulls.

He was in the All Blacks squad that won the World Cup two years ago and, after recovering from injury, featured in last year’s successful Rugby Championship campaign.

He has played in 41 Tests for New Zealand, the perennial favourites in the rugby betting.