France international Tony Marsh is back in training having recovered from cancer and has targeted a return to action in time for this year's World Cup.
"My cancer is over, it's behind me", the New Zealand-born 30-year-old, who has played for France 11 times, told sports daily
L'Equipe
.
"I shall have medical tests every three months, including a blood test and a scan, but I already know I'm through."
Marsh declared himself "lucky" because doctors discovered his cancer very early.
"Everything went very quickly. I started my chemotherapy treatment in March. It lasted over six weeks in two phases. I lost my hair, my appetite and my sense of taste but everything came back to normal," he said.
"I went to training slowly, walking, cycling. . . . Now, I'm training every day. I have started to run, long distance and short distance. I'm going to the gym and to the swimming pool. I also have started to work technically, passing and kicking the ball with a few team mates".
Marsh, who last played for France a year ago, is hoping to join his Montferrand team for pre-season training starting on July 7th.
The French World Cup squad is due to be announced on July 2nd, but coach Bernard Laporte has said he will keep a place for Marsh until the official deadline in September.
"Tony is the player who changed our game and he knows there is a seat booked for him in our bus to Australia if there is the slightest chance he will be fit to play," Laporte told reporters before the French squad left for their tour of Argentina and New Zealand.