The nine months seemed like an eternity, initially a relentless, lonely grind that offered little tangible progress. It gave way to an impatience as the threshold of recovery neared. Nine days ago Barry McConnell's rehabilitation was complete when he stepped onto a rugby pitch in a competitive environment.

Last season's Irish Under-21 international prop did not care that it teemed with rain on a dank Tuesday night or the match was several levels below that to which he was accustomed. Playing was the only thing that mattered.

His introduction came with 20 minutes remaining of Bristol Development XV's clash with Worcester. "I don't really remember anything about the actual match itself, like the first scrum or the first time I touched the ball other than playing 20 minutes of extra time as well, but I do recall the bus journey home.

"I was sitting on the bus with studmarks all over me, tired and sore but incredibly happy. On any other occasion I would have been bemoaning my aches and pains but not this time: this was why I had worked for nine months . . . to play again."

McConnell's relief is understandable. Having enjoyed a series of excellent performances for the Under-21 team last season, the Bristol based tyro was selected for Ireland's Development tour to New Zealand last summer. During the trip he justified the faith in his ability in a very demanding environment, until a freak training accident intervened.

"Mr Ashton had us playing across the pitch and we were simulating match situations," McConnell explains. "Somebody make a break down the goal line of touchline as it would have been that day and I went to tackle them. My momentum coupled with the fact that I was trying to tackle from behind, saw me swing right round and my leg crashed into the upright.

"The impact tore the anterior cruciate ligament, my leg bent completely the wrong way. It was the most painful experience of my life. I knew that I was in serious trouble and so did those pretty close to me. Malcolm O'Kelly was first on the scene and he could see that I was in real trouble. I did not know the full extent until a day later when the swelling had gone down."

Conor O'Shea, who was close to McConnell at the time, described the incident as "horrific". The humour of the incident would only come much later. "People just burst out laughing when they hear I ran into a goalpost and I have had to put with my fair share of wisecracks since."

The underage international had to undergo complete reconstructive surgery to his knee. "It wasn't the pain that hurt me most subsequently, it was the thought that I had to give up a tour in which I was doing quite well." Although he had propped for the Under 21s, both Bristol and the Irish team management decided that his future was as a hooker.

"I had played quite well against Thames Valley and had been selected for the Maoris game when the accident happened. It is the same injury that Jeremy Davidson, Dan Lyle and Roy Keane have so I knew that it was a matter of hard graft.

"When someone tells you that you won't play again for eight or nine months, it is hard to motivate yourself to jump on the treadmill. There would be no tangible rewards for some time. I have to confess that initially I found it difficult and put on weight but I gradually got into a routine, and since Christmas the time has flown in.

"I am very grateful to Bristol, they could have terminated my contract but didn't." Bristol team-mate David Corkery has watched McConnell's rehabilitation closely. "It was a devastating blow for him at the time because he had been doing so well for both the club and on the tour.

"But he worked very hard and no one doubts that he can take up where he left off." McConnell's main stumbling block might have been psychological rather than physical given the success of the surgery. "I think everyone has a tiny doubt but I worked hard with the physio and I am now stronger and faster than before the injury.

"When I returned to training I was a bit wary in the first few scrums but you just forget about it. If you didn't then you would never be able to play properly. My priority is to try and get a game for the first team before the end of the season.

"I am aware that Ireland are going to South Africa during the summer and would love to go but that is for others to decide. All I can do is make sure that I am as fit and well prepared as I can possibly be should such an eventuality arise."

McConnell is one of 10 Bristol players currently renegotiating contracts at the club. Paul Burke and Kevin Maggs will decide on their respective futures over the next seven days, as their contracts finish at the end of the season.