Marc Teague admits he is really pleased to have agreed a contract extension with Edinburgh until the end of the season and the winger says he is determined to remain injury-free during the second half of the campaign.
Teague – named club international player of the year last term – was awarded a professional contract in the summer after impressing with Heriot’s.
But his dream move into the full-time ranks was blighted with a troublesome back injury which kept him sidelined for almost two months.
Nevertheless the 27-year-old says he now feels fitter than ever and he is determined to make an impact between now and the end of the season.
Teague said: “I’m delighted that I’ve got until the end of the season to prove my worth.
“Unfortunately I’ve been hampered by a few injuries as my body has adjusted to the demands of being a professional rugby player.
“But hopefully I’m over all of that now and I can concentrate on pushing for a place in the first team.
“The main injury problem was with my back. That was frustrating because originally we thought it was a problem with my hamstring, but it turned out that the nerves in my lower back were damaged.
“In the end, I had to receive extensive treatment to try and sort it out. I’ve still got to take the medication, but it seems to be all-clear now.
“After making some progress in pre-season, I was out for two months and it was a massive set-back.”
With Edinburgh lining up some back-up matches in the early stages of 2009, Teague admits he is determined to put down a marker and convince the coaches of his first team credentials.
He said: “My aim at the moment is to play in the back-up games for Edinburgh and to try and play well. I need to get some games under my belt.
“I’ve never experienced a season like this before where I’ve been injured so much. Normally I hardly miss any games, so now I just want to play rugby for either Heriot’s or the back-up team.
“Then I can hopefully seize my chance at first team level when it arrives.”
