Phillips set for comeback

Wales star Mike Phillips is set to make his comeback from injury when the Ospreys resume Magners League action later this month.

The British and Irish Lions Test scrum-half has been sidelined since mid-October when he suffered ankle ligament damage during Ospreys' Heineken Cup victory over Clermont Auvergne.

Phillips, who missed Wales' entire autumn Test series and was not included in coach Warren Gatland's RBS 6 Nations squad, is expected to play some part when the Ospreys host Connacht on Sunday week.

Wales, meanwhile, meet France in Cardiff five days later, followed by appointments with Ireland on March 13 and Italy on March 20.

Ospreys physiotherapist Chris Towers said: "Mike is now making the transition back to full training. The hope is that he is set to be available for some game-time during the Connacht fixture, with a view to gradually building on that over the following weeks."

It is a huge boost for the Ospreys, who face a Heineken Cup quarter-final against Biarritz in San Sebastian on April 10, while they also remain in Magners League title contention.

Phillips said: "It has been a frustrating time, as it always is when you are injured.

"I've just been working hard with the medical team over the last few months so that I can get back on to the field for the Ospreys, and I am near the end now.

"We are almost at the stage when I can get out there playing again. It's what I love doing more than anything, playing rugby, and I just can't wait to get the shirt on again.

"There has been a huge effort from the squad, and I am just glad that I'm going to be a part of that again. I've got two months to go until the Biarritz game to get right up to speed, as that is a game that I really want to be involved in."