Cardiff wing Josh Adams has signalled his intention to prolong his Wales career after the 2023 World Cup quarter-final exit in October.
Adams returned to action for the first time since the World Cup in Cardiff’s United Rugby Championship defeat by Scarlets on Saturday.
“I am determined to carry on playing for Wales and I love doing that,” said Adams.
“I am 28, hopefully they don’t think I am too old, I don’t feel old.”
Adams has scored 21 tries in 54 internationals and has competed in two World Cups.
He was the tournament’s top try scorer in 2019 in Japan.
Adams finished the 2023 tournament with a shoulder injury suffered against Argentina in the last eight loss which delayed his return to Cardiff.
“After losing a quarter-final I was chomping at the bit to play some rugby again and get back into it,” said Adams.
“We were all given a certain amount of time anyway. I had two weeks regardless of whether I was fit or not.
“The two weeks would have been enough. I had some rest, managed to move into a new house, but the shoulder was frustrating.
“I was probably out a bit longer than I would have liked but you have to give it time and I am pleased with how it feels now.
“The Six Nations is coming up and [then there is] the summer tour before moving into the following season as well.”
Adams has watched a young Cardiff side win two out of their first seven league games, though they have picked up a bonus point in each of the matches.
“It has been great watching the boys,” said Adams.
“I have been looking forward to coming back into the side. The spirit within the team and the way they have dug in and fought for each other, regardless of results, has been brilliant.”
One of the stand-out players has been Mason Grady, who has usually been viewed as a centre but has been used as a wing.
He could now become a Wales rival for Adams.
“He’s been really good, he looks like he’s played wing for a while,” said Adams.
“He’s had experience playing at 13 for Wales and for Cardiff. Maybe that’s a position he’ll be playing in the future, but playing wing can give you a lot of experience to help you for when you move in.
“He does things differently. He’s a massive boy and a fast lad. Mason is a great athlete and we need to find ways of getting him on the ball because he is such a hard man to stop.”
Attention now turns towards the Heineken Champions Cup with Cardiff the only Wales side in Europe’s top tier.
Matt Sherratt’s side have two daunting trips to France to face Toulouse and Racing 92 and home games against English duo Bath and Harlequins.
The opening contest will be away against Top 14 champions Toulouse on Saturday, 9 December.
“We haven’t got easy games in Europe and we want to be there to have the big games,” said Adams.
“Next week will be special, it’s a bit of a David versus Goliath. Cardiff in the position we’re in, with quite a small squad, a small budget, going out to play Toulouse. We’ll put everything into the week, we won’t hold anything back and we’ll go at it.
“We are in a tricky period with the Welsh regions with funding, squad sizes and experience within the squads.
“Punching above our weight a bit will just be an achievement. We are playing in the top tier of European rugby and we have got Bath who are flying in the Premiership coming here.
“When Bath and Harlequins come here in the Champions Cup we are going to go after them.
“They will be big days for the club and where we are at the moment, if we can turn teams like that over and create memories, that will be brilliant.”