Tom Shanklin leads the Blues in a pre-season training run

The Wales and Cardiff Blues back suffered a recurrence of a knee injury that saw him miss most of last season.

"I wasn't 100% fit and had it been a Welsh tour I may have rested," he said.

"But it was a Lions tour, they only happen every four years and may not happen again for me so it was something I really wanted to do."

Shanklin tore knee cartilage in a Celtic League game with Ulster more than a year ago, but returned to fitness following surgery to take his place on the 2005 Lions tour.

But the knee problem soon flared up again, forcing the 26-year-old to return home before the first Test.

It's exciting to be back, to be fit and training Tom Shanklin

"Unfortunately I wasn't quite fit enough to take part in all the training and the games and that was one of the reasons I broke down," Shanklin added.

"Had I had a complete rest over the summer then I probably wouldn't have had a year out.

"But I don't really regret it - I'm a British Lion, so I'm happy with that."

Shanklin's comeback game for the Blues last October lasted just 35 minutes before his knee collapsed again, prompting fears his career was over.

But surgery followed by seven months of hard rehabilitation has seen Shanklin emerge ready to continue his rugby career, which has seen him win 33 international caps.

He was one of more than 20 senior Wales players who sat out the summer tour to Argentina, either told to rest or undergoing further rehabilitation, but is eager to start the new season.

"With a lot of injuries there's a chance you won't gain full fitness again, but it's looking pretty good now," Shanklin said.

"I've worked hard on rehab on my knee, worked on different muscles so my knee will react better.

"I wanted to play the last three or four games of last season, I feel I was fit enough.

"But there was the argument that it was only a couple of games and I should get another couple of months' rest and start pre-season with everyone else.

"It's exciting to be back, to be fit and training with all the guys, but it's a lot harder work than I thought it would be!"