Robin Sowden-Taylor is stretchered off after his injury

The 24-year-old suffered a severe fracture in a match with the Ospreys.

"The time-scale is six to eight months, but with technology - oxygen tanks to increase blood flow - hopefully it will speed things up," he said.

"I've set my target for March. I'd written off the season, but after speaking to physios there's no reason I shouldn't play again this season."

Although Sowden-Taylor, who has three Wales caps, is desperate to get back playing as soon as possible, he is aware of the risks of rushing back from such an injury.

But the back-row points to the example of former Wales and Lions wing Ieuan Evans, who suffered a similar injury during his playing career and made a quicker than expected recovery.

I'm going to do everything in my power to get back and give myself the best opportunity of being involved in the World Cup. Robin Sowden-Taylor

"I don't want to push it, I want to make sure it's 100% right or it'll give me niggles in the future," .Sowden-Taylor added.

"Ieuan did the same thing a couple of years back and he was back within five months, I think.

"But I'll just have to wait and see. I've got the cast on for another eight weeks and once that's off I can start my rehab, then it's just week-by-week."

Although the break is a huge set-back, Sowden-Taylor has not given up hope of a late surge to win a place in Gareth Jenkins' Wales squad for next year's World Cup.

"If I can get some rugby under my belt before the end of the season, then who knows?

"The World Cup is the pinnacle of a player's career and I'm going to do everything in my power to get back and give myself the best opportunity of being involved.

"If not, then I'll look forward to the next one, but I'm going to do my best."

Sportstime

*Robin Sowden-Taylor was speaking to BBC Radio Wales' Sportstime programme, which has a regular slot on Tuesdays at 1900 BST.