Ali Williams hopes to recover his place in the New Zealand team in time for the World Cup, held in his home country in 2011.
The lock began the long road to recovery after an Achilles injury, which required three operations, meant he has not worn his New Zealand Shirt since November 2008.
Capped 61 times, Williams is hoping to regain fitness and form playing for Nottingham in the second tier of English rugby. Williams joins his fellow Kiwis captain Craig Hammond and director of rugby Glenn Delaney in the East Midlands, and is relishing his chance to return to professional rugby.
The imposing lock will continue to play for Nottingham for the remainder of the month before heading back to New Zealand to compete in the Blues super-15 campaign, which could then lead to a recall to the national side.
Managing twenty minutes on his return, Williams unsurprisingly looked rusty as he fumbled his first line out take, but will view his return as the first step on a long road back.
New Zealand coach Graham Hendry will welcome the return of the 6 ft 7 inch forward as he looks to add steel to a pack which suffered at the hands of England during the autumn internationals.
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