Tommy Bowe details the painful extent of his knee surgery and rehab schedule

A high price to pay to return to action.

Tommy Bowe is well used to surgeries, rehabs and comeback dates. Unfortunately, it has been his lot for the last few years. The Ulster and Ireland winger wrenched knee ligaments after 14 minutes of Ireland's World Cup exit to Argentina, last October, and is still some way off competitive action. Bowe had held initial hopes of a Six Nations return but the conservative return date set for him appears to have been accurate. Speaking to The Irish Examiner in Chicago, Bowe revealed he was back working on running and agility on the rugby pitch. He also recounted the details of the surgery he underwent after the World Cup. He said:

"I had two holes drilled through my fibula and then [holes] drilled through the knee. They had to pull through the ligaments and tie it all up again. It wasn’t ever going to be a quick fix." "It’s been 16 weeks since surgery now and realistically I probably still have another month and a half. But I’m a hopeful guy, I’m hoping to be back playing rugby for Ulster before the end of the year, get some games in. I’m hoping to be available for selection for the tour to South Africa. That’s the goal."

The first few months of rehab 'are the killer' but Bowe has battled on and can now see the light at the end of the tunnel "I’ve been through enough rehabs over the years," he said. "I kinda know what I need to be doing. I can almost autopilot parts of it."