Luger was ready to quit

"People don't realise. Your friends can eat what they want and go out when they want, and you're going home early every night. Or nearly every night. But I'd much rather be doing this than anything else in the world."

Hence Luger got back on the treadmill to regain full fitness. He even considers himself "lucky" that his latest injury was not more serious. As it was he was in serious pain for some time, and was not allowed even to chew for 10 days. But the injury is now healed and Luger will be on the wing for Quins tomorrow for the first game of the new Zurich Premiership season, against London Irish at The Stoop.

"I can't wait, actually. I'm really happy to be back at the club that's closest to my heart, the one I supported as a kid. I spent my first year in professional rugby here, got my first England cap here. It's like coming home.

"I thought that way about Quins even when I was still with Sarries, but you can't really say it. You give yourself professionally to your club and it would be disloyal to speak that way. But it's great to be linking up and playing again with so many great guys.

"Also the last time I played a full season without injury was here, so my hopes are pretty high that being back at Quins will do the trick.''

That Luger has contrived to remain England's most dynamic and consistent try-scorer throughout his unwanted health adventures is thoroughly remarkable.

But then sport has always been in his blood - as a 17-year-old, his mother was a junior international sprinter for the Czech Republic.

Of course, it was Luger's very pleasure in rugby which made his Lions injury so testing. "It was hard to miss out on the main action. The whole season was geared to that tour, and I'd fought back so hard from injury to be there at all.

"I was playing well and so looking forward to the First Test. It was like missing the Olympics. There was never any doubt about how special the Lions were for me. It was a career ambition. It was fantastic playing alongside guys you're usually up against. At least I had two games as a Lion and got my shirt, but it was so disappointing. The First Test was hard to watch. I wanted the guys to win but I was desperate to be out there myself.

"I was torn. I felt a part of it because we had all bonded so well, and we've all stayed in touch. But I would have given anything to play.''

It was not all harmony and loveliness on the tour. Luger went public with the fact that the heavy training regimen left him with dead legs.

"I respect Matt Dawson for what he said,'' recalled Luger. "It was just wrong timing. But, personally, I'd never felt so tired. Too tired, yes. The Queensland game was the tiredest I've ever gone into a game. It's difficult to play on tired legs especially when you're expected to be explosive and beat people. It's a fine line as to whether it was the right thing.

"If we'd won the series, everyone would have said it was exactly what we needed. But from a personal point of view I was certainly tired. Some people were fed up, but they always are on tour. After I left, the atmosphere started to go a little bit sour.''

Seeing him now back to full fitness, it is difficult not to think that it is just as well a chap with so preposterously heroic a name happened to turn into an international rugby player. You couldn't be called Dan Luger and be a nine-stone weakling.

"I suppose I was always good at everything," he agreed modestly. "I used to win all the sports days at school. You're right, it's just as well given my name. I like it actually. It works quite well, the gun thing with being a winger."

He intends to be back with a bullet tomorrow. Once again all things are possible, and his excitement is touching.

"Quins against Irish is a local derby. I'm so happy that we start off with them. It should be a great atmosphere with the ground sold out. I can't think of a better game to come back in. It's going to be brilliant."