CHAMBERS TO MAKE RL DEBUT
Castleford Tigers have confirmed that disgraced sprinter Dwain Chambers will make his first rugby league appearance this weekend.
Chambers, who is in the final week of a one-month trial at the Super League strugglers, will appear in a hastily arranged reserve-team friendly against York City Knights on Sunday.
The arrival of the sprinter, who was banned for two years in 2003 after testing positive for the banned steroid THG, has created a buzz in the West Yorkshire town and a crowd of around 5,000 - believed to be an unofficial record for a rugby league reserve team fixture - as well as a huge media presence from all around the world is expected to attend.
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And the 30-year-old believes that he is more than ready for the challenge.
"It's been a long time coming," Chambers told BBC Sport.
"The exciting part is that I'm going to be playing and everyone is excited to see if I can catch the ball and run with it."
Castleford believe that Sunday's fixture will feature the fastest player ever to step onto a rugby league pitch but Chambers believes that his pace will be wasted if he can't grasp the game's fundamentals.
"Speed is nothing compared to understanding what is going on in the field," added the former Olympic sprinter.
"My speed is going to be put to the back if I can't understand the game and catch the ball and do what I am supposed to do.
"There is a lot to learn, I'm still in my infancy in this sport but once I get the hang of it I'll be flowing."
Whilst learning a new sport, Chambers has also played a big part in the club's community work, giving sprint training and drugs awareness seminars at a local high school and as of yet, has not ruled out an extended stay in Castleford should he impress the club's coaching staff.
"This maybe it, I am having a lot of fun here and when
I'm having fun I'm at my best.
"I showed that when I was running in Valencia and did
pretty well and I believe I can do it again here so I am excited.
"It's beyond a publicity stunt. To begin with it could
have been interpreted that way but as I've got into the training I've realised
how much I am enjoying the rugby side of it.
"The only two things I've got to get used to is the cold weather and being out there for 80 minutes."
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