Sonny Parker has a double reason for trying to impress when London Welsh take on Pontypridd in tomorrow’s British & Irish Cup clash.

The 36-year-old is still trying to get back to full fitness after picking up a calf injury a week before Welsh’s opening pre-season game at Chinnor.

And the former Wales centre is hoping that the trip might offer a further chance to press his claims against a side with whom he spent four years.

“When you’re not involved with the team you’re always a step behind,” Parker said.

“Obviously you want to play, but you’ve got to take it on the chin and keep training hard.”

It was his former Auckland mentor, and then Wales head coach, Graham Henry who approached the 21-year-old Parker about trying his luck in Wales back in 1999.

“It was difficult for me at that time, because I’d moved from New Zealand and I was still quite young,” he said.

“It made me grow up a lot quicker, so in a way it was a good thing. It was a massive growing-up experience off the field, as well as playing some great rugby.

He added: “That whole period was just one the best of my playing career – I loved playing there. I love Wales and I love going back there.”