He may have had to play second fiddle to Rhodri Williams for most of the season, but the man who has played for all four Welsh regions is keen to play any part in Sunday’s trip to the Liberty Stadium for the second of this weekend’s Guinness PRO14 Welsh derby clashes.
Two more games will take the 2011 Welsh World Cup squad member to 100 appearances in the tournament and he needs two more starts to reach his half-century.
It is a story that began on 30 April, 2009, when he was picked on the bench for the Ospreys against the Dragons at the Liberty Stadium. The home side won 27-18, but failed to pick up a bonus-point.
That meant Munster were crowned champions of the then Magners League. Knoyle came on to replace Mike Phillips in the second half and went on to add four Wales U20 caps to those he had won previously at U16 and U18 level.
Tavis Knoyle’s Professional Debut
Ospreys 27 – 18 Dragons, Liberty Stadium, 30 April, 2009Ospreys: Lee Byrne; Tommy Bowe, James Hook, Andrew Bishop, Shane Williams; Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Duncan Jones, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Filipo Levi, Alun Wyn Jones, Marty Holah, Tom Smith, Ryan Jones (captain)
Reps: Ed Shervington, Paul James, Ian Gough, Filo Tiatia, Tavis Knoyle, Jonathan Spratt, Gareth Owen
His return 11 years on will see him potentially face only one player from that Ospreys team in Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones. More than a decade on, and having undergone eight operations in the interim, he has no thoughts of hanging up his boots just yet.
“My ambition is to start for the Dragons as much as possible. I’m still chipping away and I’d love to be able to play for another four years at least,” said Knoyle.
“Rhodri Williams is the captain, so it is all about working hard and taking my opportunity when it comes along. Last season I had one of the best years since leaving the Scarlets and really enjoyed my rugby.
“If you can get on the team sheet then everything else falls into place. I love being an underdog and I always look forward to a battle.”
One of only three players to feature for all four Welsh regions – Tal Selly and Liam Williams are the only others to have completed a clean sweep – he also spent a season at Gloucester. Add in matches for Neath, Llanelli and Pontypridd and he has done the rounds.
His bad luck with injuries has also held him back, although he is the first to admit that he often hasn’t helped himself in the past by not highlighting when he was struggling. But at least now he is back to full fitness and raring to go again.
The last of his 11 Welsh caps came in Japan in 2013, but he is determined to keep his standards high and to fight to play for as long as possible.
