Cape Town - A serious Achilles tendon injury might have ended Kees Meeuws's 2008/09 club season prematurely, but the Llanelli Scarlets strongman has been handed a welcome distraction during his six-month lay-off.

Meeuws, who ruptured his Achilles tendon at the end of November last year, will travel to Cape Town in early February in order to attend the inaugural Cape Town Tens tournament - an event which is the brainchild of ex-Springboks, Bob Skinstad and Robbie Fleck.

Meeuws, thanks to his association with adidas - the official equipment suppliers to the Cape Town Tens - will be in the Mother City on the weekend of February 6-8 to witness the CT Tens in full swing.

"With rugby being a professional sport, you don't really have the opportunity to interact with your opponents after games anymore," admits Meeuws in conversation with www.capetowntens.com.

"A tournament like the Cape Town Tens is a great opportunity for me to catch up with guys like Bobby and Robbie, who I played against many times, and rekindle old friendships. As players we all have something in common - we love this game of rugby and it's great to be able to get together in a relaxed environment like this."

An on the actual Tens format, Meeuws adds: "A lot of guys here in Europe and back home (in New Zealand) want to be part of tournaments like these.

"When you retire from professional rugby there's no other level to play at, but something like a consistent Ten-a-side 'circuit', in fantastic venues like Cape Town, offers us a nice way to enjoy our rugby and keep in touch with our old mates from our playing days."

"If it wasn't for this injury I wouldn't have been able to commit to the trip," offers Meeuws. "The injury's obviously not great and, believe me, I was really frustrated at first, but there is a silver lining in every situation."

Meeuws should be off crutches by the time he arrives in Cape Town in early February, with him saying: "I might still be in a moon boot - I can't promise that I'll look completely normal - but it sure beats hobbling about on crutches!

"Apparently I'll be managing a Legends team at the Tens, so I'll make sure I whip them into shape," laughs Meeuws.

"I'm really looking forward to heading to Cape Town," he adds, "I've been there before, for Super 12s and with the All Blacks, but this time I'll be able to enjoy myself and relax properly in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

"As I said, I'd love to get involved in some regular Tens rugby when I eventually retire from the game, and I can't wait to meet some new people and forge new friendships in February. Tens rugby has a real future and what better place to host a tournament than Cape Town?!"