Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe has expressed his gratitude to be back on the field after a lengthy, injury-enforced break.

Kolbe made his long-awaited debut for Toulon in the Challenge Cup clash against Zebre over the weekend.

It was the 28-year-old’s first match since he turned out for the Springboks against Argentina in the Rugby Championship.

Kolbe suffered a leg injury during a training session that was serious enough to rule him out of the latter part of the Rugby Championship and the Springboks’ November tour of the UK.

In a social media post, he admitted that it was frustrating being on the sidelines: “I may not be where I want to be, but thank God I am not where I used to be with the most frustrating 4 months of injury.

“Missed this feeling. Thank you to everyone for your continuous support and prayers. My new journey officially starts at Stade Mayol.”

Kolbe joined Toulon from Top 14 rivals Toulouse during the off-season, ending a four-year stay with the latter where he won a Top 14 and Champions Cup title.

In an interview with AFP, he said the decision to join Toulon was partly motivated by a desire to remain in the Top 14.

“I wanted to stay in France because myself and my family, we just love the culture,” he said at the time. “We’ve made friends that became family to us across France.”