JAMES LOWE admits he was relieved to return to action last Saturday against Stade Francais in the Champions Cup.

Lowe, 31, had been playing the waiting game prior to his start at the Aviva Stadium — owing to a number of injury setbacks after the World Cup.

But he was pleased to get back in his groove for Leinster in their 43-7 success over their Top 14 foes.

The Leinster winger said: “I was hoping to play in the first round of Champions Cup away to La Rochelle but I re-tore a muscle in my foot and that put me back a little bit.

“I was hoping to return for that Ulster game on New Year’s Day but I just missed out.

“I am stoked to be back playing rugby. You get to a stage where you start missing it.

“Watching the games on the TV, even that La Rochelle game, you almost feel sick on the inside just watching it with nerves. I’m glad to be back playing.”

Lowe was one of many Ireland players to be marked absent via injury after the World Cup.

In fact, his last outing before Saturday came for Andy Farrell’s side in the 28-24 quarter-final loss to the All Blacks in Paris.

And since then, Keith Earls and Johnny Sexton have brought their professional playing careers to a close.

The retirement of the latter has been strange for Lowe — who played with Sexton for three years at Leinster before becoming his international colleague in 2020.

Lowe explained: “It’s weird. It’s like you get divorced or something.

“He’s there but he’s not there. It’s sad because a huge chunk of his life has been here. He was helping the boys, driving standards and expecting the best of you.

“It’s weird not having him but the sun keeps coming up and people take different roles.”

But Lowe — who was yesterday named in Ireland’s Six Nations squad — will be able to work with a familiar face in the international fold.

Andrew Goodman is set to replace Mike Catt as Farrell’s attack coach this summer — and Lowe is excited to add another layer to his relationship with his fellow Kiwi.

He added: “Catty has been phenomenal ever since I have gone into that Irish camp.

“It’s a changing of the guard but Goody is from my home town in Nelson.

“He was my PE teacher at Nelson College and his father was my rugby manager for years. He is a legend of a bloke.

“I’m stoked to have seen him come to Leinster and thrive.

“For the Irish boys to see that and for him to get the nod of approval is awesome.”