WALES tour captain Mark Taylor has dramatically revealed how he nearly lost the sight of an eye last year.

The Blaenavon-born former Pontypool centre, now moving from Llanelli Scarlets to Sale, appeared to be at the tailend of his career and was deemed surplus to requirements at Stradey Park.

Things got drastically worse as he was struck down with an illness which almost put paid to his career.

"I was plastered in chicken pox and somehow it got on to my eye and started eating the retina," he explained.

"I thought I had better see someone so I went to the doctor who got his superior and then he got his superior. I was very lucky, it was a very rare condition.

"I didn't feel any pain from the laser surgery until I had an injection into my eye to freeze the eyeball. But the surgery cut off the infected area, and we're only looking at the minute section of the retina which I had cut off."

Since recovering, Taylor's career has enjoyed a remarkable turnaround, partly aided by injuries to rivals, as he readily acknowledges.

Though not wanted at Stradey Park, he still earned a Six Nations call-up, acting as travelling reserve in France and Scotland before stepping in at the last minute after injuries to Hal Luscombe and Rhys Williams for the Grand Slam showdown against Ireland.

It was on the wing rather than his traditional centre position, but he made his mark and then his future on the domestic front was transformed as well.

Leading Zurich Premiership club Sale, coached by former Ebbw Vale captain Kingsley Jones, offered him a new three-year contract which he snapped up ahead of rivals Bristol who were also interested.

Now the 32-year-old steps up to the biggest job of all, leading his country against Canada and America on tour next month, though he did the job twice before in 2000.

"I only found out on Wednesday I was going to be captain which was a nice surprise," he admitted. "I did think my Wales days were over, with Gavin (Henson) and Sonny (Parker) playing in the Autumn, then when Sonny had a knock Shanks (Tom Shanklin) stepped into his shoes and look how well he's done.

"But people pick up knocks and you just keep plugging away. I remember I was behind Allan Bateman, Scott Gibbs and Leigh Davies before.

"It's been probably the strangest season of my life or anyone else's, it's been like something from Dallas. I've only played around 10 games with one Grand Slam game, now there's this Sale move and being tour captain, it's bizarre.

"It's going to be a great tour. Obviously people will say the pressure's off because countries like South Africa and Australia are the toughest, but we're missing 10 internationals (with the British Lions and the backs have been revamped.

"So it's going to be a big challenge and it's a chance for the youngsters to stake a claim for a place. This tour could help some make the Autumn series.

"Canada and America may not be the force they were, but we're there to be shot at after winning the Grand Slam.

"It's been a dark period for me, but it's great being part of this team. We're living the dream and it's lovely to be part of it."