Controversial sprint star Dwaine Chambers insists he is ready for Rugby League debut

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The controversial sprinter, who has never played rugby of either code in his life, is three weeks into his crash course with Super League's bottom club Castleford during which time he celebrated his 30th birthday.

Ready to start: Dwaine Chambers gets used to life at Castleford

His month's trial comes to an end next week and the Tigers have arranged a one-off reserve friendly against York at the Jungle next Sunday in order to put the athlete through his paces before making a decision on his long-term future.

"The exciting part is that I'm actually going to be playing and everyone is excited to see whether I can catch the ball and run with it," he told the BBC.

"I've got no problem with it so far. Training has been great. I've got a lot to learn and they've been killing me in training - running up and down, touching the ground and getting back and forth, which is something I'm not used to as an athlete.

"I'm still in my infancy in this sport but, once I get the grasp of it, I'll be flowing.

"The team are preparing me well and the team management have been superb preparing me for my game next week and I feel I'm ready."

Chambers, who won a 60 metre silver medal at the World Indoor Championships in Valencia earlier this year, has yet to announce whether he will press ahead with his bid to overturn a British Olympic Association ban on his participation in the Beijing Games.

In the meantime, he insists he is taking his rugby league trial seriously and is having fun.

"This may be it," he said. "I'm having a lot of fun and, when I'm having fun, I perform at my best. That showed that when I ran in Valencia. I'm excited.

"This is beyond a publicity stunt. It could have been interpreted that way but I've got into the training and realised how much I enjoy the rugby side of it.

"The only thing I've got to get used to is the cold and the rain and being out there for 80 minutes."

There will be no fairytale appearance at Wembley for Chambers after Castleford were beaten 44-14 at Harlequins in the fourth round.