Ugo Monye's international rugby career is being played out solely in the London borough of Richmond upon Thames, which saves on travel costs, but leaves the Harlequins wing yearning to experience life away from Twickenham Stadium.

Monye wins his fifth England cap against France on Sunday having recovered from the recurrence of back trouble that threatened his career and cost him a place in the team at home to Italy and away against Wales and Ireland in the Six Nations.

His four caps in November came against Pacific Islands, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, all played at the home of English rugby, just one stop down the railway line from his Strawberry Hill base.

A committed Christian, Monye puts his return to the England team - he replaces London Wasps' Paul Sackey, who has been dropped - down to a combination of his mother's prayers, his own strong faith and pilates.

He said: "I was playing against the Scarlets and 10 minutes into the game I jumped up to catch the ball and when I landed, my back went into immediate spasm. It was the same as happened 18 months ago when I was left lying on a friend's floor unable to walk.

"It was the day before England went to Portugal for pre-Six Nations training and I was confined to bed, unable to walk again.

"That lasted for a few days and I had to deal with the fact my back problem was haunting me again after I thought I had exorcised the demons.

"Fortunately, I recovered more quickly this time and here I am preparing for a first Six Nations game against France. Rest solved the ridiculous spasm and walking plus pilates helped sort it out. I believe my own faith and the prayers of my mum speeded things up.

"I feared I would miss out on the Six Nations because last time it took me eight weeks to recover which would have taken me right out of contention so to be back playing for Quins in three weeks was great.

"I played against the top three teams in the world in November but this tournament is against your rugby neighbours with huge rivalries. I watched the Six Nations as a kid and it was gutting to think I may miss out on all the matches."

Monye, whose French housemate works for the company that kits out the France team, is the fastest player in the England rugby team and put in extra work after training in November with full-back Delon Armitage and Sackey to try and create a counter-attacking threat.

The 'third man' is now Sale's Mark Cueto (right) and this unit has to counter the threat posed by France's kicking game. England have spent too long chasing badly-placed punts but with Monye restored, they have a man who once clocked 10.6secs for the 100metres.

Monye added: "I have known Delon for a long time but this is my first game with Mark, although I have watched his game a lot with Sale and England. We compliment each other well and we can show this team will work on Sunday. I firmly believe we can win our next two games at home despite narrow losses to Wales and Ireland. It is realistic to say we can beat France and then Scotland the following week.

"France will be a really tough test, they are going to love it if the sun keeps shining and I am sure we will thrive in that situation as well."

An eye-catching couple of Six Nations showings by Monye will put him in the frame for one of two trips away from his borough this summer with a Lions tour to South Africa or England's Test with Argentina in South America.

Playing for Quins, a team committed to keeping the ball in the hand, is the perfect stage for Monye's talents and he finds himself in a three-way battle just to get into that team with Dave Strettle and Tom Williams keeping up the selection pressure.

"I would have loved to have played at the Millennium Stadium or Croke Park and it would be great to travel with England," added Monye.

"This is my fifth cap and I haven't travelled outside my borough yet. I can probably walk to Twickenham Stadium in 10 minutes or one stop on the train from home. It isn't a comfort thing at all, honest."