Tim Stimpson has an extra motivation for trying to make the British Lions tour to Australia this summer he is out to banish the worst 12 months of his life to distant memory.

The Leicester full-back was part of the all-conquering Newcastle squad when he embarked on the previous Lions tour to South Africa.

Little could the former Wakefield man have known about the tribulations which awaited him on his return from the historic 2-1 series victory.

The full-back appeared to have the world at his feet. Instead it crumbled around him.

A much-publicised fall-out with Falcons director of rugby Rob Andrew saw Stimpson dumped from the first team along with fellow Lion John Bentley.

After a year in the cold, the 26-year-old Durham graduate moved on to Leicester, where he has won two Premiership titles and rebuilt the foundations of a promising career.

``Quite simply, it was a complete was of one season and a year of my life,'' said Stimpson as he recounted his Newcastle experience.

``I should have been going from strength to strength but instead I was denied an opportunity to do what I love, which is play rugby.

``The whole saga made me realise that my career is finite.

``You only get a certain number of opportunities to achieve what you want to.

``It was horrible to miss so many matches and I am grateful for the opportunity to prove myself at Leicester.''

Stimpson believes he has improved his all-round ability since taking residence at Welford Road and is relishing launching another Premiership campaign against Wasps at Loftus Road tomorrow.

However, because the 15-man code has moved on immensely in the past three years, effectively the Liverpool-born player has been standing still.

But he held the Tigers together when their squad was ravaged by World Cup calls at the start of last season and then maintained his nerve at the climax of a tense campaign, kicking the Midlanders to the title which a succession of
superb displays.

It was enough to earn him a place on England's summer tour of South Africa, where he returned to the international fold which replacement appearances in both Tests.

Indeed, Stimpson was the man hauled down by Springbok captain Andre Vos as he was trying to gain possession in the final minutes of the opening Test in Pretoria.

If the expected penalty try had been awarded, England would have claimed a famous 2-0 series victory.

Instead, they had to settle for a 1-1 stalemate, although with another Test against the Springboks and an outing with world champions Australia looming in the autumn, it was at least an encouraging sign for the future.

Stimpson's confidence has returned to such an extent he is not even worried about the mind-bolowing standard of the Tri Nations confrontations between the Wallabies and the All Blacks this summer, by common consent two of the greatest games the 15-man code has ever seen.

``They were incredibly physical but the defensive organisation has been shocking,'' he said.

``Neither of them are invincible because they have both made simple mistakes which have cost tries.

``In the first match, Australia were guilty of bad tackling and New Zealand couldn't hit their men at the line-out.

``We had a good tour to South Africa and were probably unfortunate not to come away with five victories from five games.''

With the promise of more international outings to come and another potentially successful club campaign about to get underway, Stimpson's chirpy exterior has returned.

``I can't remember being quite as upbeat about a new season,'' he said.

``I loved winning the Premiership last year and being chosen for the summer tour just capped it.

``It has made me very excited and determined to do a lot better than I have done before.

``I certainly feel as though there is still some improvement in me and hopefully as a squad, we can take Leicester to a higher level still.''