CHIPPENHAM could field Six Nations Grand Slam winner Hal Luscombe in more league matches this season after the former Welsh international’s substitute appearance in last weekend’s league victory over Newbury Blues.

Luscombe, 30, came on as a second-half replacement during the Allington Field side’s 39-7 home triumph in their National 3 South West clash.

The South African-born player, capped 16 times by Wales between 2003 and 2007, will join Chippenham head coach Jason Forster – himself capped once by Wales – in the Classic Lions squad for the World Rugby Classic event in Bermuda next week and was trying to improve his fitness ahead of the trip.

But Forster revealed his friend may also be available for Chippenham in the future after retiring from the professional game in 2009 following a series of injuries.

“I’ve known Hal for a long time, from my playing days with Newport and the Dragons and he lives around the corner from me in Newport,’’ said Forster.

“We’re in the Classic Lions squad together, but he hadn’t played rugby for two years so I said to him that he should come to Chippenham and get a few minutes under his belt.

“He had half an hour for us and hopefully that will happen a few more times this season.

“We’ve had a terrible run of luck with injuries and unavailability at Chippenham and we haven’t been able to field last season’s back line yet so if someone of Hal’s capability can play a little bit longer for us, he could bring that experience and calmness.’’

Luscombe, part of the Wales squad which lifted the Grand Slam in the 2005 Six Nations Championship, made more than 50 appearances alongside Forster for the Newport Gwent Dragons between 2003 and 2006, going on to play for English Premiership sides Harlequins and Worcester.

Forster added: “He’s played at the top level and hopefully his experience could rub off on some of the lads in the squad.’’