Dwain can never get back on track; CRUNCH MATCH: Dwain Chambers goes through his paces in training for today's match which could decide his future in rugby JOHN REGIS, Chambers' former manager'' It will be very hard for Dwain to come back and be a major force in athletics now. Rugby league is the toughest sport to pick. - The Mail on Sunday (London, England)

Byline: Rob Draper, Richard Bott

DWAIN CHAMBERS will not be able to return to athletics this summer if hefails to win a rugby league contract with Castleford Tigers, according to hisformer manager, John Regis.

Olympic silver medallist Regis fears for Chambers, who makes his debut forCastleford reserves today against York in a friendly, after speaking tosprinters who have previously made the switch from track to American football.

Chambers won silver at last month's world indoor athletics championships inValencia but decided to opt for a trial with Castleford rather than continue onthe track, as he is banned from the British Olympic team because of hispositive test for steroids in 2003.

Castleford will make a decision on offering him a contract after analysing hisperformance today but if he fails, Regis does not see a way back for Chambersin athletics.

He said: 'I think it would be very tough for him to come back and be a majorforce in athletics. He's very talented, maybe one of the best in Europe, but totake on the best in the world is another ball game.

'It's going to be very difficult for him to compete well this summer.

He has an immense amount of talent as he showed at the world indoors but youcan't keep going to the well half full.

'Eventually the well dries up and I think he has to make a decision. It lookslike it's rugby and good luck to him. Coming back to athletics wouldn't be thateasy. Athletes will be primed and ready to make the team and he'd find it veryhard to perform at that consistent level he would want.' Regis is fearful ofthe treatment that may be meted out to Chambers today, having discussed theissue with former 110m hurdles world-record h o l d e r, Renaldo Nehemiah.

The American quit athletics in 1982 to play for the San Francisco 49ers in theNFL and was part of the squad that won the 1984 Super Bowl. Regis says thateven Nehemiah, who made a success of the switch, endured a brutal welcome.

Regis said: 'Renaldo told me he will never forget the first games.

He broke all his fingers and a collarbone.

People who play contact sports do not like sprinters coming in because it makesthem look bad.

' He was targeted because they didn't want to look bad. I'm just hoping Dwaintakes a couple of hits and he'll be OK, but I'm pretty sure they'll belaunching themselves at him.' Y ORK coach Paul March, former Wakefield andHuddersfield hooker, confirmed that Chambers was in line for a tough debut, infront of a Castleford crowd 25 times more than their normal 200 fans.

'Every player will want to knock his head off and show him what to expect,'said March. 'But I think he can make the switch because he's got the pace andhe just needs to learn the positional play.' Chambers has worked hard to learnthe basics of rugby league in the last four weeks. Now he has to test his nerveand physique in the public glare in a competitive game, albeit at reserve-teamlevel.

He believes he can still make it as his new sport, but insists he has not ruledout a return to athletics, and even the Olympics.

'I have to be confident that there is a future for me in rugby league becauseif

I go into the game with any doubts, I'll get hurt,' he said. 'It doesn't botherme whether I start the game or come off the bench. I'm ready.

'I expect to be singled out for treatment but I have always been a target, evenon the track. And the opposition has to catch me first.

'Obviously, it's going to be harder running for 80 minutes than for nineseconds and it'll be different catching and running with the ball.

'I just want to enjoy the experience, wake up on Monday morning feeling stiffand then sit down with the coaching staff and make a decision about where wego.

'If the door closes, I will still be fit and ready to run and I'm not closingthe door on the possibility of running in the Olympics.' Regis himself had thechance of rugby league, when former discus thrower and Belgrave Harriers pal,Abi Ekoku, asked him to consider a move. Ekoku, who swapped sports and playedfor London Broncos and Bradford, ended up as national team manager.

Regis said: 'Years ago, Abi said he thought I'd make a good rugby player. But Ithought, 'you've got to be crazy'. I bruise too easily.

'It's very hard to train as a rugby player. You have to train your body to takethe hits and I think that's going to be the most difficult thing for Dwain inthis first game. The hits are going to be unbelievable.

'As sprinters, you train only to go forwards but in rugby you play left, right,sideways. Dwain has only trained for three or four weeks and that's nowherenear enough.

'It would be interesting to see how he progresses, whether he comes on as sub,but I think it's going to be a real wake-up call.

'If this is the sport he's going to choose, it's probably one of the toughesthe could have picked.'