The giant Newport Gwent Dragons lock was immediately handed a pair of Capetown-bought size 14 rugby boots and asked to dump his holiday baggage and pull on his track suit.
Charteris was called out to the land of the Rugby World Cup Champion Springboks to join Wales’s two-Test tour as a late replacement for the injured Cardiff Blues forward Bradley Davies, who has been forced to fly home, and had to be contacted whilst on holiday in America.
“It’s great to be here and I’m ready and raring to go really,” said Charteris.
“It was a shame to cut the holiday short, but you have to grab your chances and I’m just keen to get involved as much as I can now and enjoy the experience of coming to such a great rugby country.
“We are facing the world champions in their own back yard over two Tests and it doesn’t come much bigger than that, but all the boys are working hard and you could really sense they mean business as soon as I arrived in camp.
“I hope I can make myself useful and impress the coaches now and maybe earn myself a chance, that’s the next step for me.”
