But there were times when Spratt, who returned to the RaboDirect PRO12 last summer after a year with London Irish, thought a recall would not be possible.
He made his international debut alongside current British & Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton on the tour to north America in 2009 but injury problems have prevented him making similar progress.
"I had to have a discectomy on my back where they shaved one of the disks, which kept me out for four months," said Spratt.
"Then I underwent anterior-cruciate ligament reconstruction, which involved a couple of operations on my knee. In the end I was out for 18 months.
"It has been tough. I know it's all part and parcel of being a professional rugby player and unfortunately you have to take the lows as well as the highs.
"But all that kept me going was trying to get back playing, even though it took longer than expected.
"The conditions are pretty tough here in Japan with the heat and humidity but we'll just have to deal with that and try to impose our style of game."
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