Wales prop Keiron Assiratti faces Ireland next weekend 12 months on from his professional rugby career hanging in the balance.
Due to financial issues, Assiratti had nothing on the table from Cardiff and considered dropping down a level, while also potentially finding work outside of rugby.
But Assiratti eventually signed a new one-year contract and is now a major player for Wales, having impressed at the Six Nations against both Scotland and England.
“It is a big change, to be fair,” he said. “This time 12 months ago I didn’t know what I was doing with my rugby. Now, I can say I am doing quite well, so it has been a big turnaround.
“I had to think about getting a job for my family to try and secure everything. I was thinking of signing for Merthyr. That is what I was going to do.
“I didn’t think I was going to get anything at Cardiff at that time. I let things play out at Cardiff, then I had a run of games and now here I am.
“I wasn’t playing at all in the first half of last season, and it was really frustrating. I had to stick at it because I have got a family.
“Now, when I think about what could have been and what is happening, I am glad I stuck at it.”
