BACK row forward Dave Merlin is enjoying a brand new challenge after threatening to quit rugby during the summer.

The 27-year-old was on the verge of retirement after a forgettable season with Blackheath which saw the club relegated after 21 defeats in 26 Premiership Two games.

Merlin had joined the London club after six seasons with Northampton and found it hard to play on a losing side week in week out.

One of the hardest defeats to take was the crushing 51-3 defeat at home to Worcester last January when Blackheath were blown away in a one-sided second-half.

"I had been involved with winning teams most of the time, so last season was a very different experience and very depressing to say the least," he said.

"I was thinking of giving up because I couldn't go through another experience like Blackheath.

"My agent was trying to get me to go to Ireland, France or Wales which might have been a good experience, but it wasn't really for me.

"I wasn't going to bother and moved back home to Worcester, but Les phoned me up and asked me to come along."

Merlin had left Worcester for Northampton in 1992 and has revelled on his return to Sixways.

He played in pre-season games against Llanharran and Cornwall and was called into the starting XV for the crucial home victory against promotion rivals Rotherham.

He is playing on a non-contract, part-time basis but has become a regular in the club's first team plans despite stiff competition in the back row.

"I'm enjoying every moment of it and a lot of that is to do with the great spirit between the boys at the club," he added.

"I'm happy even if I don't play in the first team such as the friendly against Randwick."

For Merlin the nightmare is over, the pure pleasure of playing rugby has got him smiling again.