Nick David has hailed the privilege of signing a new contract at Harlequins, while refusing to give up hope for boyhood club Worcester.
Full-back David has capped his major breakthrough campaign at The Stoop by signing a new west London deal, some 18 months after leaving home club Worcester.
The 24-year-old had to fight for openings last term at Quins but has flourished in his second campaign at The Stoop.
New Worcester owners the Atlas consortium have eyed a controversial renaming as Sixways Rugby and merger with Stourbridge RFC. The RFU could yet veto those moves, and Atlas’ takeover remains in the balance.
Redditch-born David hopes his home club finds a way to keep the Warriors name alive, with the England age-group full-back acutely aware of the realities for those still hunting jobs after Worcester and Wasps folded last year.
“I’m thrilled to be re-signing with Quins, the way they look to play just suits my attributes perfectly,” David told Standard Sport.
“They want to play, want to chuck it about, have fun, so that’s really how I see the game and how I want to play it. So there’s no better team for me.
“I definitely acknowledge the fact I’m in a very privileged position though. I’ve got mates at Worcester still looking for contracts, and some guys have gone into the Championship.
“It’s a really tough situation for the guys who were involved with Worcester when it was all going downhill.
“For me to be able to re-sign with a top club like Quins in the current climate is massive and something I certainly don’t take for granted.
“I really hope Worcester can keep the identity of Worcester Warriors. It means a lot to me, it’s my childhood club.
“I got picked up by the club aged 14, and I had a professional contract there for four years.
“It would be awful for the club to lose all that identity and history.”
David has forced his way to regular rugby in Quins’ back-three this term, finding his feet in the west Londoners’ high-octane style.
“It’s gone so fast, first year-and-a-half,” said David.
“It was always going to be a tough season last season, coming from the bottom of the league with Worcester to a team that had just won the Premiership.
“I always knew I was going to have to work hard to get my opportunity, but now I’m thoroughly enjoying how much I’m involved this season.”
Tabai Matson’s side have slipped to four-straight Premiership defeats, and yet Quins remain just one point off the top four in sixth place.
The London side will hunt a return to winning ways at Gloucester on Friday night, with David insisting there will be no relenting on their expansive, aggressive game.
“One bonus-point win could push a team from ninth to fourth almost at the moment, the league is so tight,” said David.
“Every result is crucial now. We know these games are must-win but at the same time we don’t want to shy away from how we want to play as a team.
“We want to play to our strengths. We acknowledge the table’s really close, but we’ll also maintain our identity as a team that wants to play from anywhere on the field.
“It’s been a tough few weeks in the Premiership for us but we’re still creating opportunities it’s just about being more clinical at converting them for us.
“So in that regard it’s positive we’re creating chances we’ve just got to finish them off.
“Gloucester is a massive, massive game for both teams. But we’re relishing it, embracing the challenge of going to Gloucester and hopefully putting out a good performance.”
