Powerhouse prop Adam Black is determined to retire from professional rugby on a high by winning promotion with Warriors – and admits his last game with Worcester has many parallels with his time at Dragons.
Popular front row Black will pack down one final time this Wednesday night in the RFU Championship final second leg with Cornish Pirates before hanging up his boots and moving with his family to Cornwall.
Black has always vowed to go out at the top and firmly believes he will do that if he can help Warriors secure an immediate return to the Aviva Premiership.
And the Romford-born prop admits he already knows many of the emotions he will be going through after revealing the magnitude of his final game is very similar to his last at previous club Dragons.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time at Worcester and before that had a wonderful career in South Wales,” he said.
“When I left my old club, the Dragons, my last game was to get them in the Heineken Cup. We played in Italy and I got two tries to get them into the top tier of Europe.
“In many ways it will come full circle come Wednesday night. I will be giving my absolute all to get the Warriors back into the Premiership, where I feel they rightly belong. This is a situation I have been in before.”
Black will walk away from the professional game to start running a campsite in Bude and he firmly believes taking the decision now is the right one not only for him but also his family.
“A fantastic opportunity has come up to make something else for myself and it only right for me and my family that I take that,” he added.
“I will be running a luxury Yurt campsite in Cornwall and we feel we can make it extra special. It’s very exciting to be able to do this with my family and retire from the game with so much to look forward to.
“I’m not the kind of person who wants to work in an office – it’s so far from what we do. This will keep me in the great outdoors and it’s only a mile from the beach so that is a great experience for the kids to grow up with a different way of life.
“I started talking with my family about the future just before Christmas. I also spoke to the club and was honest with Richard Hill about my future. I would like to thank him and the coaching staff and my team-mates for their support. I know feel it is the right time to tell the supporters and I hope they understand my decision.”
Black is now convinced he will leave Sixways with the Warriors firmly on the up and, with strong recruitment ahead of next season, believes lessons learnt in the RFU Championship will pay dividends for years to come.
“The boys have all worked extremely hard this year and we have developed a strong winning mentality,” said Black.
“It’s always hard to say goodbye, but I will continue to watch the boys on Sky Sports with a cider in my hand and I really hope the club does well.
“Worcester has some great backers and amazing fans that really deserve success. I have played with some of the best boys I have ever met and I truly wish them every success.”
For more information on Adam Black’s new career path visit www.east-thornecornwall.co.uk. You can also email him at Adam@east-thornecornwall.co.uk or find him the campsite on facebook by typing in ‘East Thorne – Cornwall’