DARREN Waters putting his body on the line as he returns from is sadly a familiar tale but the former Newport Gwent Dragons flanker has pledged to play with his trademark commitment after making a late Aviva Premiership debut for London Welsh.

The 29-year-old flanker was a hugely popular figure at Rodney Parade but made the move to Oxford last summer after three injury-hit seasons since his move from Pontypridd.

Unfortunately Waters' cruel luck struck again and, after featuring in Welsh's opening two friendlies, he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury two days before a warm-up at his old Sardis Road stomping ground.

The former bricklayer enjoyed an outing in the Exiles' training game against the Dragons at Old Deer Park last month and finally got out in the middle in the Premiership encounter with Wasps at the Kassam Stadium last Sunday.

"I just went out there, wore my heart on my sleeve and just gave it everything I had." said Waters, who made 17 Dragons appearances. "I just wanted to get out there and get on with it.

"It's been a bit frustrating with injury over the last few years but I feel I've got so much more to give to the game and it's been frustrating not being able to do that."

Waters got a valuable 60 minutes under his belt against Wasps, but couldn't prevent the already-relegated Exiles going down to a 40-13 defeat, their 29th straight loss this season.

"I was a bit gutted by the result. I don't think the score reflected how we played and at one point I thought we could have gone on to win it," said Waters, who made his comeback from a previous knee ligament injury in Oxford for the Dragons in 2013 when they enjoyed a LV= Cup win against Welsh.

"Unfortunately it wasn't the case but I definitely think we're making inroads in terms of building a team for next year and going out this season with a never-say-die attitude."

Despite the defeat, however, Waters believes the Exiles are building a team unity and spirit that will stand the club in good stead next season in the Championship, as it looks to make an immediate return to the top flight.

"It's something we've been trying to build since Rowland (Phillips) come in as head coach. We need to stick together as a team and a lot of the boys have re-signed for next year. We need that togetherness in order to progress and get back into the Premiership," Waters added.

The chances of the Exiles ending the season with a win to their name appear to be slim with their three remaining fixtures against title hopefuls Leicester, Northampton and Saracens but the flanker has pledged to keep on battling.

"It doesn't get any easier, but we'll rise to the challenge and keep fighting to the end," said Waters.