Yet this weekend he will be heading to Dublin to face the Grand Slam-chasing Irish side as he continues his development from novice international tighthead to a mainstay of the Welsh pack.
This time 12 months ago the 26-year-old was left wondering if he would have a future in the professional game as the financial failings of the game in Wales led the four regions to tighten their belts.
Both he and Cardiff and now Wales front row team-mate Corey Domachowski, right, were coming out of contract hadn't and been offered a new deal.
The fear was that it could be as little as £50,000 - a 50 percent-plus reduction in their previous terms.
"I was speaking to one of the Merthyr coaches, and I was thinking of signing for them. I would probably have taken a side job as well - I'd have just had to wing it," admitted Assiratti." "I had to think about getting a job for my family, to try and secure everything. But I didn't know what I was going to do.
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