I'll fight for my place, says Jamie

The Irishman—now the longest-serving player at the club—faces competition from several man-mountain newcomers but is confident he will continue to play his part on the coal face.

And, he says: “It’s a position where size really isn’t that important.”

Andre Bester has beefed up his pack substatially in a bid to hog the ball and the likes of Kilbane, Ben Harris, Shane Cahill, Rikki Stout, Rob O’Donnell and Ben Hooper will be slugging it out for the starting roles.

Says the 28-year-old former Belfast Harlequin, in his seventh year at Clifton Lane: “I don’t think it’s necessarily about size. That’s an illusion, but it does obviously help.

“If I wasn’t able to compete then I don’t think I’d be here.

“It’s more important to be a good technical scrummager rather than to have the size.

Shane Cahill is pretty good and explosive in the scrums and he’s pretty fit and strong, Ben Harris is learning the position and has done well. He’s still a way to go because Shane and I have the experience, but he has a lot of potential and is one to look at for the future.”

Kilbane was one of the few players to escape Bester’s squad cull at the end of last year and is delighted to remain involved.

“I’ve been here here seven years now so that makes me the longest serving player,” he says.

“I thought I played well at the end of last season and thought I deserved to be here. I’m really pleased to be a part of this squad because there are so many fantastic players and I think we can make a real good attempt at the league this season.