Amid a sea of new Western Force faces, captain Matt Hodgson remains one of its most constant.
The flanker has returned for his 14th Super Rugby pre-season and with the younger faces flooding in, he didn’t miss the chance to poke fun at himself.
“Obviously when I first started, we were still watching black and white TV,” he said.
“If I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t still be doing it.
“The body’s feeling great, it’s just like riding a bike you do one after the other, day after day.
“I’m a bit over training and ready to start playing some footy.”
The Force will be tested in their trial matches with a clash against the Hurricanes in Hodgson’s in Gosford in his home state of NSW .
It’s a match the veteran is eagerly anticipating to kick start his 2016 campaign, and help grow the game.
“It’s an exciting time, there’s such a strong rugby network up there and great to go back there and play in front of a home type crowd.
“It’s good way to get home and see the family and get mates and the local community to see Super Rugby and high quality rugby.”
Hodgson said he was looking forward to the challenge of facing the 2015 runners-up, in what will be the first glimpse of the Western Force’s much-touted new attacking philosophy.
“Although the Hurricanes didn’t win it last year they were probably the best team throughout the whole competition,” he said.
“You always want to test yourself against the best.
“They probably play a similar type of rugby to what we’re trying to play.
“It’s just good to play high quality sides the whole time and it really gives confidence to the young blokes playing Super Rugby for the first time.
“It’s good for the old blokes to get that timing and get back on the field again.”
The Force travel to Gosford to take on the Hurricanes on February 3, hosting the Rebels their first Super Rugby match on February 27.