Very well, they're a great bunch of boys and a there's a good atmosphere here. We've got a good blend of experience, wise old heads and youngsters with a lot of energy and enthusiasm which gels well. There have obviously been loads of changes also but the fundamentals of rugby stay the same. The game has gone regional since I was here last but it's still a good place to be around. The fans are great and the players mingle well with the supporters which is important especially as we try to move regional rugby forward.

You've played inside centre, outside centre and wing for us this season. Do you enjoy the challenge of playing in different positions?

I enjoy moving around and being versatile. I've always said that if I play in just one position I lose my concentration, so it's always nice to cover more than one. With the competition for places these days, anyone who makes the starting XV is worthy of the jersey. So everyone has got to be at their best , because we've got such strength.

I understand that the book has sold well. Was that something you enjoyed doing?

Yes, it was a good experience and I'm pleased that it's sold out because the money is going to charity. The quadriplegic ward in the Heath Hospital and money to the injured players charity, which is something that is special to me because it's associated with rugby. Also Sir Taker Watkins was the President of the charity. Sadly he passed away earlier this year, so I wanted to give something to them.

Was Sir Tasker a big influence on you?

He was a hero in the true sense of the word. People talk about rugby being a battlefield and rugby players being heroes, but when you think about what he faced during the war, it puts everything in perspective. He was a very modest man and never spoke about the experiences. He was an honourable and decent bloke, very generous and kind hearted and very humorous. Whenever we played for Wales people would look forward to his speech. He gave me my first cap and my 50th and he always said he wanted to give me my 100th cap but unfortunately it wasn't to be. I've been with Sir Tasker throughout my whole rugby career and he was a very special man.

It was your first time playing at Stade Jean Bouin, how did it compare to other French grounds?

I didn't find it an intimidating place; there are a lot worse places to play in France. I think that Paris is one of the nicest, the hardest place was Toulon. They'd have 15,000 sell out crowds and it would be a very intimidating, hostile atmosphere. They were head and shoulders above the rest. With clubs in France they constantly back their team whether they are 50 points in front or behind. It's the opposite of the national side, where fans sometime turn on the team.

I believed we could have won before the game and I believe we should have won it on Sunday. I feel at the moment that the only team capable of beating this team is ourselves. The games we've lost has proved that. We've lost because we haven't performed. I felt on Sunday a couple of decisions went against us and in big games like that you feel a bit hard done by. In a game of that magnitude, and games you could have won, it is frustrating.

We welcome Stade Francais this Saturday. How do you think we will get on at the Arms Park?

It's always difficult playing back to back, because you look at the six point deficit on Sunday and think we should beat them at home. But there are a number of factors that play a part, the conditions weren't great and that had a bearing. Stade have a number of quality players and individual talent. If the conditions are good and the pitch is firm it should be an entertaining game. I think both teams like to play an open game so hopefully the match will be a bit more exciting.

What was the hardest thing to cope with in France?

Everything really, everything that you take for granted back home was harder over there. Just going to the shop for a loaf of bread and saying hello to someone on the street. When I arrived I couldn't do much more that that because I wasn't fluent enough. The players in Toulouse always said you can only be fluent in the language if you're French because it's such a tough language. I learnt enough to get by which stood me in good stead and I was lucky that Toulouse is such a cosmopolitan place people wanted to learn English also.

Homesickness, missing your family and friends was also difficult. It's a life changing decision and a life changing move, and it's one that I'm glad I did. I learnt a lot about myself, a lot about rugby and to play for one of the greatest clubs in the world was an honour.