But instead the 27-year-old chose to join former Scotland scrum-half Bryan Redpath at the Cherry & Whites where the ex-Leicester second-row maintains he will be aiming to expand his game.

He said: “I remember getting the bus back from Kingsholm and thinking how similar Gloucester were to Leicester in many ways.

“They have passionate fans and a great infrastructure. It is quite flattering to know there are a few big clubs after you but I wanted to join a proper rugby club and you only have to look at Gloucester’s history to see what they are about.

“You speak to any top player in any sport and they well say the biggest rush comes from running out in front of big crowds.

“I would really get an adrenaline surge when I went to Munster and Leinster and coming out to packed houses and would raise my game for those matches.

“Andy Robinson, when he was my coach at Edinburgh, improved my game 130%. He got me making line breaks, being a ball carrier and really helped my offloading game. He really used me to my full potential.

“But I want to keep improving and that’s why I came to the Premiership. There will be no comfort zone at Gloucester with the players they have got in the second row.”