Humphreys, who will be 36 next February, is set to call it a day after the 2004-05 Premiership season.

And he is driven by the prospect of a Twickenham farewell, declaring a fierce ambition for Bath to once again contest Premiership title honours.

Despite finishing top after the 22-game regular league season last May, Baths championship hopes crashed when Wasps beat them in the play-off final.

Humphreys captained Bath on that occasion, and we will be at the helm again this term when the six-times English champions bid to go one better.

Our ambition has to be to get back to that (Premiership) final again, he said.

That match against Wasps last season was probably one of the best memories in my career - to be in that game after working so hard - and one of my worst, in getting nothing.

With the talent that is in our squad, it would be crazy to think it wasnt our goal for the season.

Throughout a distinguished career with Cardiff, Bath and Wales, Humphreys has always worn his heart on his sleeve.

And the front-row warriors motivational qualities meant he was quickly established as a pivotal figure at the Recreation Ground, proving a key man, along with Australian rugby director John Connolly, in transforming Bath from relegation candidates to title contenders last term.

When I first came to Bath, my main focus was to make my time at the club successful, he added.

So, its a fantastic honour to be captain of a club like this after last season, when we did so well.

When John asked me to do the role, I jumped at it. Nobody would turn it down."