The combined experience of nearly 900 Moseley matches left Billesley Common in the summer as Kevin Maggs oversaw the most profound change in Red and Black personnel in a decade.

Record appearance holder Richard Stott, former captain Andy Reay and one-time jewel in the crown Chevvy Pennycook were among more than a dozen front-liners who moved on.

The pack was particularly well-shuffled with Stott and Pennycook just two of five forwards to have made more than 50 appearances before calling time on their Mose careers. That is to say nothing of last term’s leading scorer Michael Ellery, the flying loose-forward who hurtled his way to nine tries in 38 outings over two contrasting seasons.

However, Maggs is adamant he has upgraded his squad in most positions and while many of the replacements are young and hungry, men like Mike Powell and Simon Hunt have been most places and seen and done most things.

Former London Welsh, Ospreys and Bridgend lock Powell will be a particularly important part of New Moseley, bringing, as he does, many years’ worth of exposure to Heineken Cup, Magners League and Championship rugby.

The 33-year-old is the most well-versed of Maggs’s recruits and his role of shoring up the front five and mentoring the club’s other young second rows, Liam Mather and Addison Lockley, cannot be understated.

“Kevin mentioned the fact he was looking for a bit of experience. Hopefully my experience will rub off a little bit on the younger boys,” Powell said.

The veteran has started all three of Moseley’s pre-season matches and, injury permitting, it will be a rare weekend when he doesn’t do likewise during the Championship campaign, which begins at Bedford on Saturday.