Jonah Holmes has enjoyed some tough pre-season training with Leicester Tigers but he now wants to "get the rugby going".
The 25-year-old winger was snapped up from Yorkshire Carnegie by the Tigers on June 2 having enjoyed a four-year spell with the Leeds-based outfit.
Holmes is the first to admit that he still needs to improve his game before he can be classed as the finished article, but he has enjoyed some hard work on the training ground in the past month.
Now Holmes is eager to take to the field and get the Aviva Premiership campaign under way against Bath on September 3.
Holmes told the Mercury: "I do like the process of getting fit and stronger but I feel like, at this stage of my career, I’m very excited to get the rugby going, which feels more important.
"I need to get better. I enjoy playing quick rugby and want to be part of a team that plays with speed, power and is efficient.
"I think the coaches are trying to go for that this season."