Rachel Burford has descended from the Cape Town mists engulfing table mountain, Deborah McCormack has packed away her surfboard at Bondi beach, and Leanne Riley has recovered from her lung busting Tour de France cycle stage.

As the scorching summer sun falls gently towards Autumn, the brown arid playing fields have turned back into the green green grass of home, and we find ourselves on the very cusp of another Tyrrells Premier 15s season.

The disappointment of an agonisingly narrow loss in last seasons final has been put to bed, gone but certainly not forgotten, and it will provide extra motivation, for players management and fans, if any were needed, for the new campaign.

Even in summer training you could sense and feel the determination to go one better this season, and as the sessions have increased in their intensity, the squad are looking fitter than ever, there is an eager freshness and anticipation, everyone can’t wait for the season to start.

Gary Street and Karen Findlay are shrewd cookies, never resting on their laurels, and constantly evolving training methods and routines, there is so much going on at their sessions it is difficult to keep up, but it is this attention to detail and the constant freshness they impart, that gives the playing group such great preparation.

Quins start their 2018/19 Tyrrells Premier 15s campaign away to Gloucester Hartbury on September 8, before they entertain Bristol Bears, at Twickenham Stoop, on Saturday 15 September, a 5.30pm kick off, following the mens premiership match against Bath.

Further matches at the Stoop will take place against Saracens, Wasps, and Richmond, with the remaining home league fixtures taking place at Surrey Sports Park, in Guildford.

Fresh faces of real quality have been brought in during the off-season including Scottish international Jade Konkel and Irish prop sensation Leah Lyons.

Harlequins will inevitably be one of the “big scalps” that always make opponent raise their own game, and there is no doubt there will be a huge improvement from many of the sides that did not challenge for honours last season.

As Autumn light fades into winter darkness there will be some some huge battles ahead, times of joy, and times of having to dig deep, lie ahead in an effort to ensure that when the days lengthen in early spring, they are in the driving seat for a home semi final.

All that is long way off as the group head to Gloucester on Saturday, the road is long with many a winding turn and I for one will be delighted and privileged to join them on their journey maybe for Harlequins ladies, this is their time.