The 33-year-old prop left the UK for the French club last summer and he adores the passion of the small town’s loyal fand.

He told The Guardian newspaper: “Our stadium is 12,000 capacity, so a quarter of the town pile in. A minute out from the ground you can hear the drums and see the smoke from the flares.

“There’s a constant siege mentality here. It means so much to the town when we succeed on the pitch, to the extent that you see the fans crying before the game, and not just because they’ve had one too many Ricards or aperitifs pre-match.

“You really get that sense that you’re representing everyone, from going on the school run, to picking up the baguette in the morning, to getting the côte de boeuf from the butchers, you have these interactions with all these people.”

Will has one particular fan he always looks out for as they’ve developed a pre-game ritual.

He explained: “There’s this old woman, who I’ve got a superstition with now, called Huguette. Before every match she waits for me in the stadium, and I have to kiss her on the cheek.

“She has a saying for good luck — I don’t know if she’s having me on — merde, merde.

“She goes on to the pitch and sprays her perfume before every game.

“She didn’t do it before the Bordeaux game [in December], which we lost, and I picked up a calf injury in the second half. She was distraught. ‘It was my fault, I didn’t spray my perfume. I wasn’t there for you.’

“If I win a scrum penalty at Stade Pierre-Fabre, it’s as if I scored a 20-metre try. They just erupt. The mental energy that saps from the opposition, and gives you, is unbelievable.”

However, Will admitted he’s struggled to get to grips with the sunnier climate.

He laughed: “It’s a bit too hot, actually. I’m the classic burnt Englishman in mid-April.”