It will be the same for ref Les Cash and supporters as we all take those welcome steps back to enjoying a full rugby season.
As ever with the first game there's lots of players away on holiday,a stag party for Danny Quinn, and a few pre-season knocks. So, there will be plenty of fresh young faces in the West squad alongside the hard core of senior players who have served the club so well in recent seasons and who have led the way in training.
It also gives coach Mixie Parker the opportunity to have a run out in the same team as son Jacob and for Andrew Rollins to unveil his new hair colour.
Squad (others to be added). : Ryan Painter, Michael Parker, Jacob Parker, Owen Westhorp, George Young, Lewis Hawes, Will Corbett, Sam Heron, Zac Southern, Liam Rutherford, Jake Tennant, Lewis Scott, Adam Brown, Andrew Rollins, Jake Linighan, Alex Barker, Adam Coates, Chris Atkins, Isaac Robinson, Peter Pearson, Ryan Godfrey, Glyn Pickering, Andrew Turner, Tom Roberston, Jack Angus, Tom Shaw, Ross Wood.