Hooper played for Bath for nearly a decade and made 31 appearances in Europe’s elite competition for the West Country club, as well as six during an earlier spell at Leeds Carnegie.

Having been promoted from within the club’s coaching ranks in May, Hooper is relishing the challenge of leading a European campaign from the sidelines, instead of in his former role as captain.

“I think there’s a whole different perspective on things,” he says. “As a player, there’s huge excitement about going into the competition and really challenging yourself physically against the best players in the world, not just in Europe. As director of rugby, there’s obviously a bit more strategy around it, a bit more understanding of what it looks like across the whole season. It’s a bit more tactical.

“You don’t get the opportunity to go out there and physically assert yourself against the opposition, but it’s still a really exciting challenge for us as a management group and a coaching group – and one which we’re massively looking forward to.”

Hooper watched Bath’s famous 1998 European Cup win from the stands as a fan and the competition evokes special memories from his playing days too.

“Some of the rugby that’s played in the competition is genuinely the very best you’ll see,” he commented. “Wearing the Bath jersey, I’ve had experiences of highs and lows. The Heineken Champions Cup evokes massive emotion, whether it’s good or bad. As a player, you want to have more good than bad, but they’re certainly memories of a lifetime.

“Some of my memories on the field are matched with memories around the great cities that we’ve been to over the years, like Toulouse and Dublin, and spending time in those cities around the game. Just to see foreign cities filled with blue, black and white jerseys is very special.

“Bath supporters, they love it; they love the opportunity to travel and watch their team. They also love the opportunity to welcome opposition teams to our city and host them here, so it’s got a very special feel to it.”

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Stuart Hooper will lead Bath Rugby into a Heineken Champions Cup encounter for the first time as director of rugby on Saturday, against Ulster Rugby, looking to add to some treasured European memories.