Kennedy, pictured right, enjoyed a superb career at The Exiles, making more than 200 appearances for the club in over a decade before returning to take up the post of academy coach in May.

Nowadays his job is to nurture the players of tomorrow, and the former lock knows all too well that the LV= Cup can act as a gateway for both domestic and international glory.

Wing sensation Alex Lewington has been one youngster to blaze a trail in recent seasons.

The 33-year-old has tipped two teenagers in second-row Ollie Curry and scrum-half Connor Murphy as ones to watch ahead of their opening clash with Leicester Tigers on Saturday.

“The youngsters have to take their chance, they can’t waste it. There might not be many others if they don’t,” he said.

“There will be a lot of nerves going round, playing in a big stadium like the Madejski and it’s just a case of concentrating on their own game.

“They can look at people like Will Collier who has come through playing in the LV= Cup and gone on to make an England squad fairly quickly.

“It can happen that quickly in rugby if you do take your opportunities and keep working hard in and around the games.

“From the Irish setup I would say two of our youngest players are the ones to look out for. We’ve got two 18-year-olds in Ollie Curry and Connor Murphy. I’m really hoping that they get a good amount of game time.

“Connor Murphy’s a little number nine, he’s been impressing at his loan club, as has Ollie Curry and hopefully they get a chance to get on the pitch and impress.

“We need to get off to a good start, we’ve got a home game against Leicester Tigers so it’s almost a must-win really.

“You need that start, you need the points in the bank early doors and then you see how you go.

“Hopefully then you build momentum and the guys that got the start, that got onto the pitch in that squad get another run-out the following week.”

Round One of the LV= Cup starts this weekend Saturday 1 – Sunday 2 November. For more information visit lv.com/rugby or follow @LVRugby