SCOUR Gloucestershire before the globe to unearth homegrown Cherry and Whites talent.
That's the rallying call from Gloucester's new rugby operations manager Alex Brown.
Brown's wide-ranging Kingsholm remit takes in scouting for potential new recruits and future Gloucester stars.
The stalwart Cherry and Whites lock believes homegrown passion is Gloucester's biggest weapon – and has pledged the club will fight to make the most of it.
Lineout boss Brown racked up 235 Gloucester appearances between 2003 and 2012/13.
A debilitating shoulder injury sustained in the first game of the season just gone forced the 34-year-old into premature retirement.
Rugby director Nigel Davies moved quickly to add the former Bristol and Bath second-row to his backroom staff.
And now Brown is hard at work helping Gloucester delve right through the county's talent reserves.
He explained: "We want Gloucestershire players who are homegrown, proud of it and want to play for Gloucester.
"Your desire to play for your home club is such a huge element of rugby.
"That can often outweigh talent at club level.
"And that's what we're definitely trying to create.
"We've got this great link with Hartpury College on our doorstep, and Cinderford as well as another fantastic feeder club.
"There are plenty of clubs with a huge amount of talent right across the county.
"So home is certainly where the heart is as far as we are concerned.
"That's where we want to be focusing, to start with anyway.
"There's completely no point spending hours and hours trying to find players from the other side of the world if we neglect all the wealth of talent we have at our disposal.
"We'll never stop looking in any area of course, but at the same time we will definitely put finding talent from our county first.
"We've got to make the most of what's out there in Gloucestershire, and that's hugely exciting.
"The desire of local guys to play for this club, that's a huge, huge weapon, and we need more of it really.
"It makes Gloucester what it is.
"It's a proud city, with proud people.
"So you need that pride in the city and the club to do well at Kingsholm.
"Plenty of people come from elsewhere and get the bug, but at the same time the greater the homegrown nucleus, the better."
Brown admits he still remains humbled by his benefit year, which has one more event left to run.
Gloucester and Bristol legends XVs will square up at Hartpury College on Saturday, June 29 – ahead of the British Lions' second Test against Australia.
The likes of Andy Deacon, Thinus Delport and Terry Fanolua are expected to line up for Gloucester, with Darren Crompton, Gareth Llewellyn and Matt Salter among the Bristol line-up.
Brown will lace his boots for both sides but his injury means he cannot take any contact – which he admits he will be at pains to stress on the day.
The Lions Test will be shown on an outdoor big screen straight after the Legends clash, with a live band and food and drink stalls on site too.
He continued: "I'll put my boots on and have a little run around but I won't be doing too much.
"Maybe I'll take a few lineouts, but that's about all I'll be able to do I think.
"I certainly can't take any contact – I'll have a big no-tackle cross on my shirt!
"Being able to get out there in any capacity will be fantastic.
"It will be great to finish the year with a bit of a laugh and a bit of fun, remembering all the good times I've had over the years with Bristol and Gloucester.
"I can't believe how quickly the year has gone, what with everything that's happened with the injury and everything, it's motored by.
"It's a year ago almost that we had the testimonial match against Cardiff.
"A lot has been crammed in. The committee have done a great job organising all the events and I just want to say thank you to everyone who has helped and supported me.
"And it's also another chance to say thanks to everyone who has helped me feel such a part of Gloucester.
"It's a good excuse for a reunion just as much as anything else and that will be great fun."
For more information on Alex Brown's Gloucester-Bristol Legends Family Fun Day log on to www.alexbrownbenefityear.co.uk
