Ben Youngs says he is “refreshed and energised” for the start of Leicester Tigers’ Premiership defence after last season’s “emotional rollercoaster”.
The scrum-half, 33, was then rested for England’s summer tour of Australia.
“For the first time in a long time I’ve actually got no external weight of the world on my shoulders,” he said.
“When you have had a big season and also a rollercoaster in terms of emotions outside of rugby, sometimes you need that time away, that reflection, to regroup…