Smith, like the rest of the Saints squad, is having a well-earned couple of days off after clinching the National League One title on Saturday.

The 18-8 win over Exeter in front of 13,500 fans at Franklin's Gardens made it 26 wins out of 26 for Saints, and though they are now targeting an unbeaten season and an EDF Energy National Trophy double, Smith can't wait for the tough battles in the Premiership.

Smith said: "It is humiliating to get relegated.

"A lot of the games in the first division when you are putting up big scores, it is different rugby.

"Against Exeter on Saturday was a bit more like Premiership rugby, it was tighter.

"Sometimes you almost long for the tough games, not to be so loose and running in easy tries, it is quite nice to bang heads and it is down to strong defence, fitness and commitment.

"In division one, some games you get to work and others, it is not too easy, but you get to play a different type of rugby."

And Smith believes relegation has given the Saints players a bit of a wake-up call.

"We have seen how the other half live and there but for the grace of God go the rest of us," said Smith, who at 36 has seen more in rugby than most.

"It is actually quite a nice life in the Premiership and these guys in division one work pretty hard, yet the rewards are obviously less. There are some long trips.

"In the Premiership people moan about going to Bristol or Gloucester, but we were stopping off at Bristol on the way to games."