He may be one of the few remaining old guard at saracens.com" target="_blank">saracens.com" target="_blank">Saracens but just don’t mention retirement to Kris Chesney.

The back-row forward is now the club’s eldest player at 34 by virtue of Richard Hill’s retirement and the release of prop Kevin Yates, who are both a year older.

And with fellow 34-year-old Cobus Visagie stepping into the shadows to concentrate on his role as a scrummaging coach, Chesney is out on his own. However, like a fine wine, the big bruiser from Southend keeps maturing with age and has no plans to hang up his boots next to those of Hill and Paul Gustard anytime soon.

saracens.com" target="_blank">saracens.com" target="_blank">Saracens boss Eddie Jones has made reducing the average age of the Men in Black’s forward pack an obvious priority with a trio of new signings, number eight Michael Owen, England’s arm-band wearing lock Steve Borthwick and Springbok flanker Wikus van Heerden aged 27, 28 and 29 respectively.

And while there will be bit more zip around the fringes of rucks and mauls next season a vital component of the engine room in Chesney will remain.

His worth to saracens.com" target="_blank">saracens.com" target="_blank">Saracens is immeasurable, a fact underlined by two personal milestones last season. He made his 300th appearance for the club in Biarritz, becoming the club’s most capped player before breaking the all-time Premiership appearance record. However, Wasps stalwart Simon Shaw has stolen a march on Chesney again with 202 top flight appearances, four more that the versatile powerhouse.

The former Bristol loanee now has his sights set on regaining that record while clocking up the 350 mark for saracens.com" target="_blank">saracens.com" target="_blank">Saracens. It should prove no problem - he currently stands on 321 and has averaged 30 games a season for the last four campaigns.

“I’m loving my rugby and I feel good at the moment,” said Chesney, whose current contract runs until the end of next season. “I’ll play as long as I can but I will know when my time is up.

"I think I’ve got two or three years left in me - whether all those are at saracens.com" target="_blank">saracens.com" target="_blank">Saracens, I don’t know. I would like to stay there as long as I can and then hopefully stay at the club is some capacity when I finish playing.”

For the time being, Chesney is keen to start pre-season training and be part of a new era under director of rugby Jones, the former Wallabies coach who saved Sarries from relegation two years ago in a trouble-shooting role.

“I’m already looking forward to next season,” added Chesney, fresh from touring with invitational side the Barbarians. You always enjoy having time off but I’m rearing to get back for pre-season.

“Hopefully the club will keep going forward like they did under Alan (Gaffney). We need to be more consistency and Eddie won’t stand for anything less. Eddie and Alan are two different characters but are coaches I have enormous respect for.

“I haven’t seen the vocal side of Eddie yet - when he last coached here he would whisper advice in your ear. Whether that style changes now saracens.com" target= "_blank">saracens.com" target="_blank">Saracens is his baby, so to speak, we will see.”

Despite their fourth place Premiership finish at the end of the 2006/07 campaign, saracens.com" target="_blank">saracens.com" target="_blank">Saracens were in the hunt for trophies again last season before falling away when it mattered. With it went Heineken Cup qualification but having run eventual 2008 winners Munster so close in the semi-finals Chesney says saracens.com" target="_blank">saracens.com" target="_blank">Saracens are determined to qualify for Europe next season and end their painful 11 year trophy drought in the process.

“We’re in three competitions again (Premiership, Euro Challenge and EDF Energy cups) next season again and we need to have a real go at winning them,” he commented. It is the players’ responsibility to do that at the end of the day. Alan picked the right teams to go out and win last season but sometimes we didn’t perform.

“It was heart-breaking to get so far last season but we need to be able to go one better next year. The Heineken Cup is a fantastic tournament. It’s a great buzz going to play in different countries against the best.”

Meanwhile, Chesney’s testimonial dinner will be held at the Nursery Pavilion, Lords Cricket Ground on Monday, September 29. Tables are available from £1,750 with individual places priced at £175.