The chances of prop Simon Chadbone captaining Oxford Harlequins looked highly unlikely a year ago as he was sidelined by a mystery illness.

But 12 months on, he said he was honoured to lead the side out in what looks like being a very tough season in South West 1.

Chadbone, 29, was eventually diagnosed with a wheat allergy, which he is now managing.

"It took the doctors nearly a year to work out what was wrong," said Chadbone. "It was really frustrating.

"It affected my energy levels and everything else.

"I'm so glad to have that behind me now.

"The worst thing last year was that after Christmas when I came back I was on the bench as the team was settled by then.

"I was only getting ten or 15 minutes at a time."

He added: "I can't drink beer now, so I have to drink cider.

"Quite often after the match the food is pasta and bread and I have to go hungry for a few hours."

Chadbone, who works as an agricultural engineer, is in his ninth season with Quins, but is a newcomer to the captaincy role.

"I captained the seconds for a bit last year when I recovered, but this is very different and my first real opportunity.

"I was honoured to be asked."

Quins have had a difficult start to the season with their depleted resources, and lie bottom of the table.

Chadbone, who is also coaching Quins' colts team, said: "Five or six years ago, we were in a similar position of building a side.

"We got through then and I believe we can again.

"We know they are certain games that we will have to target particularly.

"We probably surprised ourselves a little by the way we competed against Clifton.

"It is coming together all right, but how we are doing come November will be the key."

Quins have also made some tactical changes, which may take time to settle, but Chadbone remains positive.

"We are now using the rush defence rather than the drift defence," he said.

"At points I thought we defended very well against Clifton.

"If we can put all the aspects of our game together, we'll be fine."