Perhaps, stationed for a week in the leafy riversides of Teddington, it's hard to feel all that much stress.
Certainly, Rhys Patchell doesn't appear to be carrying too much of a burden as he takes a break from training with a plethora of rugby's stars.
Patchell, like so many others after a season of uncertainty and turmoil, is without a club and looking around for a contract. The anguish of unemployment doesn't appear visible, at least on the surface.
Sat outside the World XV's base enjoying the May sunshine, the fly-half is typically thoughtful and philosophical about not only what comes next, but what has been.
How he describes the last campaign is perhaps more eloquent than most, particularly given the widespread frustration in the Welsh game. Some could be forgiven for any random order of expletives punctuated by a beleaguered sigh.
"Stop-start? Frustrating? Any of the above? It's what it is," he says. "It's professional rugby.
"We all know what we signed up for. It's not one which will go down in the record books for me, that's for sure."
Still, a season that saw him make the Six Nations squad before being released by the Scarlets as Welsh rugby feels the pinch ends with something of a high in London this week. The invitation to play in Steve Hansen's star-studded side against the Barbarians at Twickenham was one that Patchell took little time in accepting.
Granted, a part of him would much rather have been getting ready to join up with Warren Gatland's World Cup training squad ahead of the tournament in France later this year. Again though, having not made the 54-man squad, he's laid back about it all.
"The boys are in for a long training camp, that's for sure," he says, with the knowing grin of someone aware that a brutal summer in Switzerland and Turkey doesn't await him. "Having done it twice, picked once and didn't make the cut the other, they're brutal.
"From that point of view, it's never nice (to miss out). Everyone wants to be wanted and everyone loves a cwtch, so to not be picked obviously is disappointing.
"But having said that, if 12 months ago I was willing to really consider going to Bath, end my international career and not go to the World Cup as my own decision, I've got to be able to accept I might not have gone anyway based on someone else's decision.
"I'm fairly philosophical about it. All the best to the boys, I hope they go well. Traditionally the boys get better the longer they are in camp together. But I know they've got a tough summer coming up."
In terms of that move to Bath a year ago, it would be very easy with hindsight to say it would have been the right time to go - given how Welsh rugby has gone since then.
Indeed, the move to the Rec was pretty close. "But you make decisions," Patchell adds. "You make your bed, you lay in it."
And, having served as a WRPA representative this year, Patchell is more aware than most of the frustrations at the heart of the game.
"I think it's probably not for me to say too much," he explains. "It's frustrating for a lot of players that they are out of contract and are being left in limbo.
"From a WRPA perspective, I know how hard Gareth Lewis has worked and I know he has the best interest of the players at heart. I'm confident he's the right man to lead the players going forward."
In terms of his own future, nothing is decided yet. He knows for certain that he wants to continue, but the destination isn't sorted.
Cardiff had been linked, but finance is an issue at the Arms Park as they look to replace Jarrod Evans and Rhys Priestland. The Dragons are also understood to be interested, with Sam Davies and JJ Hanrahan having left, while Patchell has worked with Dai Flanagan at the Scarlets.
"I want to carry on playing and I hope to carry on playing," he admits. "The agent is busy in the market trying to organise things behind the scenes.
"I wouldn't want to put anybody in an uncomfortable or compromising situation. He's on the case, I'm on the phone to him fairly regularly and beyond that I wouldn't want to say much more.
"When I rang him up and said about the World XV, he said brilliant, you'll really enjoy it. It's an opportunity to get on the field and get some game time.
"I'm fairly relaxed about it. I'm a big believer in what's for you doesn't pass you by. It's about sitting tight and making sure you make a good impression just generally on people around the place.
"Rugby's a small village and people talk. It only takes one person to pick up the phone and ask what you think of so-and-so. A good reference can go a long way."
Certainly, this weekend's match is a good chance to make that impression, acting as an audition of sorts. Surrounded by world class talent, it's a solid stage on which to impress.
Patchell is only too aware of that. "The way I look at it, every time the ball's in my hands, it's not in Semi Radradra's or Charles Piutau's!
"So it may be a bit of a standing pivot role this weekend and not too much running, which would be nice. But no, it's unbelievable to be in the company of world class talent like that and I'm going to learn an awful lot this week."
What he picks up doesn't stop at his new short-term team-mates, but also the coaching ticket too. Former Wales and All Blacks coach Hansen has already made an impression on the 30-year-old.
Down the line, that may just pay off with whatever the fly-half decides to do after his playing days are done.
"He's unbelievable," says Patchell. "You can see why he's as successful and world-renowned as he is.
"With my future career hat on, in a few years time, that's going to be awesome. I'll be back in the room making notes, that's for sure, about the stuff we're doing and how he communicates. Super impressive."
What that future career will be is, by Patchell's own admission, still undecided. "I suppose avenues open up and then you've got a decision to make," he adds. Welsh-speaking media is one option, coaching is another.
"But who's to say something else completely different doesn't comes across your desk and you look at that instead. I'm a fairly open book in terms of that.
"Hopefully there's a few more years left in me. Hopefully you'll continue to see Patch on a park somewhere next season."
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