Head coach John Kingston
Captain Will Skinner
Arrivals John Andress (Exeter Chiefs), Josh Drauniniu (Exeter Chiefs), James Johnston (Samoa), Rory Clegg (Newcastle Falcons), Gonzalo Camacho (Argentina)
Departures Dean Richards (director of rugby), Chris Malone, Andy Gomarsall, Mike Ross, De Wet Barry
Last season Premiership: second. Heineken Cup: quarter-finalists. A young squad embellished a reputation for attractive rugby but also showed the ability, primarily in back-to-back European pool games against Stade Français, to go head to head in difficult circumstances and come out on top. Very underrated pack.
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Prospects Where to start, given the body blows arising from the “Bloodgate” affair? Neither coaching panel nor playing squad has changed significantly, many of these players have grown up together and there is every chance that they will pull together stronger in adversity. They are the ones who must start to enhance the club’s battered reputation. Ironically, now that England are taking an interest in several individuals, they could be weakened by representative calls.
Two to watch Chris Robshaw: Capped for the first time in Argentina over the summer but named in the Saxons squad, the flanker will want to cement the progress he made last season. Jordan Turner-Hall: The boy became a man last year and the powerful ball-carrying centre will want to show that he can graft more subtle skills on to his game.
Likely finish Mid-table