 Director of rugby: Jim Mallinder
Captain: Bruce Reihana
Ground: Franklin's Gardens (13,500 capacity)
Last season: GP - N/A (promoted)
England elite squad: 1 (Hartley) Northampton return to the top flight after an all-conquering campaign in National League One, hoping to avoid the in-fighting that marked their relegation two years ago. Boss Jim Mallinder has been busy in the transfer market with the arrivals of Irish duo Neil Best and Roger Wilson, Pumas lock Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe and prospective England scrum-half/full-back Ben Foden. Much interest will also focus on whether rugby league convert Chris Ashton (left) can translate the try-scoring form of his debut season - 41 in all, 39 in League One - to the Premiership and beyond. "It was good for us to have a year in Division One. It has given us a bit of time to develop our own culture and a style of play we are comfortable with. The first five league games are vital. We have Worcester first up and will put everything into that. At the end of the month we will reassess and see where we are."
Director of rugby Jim Mallinder  The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites | 
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