Head coach: Steve Meehan
Captain: Michael Claassens
Ground: The Rec (10,600 capacity)
Last season: GP - 4th (lost in play-off semi-final) H Cup- (Lost in quarter-final to Leicester)
Elite squad players: 2 (Mears, Banahan)

It's been a testing summer off the field with the rumpus over the club's now infamous end-of-season party rumbling on.

Former captains Michael Lipman and Alex Crockett are appealing against their bans, but Andrew Higgins opted to retire while Justin Harrison resigned and headed for retirement back in Australia.

A West country derby against local rivals Gloucester on Sunday will no doubt help to focus minds back on playing matters.

Olly Barkley, back from Gloucester, should provide reliable goal-kicking when he returns from a pre-season leg fracture, while flanker Luke Watson could play a key role when he arrives from South Africa.

"We think with the players we've brought in, the squad is better and will be more competitive this season. The new players have fitted in very well, trained hard and have brought some things that we didn't previously have. Olly Barkley will start in midfield and it will be a different challenge for him but one he will enjoy."
Head coach Steve Meehan