Director of Rugby: Tony Hanks
Captain: Tom Rees
Ground: Adams Park (10,516 capacity)
Last season: GP - 7th
HC - Group stages
England elite squad: 5 (Payne, Rees, Shaw, Vickery, Worsley).

It's all change at Adams Park with the club getting used to life after Ian McGeechan, the retired Josh Lewsey and Raphael Ibanez and departed England trio Riki Flutey, James Haskell and Tom Palmer.

New director of rugby Tony Hanks still has plenty of talent to work with though, with half-backs Danny Cipriani and Joe Simpson pulling the strings and flanker Tom Rees assuming the captaincy when fit again.

They have also recruited a ball-carrying number eight in Dan Ward-Smith and plenty of finishing power in wings David Lemi and Tom Varndell, so a revival in fortunes is on the cards.

"It is important we get off to a good start as traditionally it is not something this club has done. You cannot give too many clubs a head start in this league. You need to be in the mix at Christmas as the standard of the competition is so high."
Director of rugby Tony Hanks