Last Season: 11th
Prediction: 8th
Director of rugby: Jack Rowell
Head coaches: Michael Foley/Brian Smith
Captain: Danny Grewcock
Title odds: 25-1

Last Season

The past year was nothing short of a catastrophe for all concerned at the Recreation Ground.

One-time hero Jon Callard left in ignominious circumstances as the club fought relegation with increasing ineptness.

An opening day loss to Leeds Tykes was the first of 15 defeats, the nadir of which was a 68-12 thrashing at Kingsholm.

The pack appeared brittle and slow - while the backline was ravaged by injuries to Mike Catt, Kevin Maggs, Matt Perry and Gareth Cooper.

Perhaps all that saved the club from the drop was the ERC's decision to postpone relegation for a season - rendering the final round of matches pointless.

Ins and Outs

Former Wales skipper Jonathan Humphreys joins the club from Cardiff in a bid to resurrect his international career, and add some bite to an impotent pack.

Alessio Gallasso joins from Montferrand. The twice capped Frenchman was in inspired form last season, and will need to be this again in an area that was Bath's main weakness last year.

Openside flanker Adam Vander rejoins the club from Bristol after a six year absence. Scotland U-21 Ross Blake follows him from the Shoguns, while former Australia U-21 flyhalf Chris Malone moves north from Exeter Chiefs.

But the most crucial move of all is that of Jack Rowell, architect of the club's success in the 80s and 90s, who returns as Director of Rugby.

He leads a coaching team bolstered by the arrivals of Brian Smith from ACT Brumbies and Australia sevens skipper Richard Graham.

Rising stars

Andy Lloyd

Tall, strong and with good hands, Lloyd could be the answer to Bath's back-row and lock problems.

The Welsh international rose to fame with a string of impressive performances in 1999, but was out injured for the whole of the 2001-02 season.

With the World Cup approaching, Lloyd will be keen to make an impression both on Team director Mike Foley, but also on Wales coach Steve Hansen.

James Scaysbrook

Scaysbrook was one of the few bonuses to come from last season's debacle, impressing in the first half of the season before he succumbed to injury.

The 6 ft 3 in flanker is mobile around the park, and surprisingly adept on the floor for such a tall player.

With Nathan Thomas the squad's only recognised blindside flanker, Scaysbrook looks set to play a major role in Bath's new-look pack.

Prediction

The arrival of Galasso in the front row is a welcome boost for the club, and provided John Mallet can stay fit (and on the pitch) Bath could boast a semblance of solidity in the front-row, their main weakness last year.

The catalyst for Bath's collapse last year was arguably Mike Catt's injury - and their mercurial fly-half could yet be the key this season.

The combination of Catt - a revitalised Ian Balshaw - and the solid pair of Tindall and Maggs in the centres is a threat against any team, while Perry's return will ensure calm at the back.

If Jack Rowell can rework his magic, then the club could redeem itself on the pitch.

For once, a league title is out of the question, but success in either the Powergen Cup or European shield would be regarded as a sizeable achievement.