The biggest transfer of the summer saw Jonny Wilkinson leave the Guinness Premiership, but the likes of young gun Courtney Lawes, cross-coder Lee Smith and overseas star Luke Watson mean there's plenty of fresh talent on show for the 2009-10 season.
Lee Smith - Wasps: In choosing Wasps and coach Shaun Edwards, this year's annual rugby league recruit could not have selected a finer tutor. Still just 23, the ex-Leeds Rhinos wing/full-back was man of the match in the 2008 Super League Grand Final
Luke Watson - Bath: The 10-cap Springbok caused huge controversy after saying he wanted to vomit on the Springbok emblem, which he saw as an Apartheid symbol. A versatile 6ft back rower with superb skills, he will arrive in November after the Currie Cup
Jimmy Gopperth and Gcobani Bobo - Newcastle: Ex-Auckland Blues fly-half Gopperth, 26, faces the task of filling Wilkinson's shoes - no pressure there then... Versatile South Africa back Bobo, 29, who has five caps, joins from Western Province
Brian Mujati and Dan Vickerman - Northampton: One was born in Zimbabwe and represented South Africa, the other was born in SA but played for Australia. Zimbabwe-born prop Mujati has 12 Bok caps, Cambridge Blue Vickerman represented Australia 54 times
Courtney Lawes - Northampton: The England Under-20 forward will be competing with Vickerman for a place at Saints. Capable of playing either lock or blind-side, he was in the six shirt as England reached the 2009 Junior World Championship final
James Gaskell - Sale; Graham Kitchener - Worcester: The England Under-20 second rowers were part of an impressive pack in Japan this summer. Although England lost to New Zealand in the final, many of their forwards look set for long top-level careers
Calum Clark - Leeds; Carl Fearns - Sale: England Under-20 captain Clark is the youngest forward ever to appear in the Premiership. Fellow back-rower Fearns made such an impression in Japan he was nominated for the IRB Junior Player of the Year award
Ben Youngs - Leicester: It was not just the England Under-20 forwards who impressed in Japan with Youngs, son of ex-England scrum-half Nick, building on some dazzling Leicester displays to confirm his potential as a fine number nine himself
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