Bryan Redpath came very close to being dismissed last season before ultimately steadying the Gloucester ship © Getty Images

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Matches: Exeter Chiefs 22 - 10 Gloucester Rugby

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: Bath Rugby | Exeter Chiefs | Gloucester Rugby | Harlequins | Leeds Tykes | Leicester Tigers | London Irish | Newcastle Falcons | Northampton Saints | Sale Sharks | Saracens | Wasps

Grounds: Kingsholm

Gloucester

Last season: 7th
Captain: Mike Tindall
Coach: Bryan Redpath

Ins: No headline grabbing act for the 'Shedheads' to get excited over this summer. Two ex-Leicester forwards in Brett Deacon and Jim Hamilton (via Edinburgh and Scotland) are hardly big names though both will quickly endear themselves to the regulars if they produce consistent ball-winning form. Worcester flanker Matt Cox also comes with a forceful reputation but he's not big when it comes to the box-office.

Outs: Deacon, Hamilton and Cox are low-key recruits for some big name departures. Italian lock Marco Bortolami has returned home to play for the new Aironi franchise in the Magners League. He has been joined at the exit gate by Northampton-bound Adam Eustace while No.8 Gareth Delve and ex-New Zealand prop Greg Somerville have signed up to supply Danny Cipriani plentiful possession at the Melbourne Rebels.

Coach: Bryan Redpath, like Steve Meehan at Bath, endured a sticky patch last autumn having taken over from Dean Ryan. His days looked numbered but he survived through an upturn in results and the backing of chairman Tom Walkinshaw. Redpath grew in confidence as the season progressed and was helped by his side reaching the final of the Anglo-Welsh Cup and three wins from the last four Premiership games, including one over finalists Saracens. Despite the loss of the big names, he insists he has a team that will continue to improve. But the decision of Sir Ian McGeechan to opt for Bath after working as a consultant at Kingsholm shows which south west team has the greater resources at the moment.

Prediction: More mid-table (fifth or sixth) than top four. Might make a Cup final if they are favoured by a good draw.