Aviva Premiership team-by-team guide, latest odds and verdicts

BATH

Ground: Recreation Ground.

Rugby director: Todd Blackadder.

Players in: Sam Underhill (Ospreys), Freddie Burns (Leicester), Darren Allinson (London Irish), Anthony Perenise (Bristol), Shaun Knight (Newport Gwent Dragons), James Phillips (Bristol).

Players out: George Ford (Leicester), David Denton (Worcester), Robbie Fruean (Edinburgh), Adam Hastings (Glasgow), Dan Bowden, David Sisi (both released).

Key player: Anthony Watson.

Steve Bramley’s verdict: Bath certainly showed significant improvement in Todd Blackadder’s first season in charge and now the former All Black will have his eyes on a top four finish. Sam Underhill’s arrival at The Rec underlines the club’s ambition, however the loss of George Ford to Leicester is significant and I expect them to finish just outside the play-off spots once again.

Last season: 5th Prediction: 5th

Sky Bet: Bath to finish in the top four - 13/8

EXETER

Ground: Sandy Park.

Rugby director: Rob Baxter.

Players in: Matt Kvesic (Gloucester), Nic White (Montpellier), Wilhelm van der Sluys (Southern Kings, South Africa), Tom O'Flaherty (Ospreys), Toby Salmon (Rotherham), James Freeman (Jersey).

Players out: Geoff Parling (Melbourne Rebels), Dave Lewis (Harlequins), Damian Welch (Cardiff Blues), Will Hooley (Bedford), Tom Johnson, Haydn Thomas (both retired).

Key player: Henry Slade.

Steve Bramley’s verdict: Exeter surprised everyone last season when they clinched the Grand Final in a fairy tale finale at Twickenham, but a repeat of that looks unlikely. The west country club stunned Wasps on that occasion but it’s hard to see them retaining their crown with Saracens and Wasps their main contenders for their crown.

Last season: 1st Prediction: 4th

Sky Bet: Exeter to win the Grand Final - 9/2

GLOUCESTER

Ground: Kingsholm.

Rugby director: David Humphreys.

Players in: Owen Williams, Ed Slater, Fraser Balmain (all Leicester), Val Rapava-Ruskin (Worcester), Gareth Denman (Northampton), Jason Woodward (Bristol), Jake Polledri (Hartpury).

Players out: Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne), James Hook (Ospreys), Matt Kvesic (Exeter), Jonny May, Sione Kalamafoni (Leicester), Paul Doran-Jones (Wasps), Darren Dawidiuk (London Irish), Joe Latta, Matt Protheroe (both Bristol), Salesi Ma'afu (Narbonne), Yann Thomas (Rouen).

Star man: Ross Moriarty.

Steve Bramley’s verdict: This could be another testing season for Cherry and Whites' fans. The club have turned to South African Johan Ackermann, who has guided the Lions’ rise in Super Rugby, and they have high hopes of bettering last season's ninth place finish. Ackermann is a tough cookie and will demand high standards from his squad but I'm not convinced they have a good enough squad to compete in that mid-to-lower end of the table.

Last season: 9th Prediction: 10th

Set Bet: Gloucester to secure a top four finish - 9/1

HARLEQUINS

Ground: Twickenham Stoop.

Rugby director: John Kingston.

Players in: Demetri Catrakillis (Montpellier), Francis Saili (Munster), Renaldo Bothma (Bulls, South Africa), Dave Lewis (Exeter), Phil Swainston (Wasps), Lewis Boyce (Yorkshire Carnegie).

Players out: Matt Hopper (Oyonnax), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow), Matt Shields (Rotherham), Owen Evans (Doncaster), Nick Evans, Karl Dickson, Netani Talei (all retired).

Key player: Chris Robshaw.

Steve Bramley’s verdict: The retirement of Nick Evans is a huge blow to the London club’s hopes this season. Demietri Catrakilis has been recruited from Montpellier to fill the void. South Africa Renaldo Bothma is one of a number of forwards who have bolstered to the pack but expect another solid, if unspectacular effort from John Kingston’s side.

Last season: 6th Prediction: 6th

Sky Bet: Harlequins to secure a top four finish - 3/1

LEICESTER

Ground: Welford Road.

Head coach: Matt O'Connor.

Players in: George Ford (Bath), Jonny May, Sione Kalamafoni (both Gloucester), Dominic Ryan (Leinster), Joe Ford, Jonah Holmes (both Yorkshire Carnegie), Gareth Owen (Scarlets), Valentino Mapapalangi (Manawatu, New Zealand), Chris Baumann (Wellington Lions, New Zealand).

Players out: JP Pietersen (Toulon), Peter Betham (Clermont Auvergne), Owen Williams, Fraser Balmain (both Gloucester), Freddie Burns (Bath), Maxime Mermoz (Newcastle), Jack Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Lachlan McCaffrey (released), Marcos Ayerza (retired).

Key player: Matt Toomua.

Steve Bramley’s verdict: Matt O’Connor knows what it takes to win the Premiership having being part of the Welford Road club’s success in 2009, 2010 and 2013 and in his first season at the helm the Australian will be keen to rekindle those days of old. The return of fly-half George Ford (from Bath) and Jonny May underlines the ambitions of the Tigers. After a turbulent start to the campaign last season, the Tigers still finished in the play-offs – and despite strengthening I think that’s the best they can hope for this time around.

Last season: 4th Prediction: 3rd

Sky Bet: Leicester Tigers to win the Grand Final - 10/1

LONDON IRISH

Ground: Madejski Stadium.

Rugby director: Nick Kennedy.

Players in: Napolioni Nalaga (Lyon), Saia Fainga'a (Brumbies, Australia), Luke McLean, Teofilo Paulo (both Treviso), Petrus du Plessis (Saracens), Ben Meehan, Jake Schatz (both Melbourne Rebels, Australia), Gordon Reid (Glasgow), Darren Dawidiuk (Gloucester), Lasha Lamidze (Beziers), Manasa Saulo (Toulon).

Players out: Darren Allinson (Bath), Luke Narraway (Coventry).

Key player: Naplioni Nalaga.

Steve Bramley’s verdict: Improvements to the likes of perennial strugglers Worcester Warriors mean the task facing Irish couldn’t be more difficult for coach Nick Kennedy. Warriors have become battle hardened having survived two successive relegation tussles and whilst the Exiles have recruited well experience is key and it’s hard to see anything but a 12th place finish for newly promoted Irish.

Last season: Newly promoted Prediction: 12th

Sky Bet: London Irish to finish bottom of the table - 4/6

NEWCASTLE

Ground: Kingston Park.

Rugby director: Dean Richards.

Players in: Maxime Mermoz (Leicester), Toby Flood (Toulouse), Josh Matavesi (Ospreys), DTH van der Merwe (Scarlets), Sami Mavinga (Lyon), Ryan Burrows (Yorkshire Carnegie), Gary Graham (Jersey), Tevita Cavubati (Worcester).

Players out: Marcus Watson, Ben Harris (both Wasps), Mike Delany (Bay of Plenty, New Zealand), Mouritz Botha, Sam Egerton, Adam Powell, Tom Catterick (all retired).

Key player: Mark Wilson.

Steve Bramley’s verdict: Expectations are high for Newcastle coach Dean Richards after consistent improvements over the last few years. Last season the Falcons finished eighth and the return of former England fly-half Toby Flood and the arrival French centre Maxime Mermoz underline growing ambition from the North East club. Further improvement looks likely.

Last season: 8th Prediction: 7th

Sky Bet: Newcastle to finish in the top four - 14/1

NORTHAMPTON

Ground: Franklin's Gardens.

Rugby director: Jim Mallinder.

Players in: Rob Horne (Waratahs, Australia), Cobus Reinach (Sharks, South Africa), Piers Francis (Blues, New Zealand), Francois van Wyk (Western Force, Australia), Mitch Eadie, Jamal Ford-Robinson (both Bristol).

Players out: Louis Picamoles (Montpellier), Calum Clark (Saracens), JJ Hanrahan (Munster), Ethan Waller, Sam Olver (Worcester), Lee Dickson, Howard Packman (both Bedford), Gareth Denman (Gloucester), Sam Dickinson, James Wilson, George Pisi (all released).

Key player: Courtney Lawes.

Steve Bramley’s verdict: Northampton, the 2012 champions, suffered their worst finish since their return to the top flight last season and the Franklin’s Garden club can expect another tough campaign this time around.

Last season: 7th Prediction: 8th

Sky Bet: Northampton to finish in the top four - 15/8

SALE SHARKS

Ground: AJ Bell Stadium.

Rugby director: Steve Diamond.

Players in: Josh Strauss (Glasgow), Faf de Klerk (Lions, South Africa), James O'Connor (Toulon), Will Cliff, Marc Jones (both Bristol), Alexandru Tarus (Beziers), Jono Ross (Stade Francais).

Players out: Sam Tuitupou (Coventry), Kieran Longbottom (Saracens), Brian Mujati (Ospreys), Peter Stringer (Worcester), James Mitchell (Connacht), Dan Mugford (Plymouth), Jonathan Mills (London Scottish), Magnus Lund (released), Mike Phillips, Neil Briggs (both retired).

Key player: Denny Solomona

Steve Bramley’s verdict: Last season was one of disappointment for the Sharks and it has prompted a string of new arrivals at the AJ Bell Stadium, including James O’Connor and Faf de Klerk. Aussie O’Connor’s signing is of particular interest and looks set to play at No 10. Rugby league convert Denny Solomona is the man to watch this season after forcing his way into the England side in the summer. Sale should improve on last season’s 10th place finish but only just.

Last season: 10th Prediction: 9th

Sky Bet: Sale Sharks to finish in the top four - 12/1

SARACENS

Ground: Allianz Park.

Rugby director: Mark McCall.

Players in: Christopher Tolofua (Toulouse), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Calum Clark (Northampton), Will Skelton (Waratahs, Australia), Dominic Day (Melbourne Rebels, Australia), Kieran Longbottom (Sale Sharks).

Players out: Chris Ashton (Toulon), Petrus du Plessis (London Irish), Samuela Vunisa (Glasgow), George Perkins (Bristol), Kelly Brown, Neil de Kock, Jim Hamilton, Tim Streather (all retired).

Key player: Maro Itoje.

Steve Bramley’s verdict: The back-to-back European champions disappointed last season when failing to make the Grand Final but it’s hard to see beyond them this time around. The Men in Black may have lost Chris Ashton but the signing of British Lions and Wales full-back/winger Liam Williams more than makes up for Ashton’s departure. The loss of key players to Test duty cost Sarries last season but Mark McCall has recruited wisely this time around to avoid that eventuality so a third title in four years looks nailed on to me.

Last season: 3rd Prediction: 1st

Sky Bet RequestABet: Saracens to win regular season and Grand Final - 11/4

WASPS

Ground: Ricoh Arena.

Rugby director: Dai Young.

Players in: Juan de Jongh (Stormers, South Africa), Marcus Watson, Ben Harris (both Newcastle), Paul Doran-Jones (Gloucester), Gabiriele Lovobalavu (Bayonne).

Players out: Kurtley Beale (Waratahs, Australia), Alapati Leiua (Bristol), Phil Swainston (Harlequins), Tom Howe (Worcester), Frank Halai (Pau), Tom Bristow (released), Carlo Festuccia, Nick De Luca (both retired).

Key player: Jimmy Gopperth

Steve Bramley’s verdict: Wasps did everything last season but fell at the final hurdle as Exeter grabbed the title. Despite that disappointment coach Dai Young is confident his side can bounce back this season. They may have lost Aussie Kurtley Beale but the arrival of Marcus Watson adds to what is already a powerful back three, that includes last season’s top try scorer Christian Wade (17) and England and British Lions star Elliot Daly. Jimmy Gopperth was the star for Wasps last season scooping bucketful of individual honours but I think it will be Saracens and not Exeter who deny them the silverware.

Last season: 2nd Prediction: 2nd

Sky Bet: Wasps to win the Grand Final - 11/4

WORCESTER

Ground: Sixways.

Rugby director: Gary Gold.

Players in: David Denton (Bath), Ethan Waller, Sam Olver (both Northampton), Tom Howe (Wasps), Peter Stringer (Sale Sharks), Michael Dowsett (Southland, New Zealand), Simon Kerrod, Pierce Phillips (both Jersey), Joe Taufete'e (unattached).

Players out: Val Rapava-Ruskin (Gloucester), Chris Vui (Bristol), Tevita Cavubati (Newcastle), Na'ama Leleimalefaga, James Johnston (both Brive), Ryan Lamb (La Rochelle), Tiff Eden (Nottingham), Tom Biggs, Connor Braid, Jaba Bregvadze, Cooper Vuna (all released), Phil Dowson, Sam Betty, Andy Short (all retired).

Key player: Ben Te’o

Steve Bramley’s verdict: Worcester can expect a third successive relegation battle. Last year they saw off Bristol having dispatched London Irish the season before. Worcester know exactly what to expect and have the tools and the power with the likes of Ben Te'o to survive once again.

Last season: 11th Prediction: 11th

Sky Bet: Worcester Warriors to finish bottom odds - 15/8

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