We have a league with a new sponsor – Guinness. This league has lost one of its old stalwarts in NEC Harlequins yet back comes an old friend in Bristol. Brizzle have reformed themselves after the disasters of a few seasons ago – I confess to keeping a watchful eye on them as they sorted themselves out in Division 1 and I’m delighted to see them back – good luck to Matt Salter and his team!

As for Quins – maybe time to take a leaf from those of us that have been there before – Division 1 rugby is still a world apart from it’s elder brother and I enjoyed visiting some of the friendliest grounds in the country with Saints 10 years ago – I’m sure the same welcome will await the Quins boys. What the rugby league joint venture does apart from bring in income, I’m not sure.

The big boys have seen some significant changes – I’m no good at those statistical type things but even I haven’t failed to noticed that given the shockwave of retirements how few players have joined Leicester Tigers –just 5. There’s a team confident in it’s playing structure – Pat Howard though will have his work cut out with the loss of Johnno and Back. But the auld enemy have a knack of producing the goods especially late in the season. I can’t wait to see Saints play them at Welford Road on day 1 on the season.

Wasps of course have a new coaching set up – Ian McGeechan is a great coach – I enjoyed his style of rugby that he brought to Gardens – I still haven’t quite forgiven him for the 1997-8 season when he seemed to forget the little town in the East Midlands after a certain Lions tour. Wasps still have a strong squad and I expect them to play the usual routine of playing for second and winning the final… but we’ll see!

Bath have John Connolly for at least another year and I imagine are mightily relieved that the man who drove them out of the doldrums has stuck with them – I think they have made some canny signings in Michael Stephenson and Pieter Dixon – for very different reasons of course!! Bath are a club I could never bring myself to enjoy watching – I try to like them and I try to like the Rec but every experience I have had watching them has somehow not been one I have enjoyed. Even that home game last year.

Sale Sharks – time to get some silverware methinks – an impatient owner is not a good thing for a coach to have and Philippe Saint-Andre has probably got the most impatient of all! Saint-Andre must have taken his holidays in France and Wales because all his new players come from both countries with the exception of one – where clearly he got lost on the M62 and found himself a full back in Doncaster! My brother is a Sharks supporter and these days, we agree to disagree except on one thing – Franklin’s Gardens is a much better place to watch rugby!! Sale will go well but the depth in the squad remains a question mark and I think letting the likes of Hercus slip through their fingers could be a mistake.

In middle table land where I expect the rest of us the be battling it out we have the likes of Leeds – well they got themselves some silverware and they found themselves a Justin Marshall – I hope this means more open rugby and a happier Phil Davies re his position in the league but I think with Jon Callard leaving they could be struggling.

Worcester have been out shopping – nine new players – three from Northampton – they gave us all a run for our money last year and Pat Sanderson remains for me one of the best captains in the league. I hope they do well again but I have a niggling feeling that sides may well have worked them out this year so it will be a much tougher run.

Saracens – a club I used to have a huge soft spot for partly because an old friend used to captain them (the last amateur captain) and I have fond memories of their ground at Southgate. Vicarage Road is soulless and I’m sorry Sarrries supporters (who some of the finest you could meet) your coach drives me nuts. The man who likes to play the hardman – Steve Diamond can go and take his nonsense elsewhere. Hugh Vyvyan is another player I hugely admire and let’s hope he shows the right example to his players. Sarries seem to have got a playing style that suits them and I expect them to have a solid if unspectacular season.

Gloucester have rather lost their way – the Shed have been holding their heads in their hands at some of the most woeful performances ever dished out at Castle Grim. I can’t see things improving much but what do I know!? They have some very talented players in James Simpson-Daniel and James Forrester but some how they don’t seem to know how to use that talent. I hope I’m proved wrong.

I’m not sure where Rob Andrew is going with Newcastle Falcons – the signing of Owen Finegan will give some needed guile in the back row but I’m not sure what Robbie Morris brings apart from bulk. I hope a certain fly half has a great season with a run of games not interrupted by the unfair demands of Team England – but I fear that is wishful thinking on my part.

Brian Smith’s London Irish team has a very intercontinental look about it – I’ve no idea what this will mean for the club but it’s not often you watch a team with so many countries represented on the pitch! I hope the Irish supporters getting some great running rugby and a lot more tries scored!

Which leaves my club Northampton Saints – after such a terrible year things can only get better – we lost 16 players and coaches again last season – the revolving door at FG was spinning at 78rpm! Now at last we appear to have a bit more stability – I’ve no idea about most of the players that have joined us except that the vast majority are young – a welcome change from recent seasons. I wish Budge and Grayse well and look forward to meeting the supporters from our opposition in the coming season.

Bring it on and come on you Saints!

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