Team-By-Team Guide

Ballymena

Coach: A Bester. Captain: D Macartney. In: S Mason (full back, Richmond), M Blair (second row, Currie), T McWhirter (No 8, Dundee), G Cully (prop, Bangor). OUT: M Rainey (NIFC). Last Year: 6th.

Prospects: Simon Mason's arrival will guarantee points with the boot. Need to show a little more flair behind the scrum even in the absence of the injured James Topping. Decent pack, bolstered by the arrival of Tony McWhirter but may lack the necessary creativity with Derek McAleese at 10.

Blackrock

Coach: Kevin West.

Captain: S Byrne.

In: R Wheeler (back row, NZ), I McLaughlin (prop, London Irish), D Kennedy (back row, Bristol), E Robinson (centre, NZ), D Nolan (wing, Greystones), N Ryan (back row, Monkstown), T Stapleton (prop, Old Crescent), L Kearns (centre, Wanderers). OUT: G Duffy (DU), P Smyth (St Mary's), O Cobbe (Buccaneers), D Moore (Clontarf), D Lynagh (Terenure), D Beggy (Buccaneers).

Last Season: 10th.

Prospects: Appear several players short of making any positive impact on the title race despite the appointment of the excellent Kevin West. Interesting to see how the two New Zealanders settle in. Brian Carey, Rob Casey, Leo Cullen and David Quinlan are promising young players, but may find it difficult to impress in a team that should struggle.

Buccaneers

Coach: E O'Sullivan.

Captain: B Rigney.

In: S McIvor (scrum-half, Garryowen), S Allnutt (out-half, Corinthians), M Cahill (prop, Bohemians), R Southam (wing, Suttonians), N Barry (centre, Clontarf), M Steffert (flanker, NZ), D Beggy (full back, Blackrock).

Out: M McConnell (NZ), M Whelehan (Sunday's Well).

Last Year: Promoted from Division Two.

Prospects: Resemble a home for wandering minstrels and it will be interesting to see how they gel. Pack relies heavily on the three Rigneys, Brian, Donal and Des, while Noel Mannion is being groomed for super sub status. Good half backs and some experience further out should give Eddie O'Sullivan plenty to work with.

Clontarf

Coach: B Pope.

Captain: B Jackman.

In: H Hurley (prop, Moseley), D O'Brien (flanker, DLSP), D Moore (No 8, Blackrock), W O'Kelly (prop, Lansdowne), T Meagher (centre, St Mary's), M Kavanagh (prop, DLSP), C Bewley (centre, Old Belvedere), R O'Neill (wing, Bedford), O Winchester (wing, NZ), S Berti (scrum-half, Chile), I Sinnott (hooker, DU).

Out: K Hoffman (Suttonians), M Fitzsimons (Suttonians), G Aherne (Suttonians), S McCarthy (Old Crescent), M Meredith (Wales), S Guerin (retired).

Last Year: 7th.

Prospects: Possess great character and team spirit, particularly up front where the arrival of Henry Hurley, Declan O'Brien and Warren O'Kelly should make them a match for all comers. Like several teams, they can't afford too many injuries, and are probably three players short behind the scrum. Should be on the fringe of the title race.

Cork Constitution

Coaches: M Bradley, P Derham.

Captain: P Soden.

In: R Dineen (wing, Dolphin), Conor Mahony (centre, Dolphin), Cian Mahony (centre, Dolphin), D Corkery (flanker, Bristol), B Walsh (centre, Orrell), D Sheehan (second row, Highfield), C Wycherley (prop, Highfield).

Out: C Twomey (Dolphin), P McCarthy (retired).

Last Year: 5th.

Prospects: Promising young back line that includes the two Mahonys, Conor and Cian, enticed from Dolphin. The half backs, Ronan O'Gara and Brian O'Meara, could be very impressive at this level. Can't afford too many injuries up front, but the return of David Corkery is a huge boost. A good start could kick-start a rewarding season.

Galwegians

Coach: J Healy.

Captain: E Elwood.

In: G Dinneen (back row, Old Crescent), D Lee (hooker, Highfield). OUT: None.

Last Year: Champions, Division Two.

Prospects: Bookmakers are quoting ridiculously long odds on Connacht's premier club last season enjoying any success. A dozen Connacht squad members guarantees that they will be competitive. To reach a higher plateau, Eric Elwood, Mervyn Murphy, Pat Duignan et al will have to be at their best.

Garryowen

Coach: J Hall.

Captain: K Keane.

In: R Durno (centre, NZ), N Hartigan (prop, Young Munster), B Cronin (No 8, Orrell), R Leahy (second row, Wanderers), D Peters (second row, London Irish), M McNamara (wing, Lansdowne), M O'Connor (scrum-half, school).

Out: B Everitt (Lansdowne), S McIvor (Buccaneers), V Humphreys (Australia), G Walsh (Scotland), D O'Sullivan (Kilfeakle), P Bracken (Tullamore), S Madigan (Old Crescent), P Spain (retired).

Last Year: 2nd.

Prospects: The cracks are beginning to appear and one or two long-serving players may be past their prime. Look a little short in the second row and will have to make a decision at out-half regarding excellent youngster Jeremy Staunton. Several fine individual players, but not enough to mount a meaningful challenge. Could miss out on the play-offs.

Lansdowne

Coach: M Cosgrave.

Captain: K McQuilkin.

In R Corrigan (prop, Greystones), G Fulcher (second row, London Irish), S McEntee (back row, Wanderers), B Everitt (out-half, Garryowen), L Toland (flanker, Old Crescent), G D'Arcy (full back), J O'Beirne (back row, Greystones), R Corrigan (centre, Wanderers).

Out: R Governey (Oxford), W O'Kelly (Clontarf), A Forde (UCD), M McNamara (Garryowen).

Last Year: 9th.

Prospects: There will be some long, hard vetting of cheque-book stubs if high profile imports fail to inspire at least a play-off place. Have recruited spectacularly and are potentially a very fine side. Need to generate the right esprit de corps, though, to take them through the tougher games.

Shannon

Coach: P Murray.

Captain: A Foley.

In C Burke (centre, Sunday's Well), D Kirby (second row, Old Crescent), S Johnson (scrumhalf, Bath), C Murphy (scrum-half, Bohemians).

Out: G Russell (Castleisland), I Sherwin (Greystones), D O'Halloran (Old Crescent), P McLoughlin (Old Crescent), G Roche (Old Crescent), O Moran (Bohemians).

Last Year: Champions.

Prospects: Chasing a fifth title and are no less competent than in the four previous years. Dara Kirby and Conor Burke will strengthen the squad if not the first team. Hunger and determination seems in place once again and, suitably equipped, the pool of talent makes them the club to beat once again.

St Mary's

Coach: S Hennessy.

Captain: C McGuinness.

In P Smyth (hooker, Blackrock), P McKenna (full back, Old Belvedere), J Maher (prop, Bective), I Bloomer (second row, Bective Rangers), A Ramsey (second row, NZ).

Out: G Gannon (injured), G Halpin (Wanderers), F Fitzgerald (Old Wesley), T Meagher Clontarf), R Lynch (Clontarf), E McCormack (work), B Browne (work).

Last Year: 4th.

Prospects: May have been written off somewhat prematurely. Gareth Gannon is a huge loss in the centre, but the arrival of Peter McKenna and graduation of Kelvin McNamee to the first team mean that Mary's boast the quickest threequarter line in the country. Need to find a presence at out-half and settle on the composition of the front row.

Terenure

Coaches: G Murphy, B Byrne.

Captain: J Blaney.

In E Miller (No 8, Leicester), G Hill (back row, NZ), N Hogan (scrum-half, London Irish), S Baretto (prop, South Africa), B Treacy (centre, Old Belvedere), C Fitzpatrick (out-half, St Mary's), D Lynagh (centre, Blackrock), M O'Donnell (wing, Corinthians).

Out: None.

Last Year: 8th.

Prospects: Another club to recruit shrewdly. Interesting to see who plays at scrum-half and full back. Pack will be strengthened by the arrival of Eric Miller who should provide Terenure with a greater fluidity between backs and forwards. Have the personnel to enjoy a good season.

Young Munster

Coach: B Hickey.

Captain P Clohessy.

In M Webber (No 8, NZ), R Larkin (centre, NZ), D O'Dowd (wing, Dolphin), I O'Gorman (scrum-half, Old Crescent), S McCahill (centre, Sunday's Well), I Ryan (Garryowen), J Rose (Sunday's Well), B Murphy (Sunday's Well), H O'Neill (Terenure).

Out N Hartigan (Garryowen), A Honan (Waterpark), S Tuohy (Old Crescent).

Last Year: 3rd.

Prospects: Stronger than last season and that will be a worry for everyone else in the division. Excellent pack should be augmented by the presence of Kiwi Matt Webber, while behind the scrum there is a mixture of solidity (Mick Lynch and Noel O'Meara) and penetration (Sean McCahill). If Munsters don't get sidetracked they look a certainty for the play-offs.