HERIOT'S

Heriot's have the depth of talent to mount a real challenge this year aided by the fact that their twin coaches now have one season of experience under their belt at this level. How well they replace the free-scoring midfield duo of De Luca and Dewey will probably determine whether they finish first or second.

Coaches: Jock Bryce/Iwan Tukalo. Captain: Jamie Osbourne. DOR: Neil Stringer. Player Development: Andy Henderson. Players In: Cammy Bruce, Roddy Deans, John Houston (all Hawick). Steve Manning (Ayr), Cammy Goodal and Mark Thomson (Kirkcaldy), Scott Newlands (Kelso), Barry Johns (DHSFP), Andrew Dall (Gala). Players Out: Nick de Luca, Alan MacDonald, Ander Munro and Rob Dewey (Edinburgh), Ian Wilson (Exeter), Ian Nimmo (Leicester), Craig Harrison (injury), Jon White (business).

HAWKS

Hawks won little before Peter Wright arrived and they must prove themselves once more since the former Scotland prop has left. Mark Sitch and Chris Docherty will wave a big stick at the forwards and if they succeed then Hawks will be thereabouts at the sharp end of the season. In the backline it is crunch time for centre Stephen Duffy who has promised more than he has delivered, albeit blighted by injury.

Coach: David Wilson. Captain: Eric Milligan. DOR: John Roxburgh. Players In: Ian Kennedy and Donald Malcolm (GHA), Nick Cox (Coventry) Neal Lear (Loughborough University), Stephen Biggard (Hillhead/Jordanhill). Players Out: Colin Shaw, Fergus Thomson and Stevie Swindall (all to Glasgow).

BOROUGHMUIR

Muir looked competitive in pre-season competition but despite Charlie Keenan returning to the fold (it must be an odd year) the men from Meggetland cannot match the depth of Heriot's squad. The club has yet to find a consistent replacement for former playmaker Ally Warnock although the battle between Andy Hadden and Craig Marshall might well solve that problem. Angus Martyn remains the best flanker in the club game and Ross Cook, returned from Italy, oozes quality.

Coaches: Bruce Reekie and Stuart Reid. Captain: Rory Couper. Players In: Ross Cook (Parma), Charlie Keenan (Heriot's), Kyle Traynor, Craig Marshall (school). Players Out: James Reilly (London), John Cox (France), Graham Kiddie (Morgan).

STIRLING COUNTY

County boast one of the best development programmes in the country so it's a shame to see that even they have to resort to imports to keep their nose above water...at least in their first year back in Premier One. Much will rest on their twin imports from Waikato and whether Bob McKillop can find John Barclay his proper position.

Coaches: Bob McKillop, Alan Syme and Johnny Versteynen. Captain: Bob Wylie. Players In: Alan Syme and Johnny Versteynen (both Waikato), Stephen Turnbull and Richard Mill (both school), Tim Clark (Northern Ireland), John Barclay (GHA). Players Out: Ian Jardine (rtd), Shawn Renwick (South Africa), Bernard Orbell (Australia).

ABERDEEN GSFP

Aberdeen coach Damien Reidy has a well-publicised antipathy towards the Borders but in truth his side suffers from the same problem of players gravitating towards the big cities of the central belt. Grammar have lost umpteen props during the summer which has added to their woes so many expect to see the northern flag bearers struggle in the coming months.

Coach: Damien Reidy. Captain: Rod Seib. DOR: Brian Clark. Players In: Sean Crombie (Kirkcaldy), Luke Parsons (Waikato). Players Out: Mark McLean (Australia), Dan Teague and Luke McCann (Edinburgh Accies), Ben Prescott (Glasgow), Tim Dinnen (midseason to Australia), Moray Low (on trial with Northampton).

MELROSE

Melrose were the best of the Border bunch last season and will fancy their chances of doing at least the same again. A young squad has been augmented by some older heads and if they can steer clear of injury they will challenge anyone at the Greenyards. That said the squad is probably a little too thin to mount a tilt at the title this season.

Coaches: Brian Easson, Craig Chalmers, Brian Turner. Captain: Wayne Mitchell. Players In: Andrew Gillie and Cammy Murray (both Hawick), Gavin Broomfield (Dunfermline), Matt de Frank (Selkirk), James King (Berwick). Players Out: Craig Chalmers (rtd), Graeme Dodds (Canada).

BIGGAR

The surprise package of last season have lost two important players (Edwards and Kirisome) and their forwards coach John Beattie. Forewarned is forearmed and if anyone took them lightly last season no-one will make that mistake again. The second season of top flight rugby is sure to test even Gary Parker's endless supplies of optimism although the recruitment of Lee Kibble and Ian Berthinussen adds some cutting edge to the back line.

Coach: Gary Parker/Paul Thomson. Captain: Euan McAlpine. Players In: Lee Kibble (Gala), Ian Berthinussen (Borders), Drew Moore (Peebles). Players Out: Joe Edwards, Logan Kirisome (injury), Warren Dailey (Dunfermline), Alan Warnock (NZ).

WATSONIANS

The club have more generous backers than anyone else but they will want better value for their money. Watsonians have changed tack and intend to work now closely with Edinburgh's pro-team. Certainly they have the talent, and four high-profile recruits announced tomorrow will only add to it, but Cammy Mather has to distil this into a team spirit in his first season as coach.

Coach: Cammy Mather + one. Captain: Alan Nash. Players In: Cammy Mather (Glasgow), Murray Bringhurst (school), Ian Simpson (B'Muir), plus four Scottish-qualified overseas players to be announced tomorrow. Players Out: Rory Duncan (Leopards), Neil Cochrane (Rotherham), Dan O'Connell and Tyson Takiari (both released).

HAWICK

To lose one player in the summer might be careless but to lose one third of your first-choice team as Hawick have done is downright disastrous. The success of their junior clubs, PSA and Wanderers contested the Under-18 final last year, proves that the town is still producing players but it is struggling to hang on to them. To add salt to their wounds Hawick's highly-rated physiotherapist Sandy Lyle has also moved to Heriot's.

Coach: Jim Hay, John Hogg, Sean McGaughey, Keith Suddon. Captain: Dan Landels (prob). Players In: Pending. Players Out: Roddy Deans, John Huston and Cammy Bruce (all Heriot's), Cammy Murray and Andrew Gillie (Melrose), Garry Law (Borders).

AYR

Craig Redpath has a fair mix of talent at his disposal but how he uses it will be key. With Eddie McLaughlin signing a three-month contract for Glasgow the rugby league convert might not be seen around Millbrae much. Shule Going, one of the extended family that includes All Black legend Syd, will be in attendance, and with a granny from Greenock his progress will be closely watched.

Coach: Craig Redpath Captain: Ewan Logan Players In: Andrew Kelly (Glasgow), AJ McFarlane and James Eddie (GHA), Shule Going (North Auckland), Phil Nicol (Whitecraigs), Cameron Taylor (Stewarty), Eddie McLaughlin (Glasgow). Players Out: Kyle Bruning (Marr), Steve Heaton (Manchester), Steve Manning and Michael Goldie (Heriot's).

STEWART'S-MELVILLE

The core of this squad has been together for three years making the march from Premier Three. The experience of Graham Shiel and Craig Joiner will be augmented by the fresh talent of Andrew Easson who will prove a handful, but the club probably lack the overall talent to stay in top flight rugby longer than one season since three teams are relegated to make way for the ten-team league in 2005/06.

Coach: Grant McKenzie. Captain: Paul Wharakura. Players In: Craig Joiner (Edinburgh), David McCall, Ross Sampson, Richard Vernon and Colin Goudie (various schools). Neil Malloy (Boroughmuir), Andrew Easson (Heriot's), Neil Statham (RHC), Zane Gardiner (Peebles). Players Out: Nick Penny (rtd).

CURRIE

There are signs that Currie deserve better than their annual appearance in the relegation dogfight. They beat Hawks in the cup last year and Heriot's in the league and they have been strengthened by some overseas signings. Coach Donaldson expects great things from the Cairns brothers, Mark and Ben and rates new No 8 Ross Weston. Promising young Scottish scrum-half Richard Sneddon is yet another that we could usefully trade for a couple of midfielders.

Coach: Ally Donaldson, Kevin Barrie, Graham Hogg. Captain: Andy Adam. Players In: Ross Weston (Haddington), Anton Edwards (Waikato), Ben Miller (ACT), Mark Cairns (Loughb Uni). Players Out: None of note.

This article was posted on 21-Aug-2005, 07:27 by Hugh Barrow.