Bath

Grade: C-

It was always going to be difficult for Bath to improve their squad given how impressive it is already. The arrival of James Bhatti offsets the loss of Francois van Wyk whilst Bath will be hoping Griffin and Sela can help replace Thomas du Toit at tighthead prop. In the back row, Alfie Barbeary has been replaced by Dan du Preez which keeps the position at the same level. The South African has been a consistently impressive performer for Sale in recent years and will be a good addition to a stacked unit. Two centres (Chris Harris and Will Butt) are departing in search of more playing time but Bath already have enough players in midfield, and some intriguing youngsters, to cover those losses. Tom de Glanville is set to join Butt on the south coast to replace Josh Hodge for the Chiefs. The arrival of Santi Carreras last summer made this somewhat inevitable but Bath fans will still be sad to see someone, who went from the academy to the first team, leave. He showed his class last season by often keeping the Argentine out of the team but he now has to leave the club in order to find playing time. 

All in all, Bath are slightly worse off than they were before but still have an excellent group.

Ins: Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow, Loosehead prop), Dan du Preez (Sale Sharks, No.8). 

Outs: Francois van Wyk (Connacht, Loosehead prop) , Thomas du Toit ( Sharks, Tighthead prop), Mikey Summerville (Ealing Trailfinders, Prop), Alfie Barbeary (Saracens, No.8), Ethan Staddon (Bristol Bears, Flanker), Sam Harris (Exeter Chiefs, Fly-half) Chris Harris (Newcastle Red Bulls, Centre), Will Butt (Exeter Chiefs, Centre), Tom de Glanville (Exeter Chiefs, Fullback)

Bristol Bears

Grade: D

Bristol suffered from a ridiculous number of injuries last season and found their small squad to be incapable of dealing with that situation. As things stand, it appears that lessons haven't been learned from that experience. Losing two fullbacks, a lock and a back row that were all key players last season is a big blow. Replacing them with one back row and some players from the Champ doesn't fill me with confidence. Bristol still have enough stars to be successful but losing Dun is a big blow and their depth will, as it stands, be a huge problem once again. 

Ins: Josh Caulfield (Ealing Trailfinders, Lock), Ethan Staddon (Bath, Back row), Louie Sinclair (Cornish Pirates, Fly-half), Tobi Wilson (Ealing Trailfinders, Fullback), Sol Moody (Cornish Pirates, Hooker) 

Outs: Sam Grahamslaw (Ealing Trailfinders, Loosehead prop), Will Capon (Free Agent, Hooker), James Dun (Lock, Harlequins), Steele Barker (Cornish Pirates, Lock), Santiago Grondona (Pau, Back row), Sam Wolstenholme (Exeter Chiefs, Scrum-half), Rich Lane (Free Agent, Fullback), Benjamin Elizalde (Newcastle Red Bulls, Fullback), Raff Weston (Ampthill, Fly-half), Joe Jenkins (Leicester Tigers, Centre), Toby Baker (Ampthill, Centre)

Exeter Chiefs

Grade: B

After a summer of mass recruitment last year, Exeter are building on their subsequent Prem final appearance with a summer of smart recruitment. Recent signings, Mona and Blose, who didn't make much impact have already departed whilst others have left for big deals elsewhere. Club stalwart Scott Sio joins the aforementioned front-row players in leaving the club whilst McArthur and Abuladze come in to replace them. Rusi Tuima and Christ Tshuinza are big exits in the pack, but weren't nailed-on starters, and have been replaced by Nkwocha and Wilson as depth players. There were also big departures at centre with Ikitau, John and Rigg leaving the club.  Dallas McLeod and Will Butt have joined to replace them. Tom de Glanville is also set to join to replace Josh Hodge who left in the middle of the season.

Ins: Nika Abuladze (Montpellier, Loosehead prop), Archie McArthur (Gloucester, Loosehead prop), Harry Wilson (Saracens, Lock), Obinna Nkwocha (Worcester Warriors, Lock), Sam Wolstenholme (Bristol Bears, Scrum-half), Sam Harris (Bath, Fly-half), Dallas McLeod (Crusaders, Centre), Will Butt (Bath, Centre), Jake Murray (Harlequins, Scrum-half), Tom de Glanville (Bath, Fullback)

Outs: Scott Sio (Cardiff, Loosehead Prop), Khwezi Mona (Free Agent, Prop), Kwenzo Blose (Free Agent, Prop), Rusi Tuima (Newcastle Red Bulls, Lock), Martin Moloney (Free Agents, Back row) Christ Tshuinza (Sale Sharks, Back row), Charlie Chapman (Scrum-half, Worcester Warriors), Len Ikitau (Brumbies, Centre), Will Rigg (Centre, Newcastle Red Bulls), Dan John (Centre, Ospreys) 

Gloucester

Grade: B+

Gloucester have made some big moves this summer by signing Wales internationals Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake. Those acquisitions should give them a stronger spine and platform from which they can play. Jean Kleyn and Joe Joyce are replacements for Alemanno and Jordan at lock but the other big news is at scrum-half. Tomos Williams has left for Saracens whilst Dan Robson returns to England in his mid-thirties to replace him. The loss of Williams is significant, but the additions of Lake and Morgan should be enough to help Gloucester progress this season. 

Ins: Marco Fepulea'i (Mont de Marsan, Tighthead prop), Elliot Salt (Coventry, Tighthead prop), Dewi Lake (Ospreys, Hooker), Jean Kleyn (Munster, Lock), Joe Joyce (Connacht, Lock), Jac Morgan (Flanker, Ospreys), Dan Robson (Pau, Scrum-half), Phil Cokanasiga (Ospreys, Centre)

Out: Kirill Gotovtsev (Retired, Tighthead prop), Nepo Laulala (Free Agent, Tighthead prop), Archie Mcarthur (Exeter Chiefs, Loosehead prop), Matias Alemanno (Lock, Vannes), Cam Jordan (Newcastle Red Bulls, Lock), Hugh Bokenham (Cornish Pirates, Lock), Josh Basham (Free Agent, Back row), Tomos Williams (Saracens, Scrum-half), Will Butler (London Scottish, Centre) Rob Russell (Free Agent, Winger), Jake Morris (Ealing Trailfinders, Winger)

Harlequins

Grade: B-

Harlequins had a very tricky season last time out and go into this one with a new coaching staff and some new players. George Furbank is the big-name signing at fullback in a move that is slightly puzzling. Tyrone Green is an excellent fullback and Nick David is capable of covering the position when needed. The team's real issues are in their tight five so Furbank will have to be much healthier than he has been recently in order to be good value as a signing. 

As for the tight five, two tighthead props have been brought in to compete with Harry Williams in what has been an area of weakness since Collier left. James Dun is a big addition at lock to partner Petti and should give Quins a more confrontational style. 

In terms of departures, Benson and Evans leaving is perhaps why Furbank is needed but definitely leaves Harlequins bare at fly-half during international breaks. Overall, this Harlequins team should be better than last year's but I'm not seeing a massive transformation at this moment in time.

Ins: Harry Johnson-Holmes (Western Force, Tighthead prop), Sampie Sweigers (Pumas, Tighthead prop), James Dun (Bristol Bears, Lock), George Furbank (Northampton Saints, Fullback)

Outs: Joe Jones (Worcester Warriors, Tighthead prop), Jordan Els (Free Agent, Loosehead prop), Luke Yendle (Free Agent, Tighthead prop), Andrew Turner (Free Agent, Loosehead prop), George Turner (Harlequins, Hooker), Joe Launchbury (Retired, Lock), Stephan Lewies (Sharks, Lock), Tom Lawday (Free Agent, Back row), Jack Grant (Free Agent, Scrum-half), Max Green (Oundle RFC, Scrum-half) Jarrod Evans (Cardiff, Fly-half), Jamie Benson (Ulster, Fly-half), Hayden Hyde (Ealing Traillfinders, Centre)