RaboDirect Pro 12: The full team guide for the coming season

AN at-a-glance guide to all 12 teams
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Sep 2012, 03:33 BST

BENETTON TREVISO

Ground: Stadio Monigo

Coach: Franco Smith

Captain: Antonio Pavanello

Ins: James Ambrosini (Reds), Jacobus Roux (Bordeaux-Begles), Christian Loanmanu (Toulon), Dean Budd (NEC Green Rockets).

Outs: Alberto Chillon, Carlo Fazzari, Gonzalo Garcia.

Last season: 10th

Prediction: 8th

CARDIFF BLUES

Ground: Arms Park

Coach: Phil Davies

Captain: Andries Pretorius

Ins: Benoit Borrust (Perpignan), Andy Kyriacou (Ulster), Campese Ma’afu (West Harbour), Lou Reed (Scarlets), Jason Tovey (Dragons).

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Outs: Ben Blair, Gavin Henson, Gethin Jenkins, Casey Laulala, Dan Parks, Richie Rees, John Yapp, Rhys Thomas.

Last season: 7th

Prediction: 9th

CONNACHT

Ground: Galway Sportsground

Coach: Eric Elwood

Captain: Gavin Duffy

Ins: Willie Faloon (Ulster), Jason Harris-Wright (Bristol), Dan Parks (Cardiff), Dannie Poolman (Stormers), Nathan White (Leinster).

Outs: Niall O’Connor, Henry Fa’afili, Ray Ofisa, Brian Tuohy.

Last season: 8th

Prediction: 12th

EDINBURGH

Ground: Murrayfield

Coach: Michael Bradley

Captain: Greig Laidlaw

Ins: Ben Atiga (Highlanders), Dimitri Basilaia (Valence D’Agen, WP Nel, Izak van der Westhuizen (both Cheetahs), Perry Parker (Esher), Mike Penn (Worcester), Richie Rees, John Yapp (both Cardiff), Greig Tonks (Northampton).

Outs: Mike Blair, Alan MacDonald, Phil Godman, Jim Thompson, Chris Paterson, Simon Webster, Esteban Lozada.

Last season: 11th

Prediction: 2nd

GLASGOW

Ground: Scotstoun

Coach: Gregor Townsend

Captain: Al Kellock

Ins: Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Viliam Ma’afu (Mitsubishi), Angus Macdonald (Red Sparks), Nikola Matawalu (Suva), Byron McGuigan (Border Bulldogs), Taylor Paris (Canada 7s), Tim Swinson (Newcastle).

Outs: Federico Arambaru, Johnie Beattie, Rob Dewey, Calum Forrester, Richie Gray, David Lemi, Fergus Thomson.

Last season: 4th

Prediction: 4th

LEINSTER

Ground: RDS

Coach: Joe Schmidt

Captain: Leo Cullen

Ins: Michael Bent (Hurricanes), Tom Denton (Leeds), Andrew Goodman (Tasman Makos), Quinn Roux (Stormers).

Outs: Shane Horgan, Nathan White.

Last season: 1st

Prediction: 1st

MUNSTER

Ground: Thomond Park/Musgrave Park

Coach: Rob Penney

Captain: Doug Howlett

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Ins: Sean Dougall (Rotherham), James Downey (Northampton), Casey Laulala (Cardiff), CJ Stander (Bulls).

Outs: Lifeimi Mafi, Tomas O’Leary, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes, Denis Leamy, Mick O’Driscoll, David Wallace.

Last season: 3rd

Prediction: 5th

DRAGONS

Ground: Rodney Parade

Coach: Robert Beale

Captain: Lewis Evans

Ins: Dan Evans (Scarlets), Ian Nimmo (Cornish Pirates), Tom Prydie (Ospreys.

Outs: Aled Brew, Luke Charteris, Martyn Thomas, Jason Tovey.

Last season: 9th

Prediction: 10th

OSPREYS

Ground: Liberty Stadium

Coach: Steve Tandy

Captain: Alun Wyn Jones

Ins: Jonathan Spratt (London Irish).

Outs: Huw Bennett, Tommy Bowe, Paul James, Sonny Parker, Tom Prydie, Tom Smith, Nikki Walker, Shane Williams.

Last season: 2nd

Prediction: 6th

SCARLETS

Ground: Parc y Scarlets

Coach: Simon Easterby

Captain: Rob McCusker

Ins: George Earle (Cheetahs), Gareth Owen, Kristian Phillips (both Ospreys), Tomas Vallejos (Harlequins).

Outs: Dominic Day, Dan Evans, Stephen Jones, Sean Lamont, Ben Morgan, Lou Reed, Iestyn Thomas, Rhys Thomas.

Last season: 5th

Prediction: 7th

ULSTER

Ground: Ravenhill

Coach: Mark Anscombe

Captain: Johann Muller

Ins: Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Michael Heaney (Doncaster), Rob Herring (Western Province), Nick Williams (Aironi), Roger Wilson (Northampton).

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Outs: Simon Danielli, Ian Humphreys, Pedrie Wannernburg, Ian Whitten.

Last season: 6th

Prediction: 3rd

ZEBRE

Ground: XXV Aprile Stadium

Coach: Roberto Manghi

Captain: Marco Bortolami

Ins: All new to club

Outs: None

Last season: Did not exist

Prediction: 11th