Melrose
Captain: Carl Hogg
Coach: Keith Robertson
In: Robert Johnson (NZ) and Johannes Senekal (SA), Chris Dalgleish (Gala), Dave Watt (Edinburgh University and Ireland Under-21).
Out: Peter Wright, Stewart Campbell, Derek Stark, Gary Parker; coach Rob Moffat.
Last season: League and cup champions.
A hard act to follow.
Watsonians
Captain: Grant McKelvey
Coach: Andrew Ker
In: Martin Waite (Edinburgh Academicals) and Scott Paris (Boroughmuir)
Out: Rob Wainwright, Tom Smith (both to Dundee
HS FP) and coach Peter Gallagher (to Border Reivers).
Last season: Runners-up.
Currie
Captain: Mark Blair
Coach: Bruce Macnaughton
In: Geoff Caldwell (GHK), Danny Mallinson (Watsonians).
Out: Alan Glen (to Sydney)
Last season: Third.
The Malleny Park side caused quite a few longer established hearts to flutter last season. With the addition of the pace of the likes of new recruit Geoff Caldwell they will hope to bring another dimension to their play.
Boroughmuir
Captain: Ronnie Kirkpatrick
Coach: Sean Lineen
In: John Walters (NZ), Paul Rutherford (Peebles), Lyndsay Graham (Biggar).
Out: Scott Paris (to and coach Henry Edwards.
Last season: Fourth.
Finished the season in fine style with a cup final place against Melrose. Sean Lineen takes over the coaching reins from Henry Edwards.
Hawick
Captain: Tony Stanger
Coach: Derek Turnbull
In: Gavin Bruce (NZ)
Out: Greig Oliver (to Annan).
Last season: Fifth.
Ten Scottish titles in the 24 seasons since the official championship got under way is a record which will take some beating. Sadly for the once invincible Green machine, the last of those championships was secured a decade ago.
Jed-Forest
Captain: Calum Brown
Coach: Alastair Christie
In: Leigh Smith (Whitehaven RL), Steve Heiton (Workington Town RL), Trevor Brown (NZ) and Matt Brown (NZ).
Out: Kevin Armstrong.
Last season: Sixth.
The Riverside Park side have recruited a couple of rugby league men but have lost last year's captain, Kevin Armstrong, through injury.
Heriot's FP
Captain: Graham Dall
Coach: Kenny Milne
In: Vincent Payot (France), Andrew Garland, John Bell (both Australia), Paul Jennings (Boroughmuir).
Out: Jason Syme (to Kirkcaldy), Stuart Paul (Watsonians).
Last season: Seventh.
Gordon Ross, their young stand-off, is touted as the next Gregor Townsend. That may be a disservice to both.
Stirling County
Captain: Bob McKillop.
Coach: Tom Coventry.
In: David Jamieson (West of Scotland), Alan Kittle (Watsonians), Chris Hufferdine (Lancashire Under-21).
Out: John Manson (West of Scotland), Colin Macrobert (Kilmarnock), Tom Lightoller (B'muir), Brian Robertson, Euan Snowie, Andrew Horrell (retired).
Last season: Bottom of division.
Edinburgh Academicals
Captain: Simon Burns. Coach: Roger Whittaker
In: Andreou, Harrison, Rae, Springorum (all Natal), Hughes (Maesteg), Reed (Boroughmuir), Hamilton (Haddington), Stent (London Scottish), van der Esch (Dundee HS FP), Whittaker (Newcastle).
Out: Simmers (Hawks), Bull (Harlequins), Haslett (retired), Richardson (retired), Kiddie (to Borougmuir), Waite (to Watsonians), Colin Allan (to Loughborough).
West of Scotland
Captain: Gordon Bulloch
Coach: Brian Edwards
In: Peter Wright (Melrose), John Manson (Stirling), Grant Gibbon (CQP), Grant Howieson, Telfer Boyd (both Glasgow Southern), Guy Curtis, Warren Chamberlain, Aaron Collins (all New Zealand).
Out: David Jamieson (to Stirling County), John Lonergan (retired), Dave Barrett (Strathendrick).
Last season: Promoted as Division 2 runners-up.
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