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.