Club profile: Bristol Shoguns

Jason Little has joined Bristol from Gloucester

Bristol have consolidated their position in England's top division since winning promotion in 1999 after one year in the wilderness of the second tier.

However, this season consistency needs to replace consolidation if Dean Ryan' s team are to improve on last year's ninth place.

Over the summer the club have looked to move forward with some big changes, namely a high profile new sponsor heralding the club's new moniker, big name arrivals and a change from playing on Saturdays to Sundays in an attempt to attract larger crowds.

Ryan took over from Bob Dwyer midway through last season and in his first summer of transfer activity he has been given ample financial muscle with which to develop the team.

The team-building has been overshadowed by the on-off move and contract dispute with former Saracens prop Julian White.

The England international's belated arrival at training the week prior to the season has provided a huge boost to the club.

Not only will he be the cornerstone of the pack, but before the season has kicked off the Shoguns have put one over their fiercest rivals, Bath, White' s other suitors.

The spine of the pack is completed by the promising Andrew Sheridan in the second row with Ross Beattie, a new recruit from one of Ryan's former clubs, Newcastle, at the back.

In his playing days Ryan was an uncompromising figure at the base of the scrum and in the loose, and although he is forming a pack in that mould he has not neglected the three-quarters.

Bristolians will be hoping that the summer success of all things Australian continues following the arrival Shane Drahm and Jason Little.

Drahm has flown in from Queensland to fill the number 10 shirt and, outside him at centre, will be joined by Little, the former Wallaby international who has completed a shorter trip down the M5.

Little was disaffected by life at Gloucester in his first season of English club rugby and will be intent on proving his undoubted class this year.

Off the field the Shoguns have started well in taking one of Gloucester's top players and pipping Bath to an England international.

However the truth of the matter is that if they fail to outgun their West Country rivals on the pitch another season of under-achievement awaits the Sunday worshippers at the Memorial Stadium.

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Facts and figures

Ground: Memorial Stadium
Coach: Dean Ryan
Captain: To be confirmed
Last season: Ninth

Players in: Ross Beattie (Newcastle), Matt Carrington (Otago Highlanders), Shane Drahm (Queensland Reds), Jason Little (Gloucester), Chris Simpson-Daniel (Worcester), Julian White (Saracens).

Players out: Gareth Baber (Pontypridd), Jamie Mayer (Leeds), Barry Williams (Neath)