Head coach: Dean Ryan
Captain: Mike Tindall
Ground: Kingsholm (16,500 capacity)
Last season: GP - 1st (lost in play-off semi-finals) HC - quarter-finals
England elite squad players: 3 (Simpson-Daniel, Barkley, Narraway)
It was same old story for Gloucester last season. For the third time in six years, the Cherry and Whites finished top of the Premiership after the regular season but ended up blowing it in the play-offs.
Ryan has tried to calm expectations for the new campaign and is without injured back-row ball-carriers Akapusi Qera and Gareth Delve for the early part of the season.
But with internationals such as Olly Barkley and Greg Somerville arriving, and Mike Tindall likely to play more games, injury permitting, the Kingsholm faithful will be expecting their side to make a better fist of the knock-out stages.
"There are an awful lot of good sides out there trying to achieve the same things. It will be more difficult this year than it has ever been. If we can get into the top four, with a squad that has slightly more experience and depth, hopefully we can learn the lessons of previous experiences."
Head coach Dean Ryan
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