New Faces for Pool 2 Sides

Ravenhill will be the venue for Gloucester Rugby Director of Rugby Dean Ryan to parade his new recruits in Europe. Scotland utility back and ace marksman Chris Paterson has been lured away from Edinburgh after scoring 154 points in 38 Heineken Cup appearances for the club over seven seasons and will be joined at Kingsholm by old Edinburgh and international team-mate and flanker Alasdair Strokosch and Scotland A prop Ally Dickinson. Gloucester have also signed Welsh internationals scrum half Gareth Cooper and back row forward Gareth Delve.

For their part Ulster Rugby have also signed new players from Scotland in internationals centre Rob Dewey and wing Simon Danielli with former Bourgoin and 21-times capped Italy lock Carlo Del Fava boosting their front five resources.

Former Wales lock Chris Wyatt has replaced Del Fava at Bourgoin and his knowledge of the Welsh game may help his new club when they travel to face the Ospreys in Round 1.

The Ospreys have been active in the transfer market with the capture of All Blacks flanker Marty Holah joining fellow Kiwi Justin Marshall at The Liberty Stadium.

Thirty-year-old Holah has won 36 All Blacks caps, the latest against South Africa last September, and joins the Ospreys from the Waikato Chiefs in late October. Those making shorter trips to the Liberty are Wales internationals scrum half Mike Phillips and lock Ian Gough.