 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  | |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  | |  |
Perpignan have also recruited two more Super 14 players from South Africa in 12-times capped lock Gerrie Britz (Stormers) and wing and sevens ace Philip Burger (Cheetahs) along with Scotland scrum half Chris Cusiter. Another southern hemisphere player to link up with the French club is former Samoan and Leicester Tigers back row forward Henry Tuilagi.
The French club will also have a new coaching team headed up by Jacques Brunel - France's national forwards coach - and club stalwart Bernard Gouta.
For their part the Dragons will have an insight into the Perpignan camp having brought Wales flanker Richard Parks back home from the South of France to form an all international back row with Colin Charvis and Michael Owen. Another significant signing at Rodney Parade is Wales scrum half Andy Williams from Bath Rugby.
Meanwhile, Italian champions Benetton Treviso will have a new coach following the departure of Craig Green. Taking over is Franco Smith, the former Springbok No 10 who played for Newport in the European Challenge Cup in 1999 before joining the Italian club.
Benetton travel to London Irish in Round 1 where they will find the Exiles boosted by the signing of three-times capped All Blacks prop Clarke Dermody and Irish outside half Jeremy Staunton. Another new face will be former Waratahs points machine Peter Hewat - who scored 636 points in fifty outings for the Aussie Super 14 team.
