Our Premiership columnist Felix McCabe looks at some of the new faces in the league next season
The start of every season brings with it new faces and this week at Harpin On Rugby I'm going to look at some of the new faces you'll be getting use to this year. You might recognise one or two of these guys from the international setup.
Richie Gray
Standing at an astonishing 6'10" and weighing 126 kg the Scottish lock will join Sale this season after four years with the Glasgow Warriors. He may not be a try-scoring machine but nobody can doubt his influence on the pitch. Physically strong, he is phenomenal in the ruck and explosive in loose play. Surely disappointed with a wooden spoon for Scotland and a 4th place in the Rabo, Gray will be looking to achieve big things at Edgeley Park this season.
Ben Botica
The son of All Black Frano Botica, this fly-half come centre has agreed to join Premiership champions Harlequins. At 22 years old Ben Botica has played with New Zealand side North Harbour as well representing his country at schoolboy level. He played out the end of his 2011/12 season with French side Perigueux and holds am English passport. One can only wonder how much game time Botica will get though; with Nick Evans and Rory Clegg already established in the side. He will be one to watch if given the opportunity to play.
Lorenzo Romano
As far as bright, young prospects go, the prop Lorenzo Romano is up there amongst the brightest. Weighing 133 kgs, he joins a Saracens locker room (that now includes Chris Ashton and Alistair Hargreaves), from bankrupt franchise Aironi. He made his Italian debut this summer for Italy against The Pumas and is expected to see a lot more Azzuri action in the next few years. I say watch this front-row forward as he muscles for position against six other props at Saracens this season.
Tómas O'Leary
A lot can be said about Ireland's former first-choice scrum-half. His fall from Declan Kidney's good graces after the world cup warm-ups saw him being left at home for Isaac Boss, Eoin Reddan and, his fellow Munster man, Conor Murray. A fall he hasn't really recovered from. Murray is the first choice scrum-half at Munster and O'Leary doesn't get a look-in with the Irish setup anymore so it was time for a change. I expect big things for the half-back this season when he joins the Exiles alongside fellow Irishman, Ian Humphreys from Ulster. Physical with the ball; it would be wise for any opponent not to underestimate Tomás O'Leary.
Gavin Henson
Dubbed rugby's biggest talent that never was; Gavin Henson will return to the Premiership this season with a lot to prove. This time he will dawn a London Welsh jersey as starting fly-half, leaving Gordon Ross on the bench. With all the controversy surrounding London Welsh's promotion and Henson's off-pitch antics; there will be a lot of media attention at the Kassam Stadium. Now is Henson's time to put all the critics in their place and show the world why he has been built up all this time.
There are my picks for new players to keep an eye on this season. I'm expecting big things from theses guys - hopefully not in vain ( *cough* Henson *cough* ). We'll see soon enough if these guys can meet the Premiership standard with only a handful of weeks left before our first kick-off. It can't come soon enough.
Felix (@lightningrust): Blogger, eternal student of business & law, sunshine rugby player with a passion for music and fitness. Coffee is essential. Leinster fan and Irish proud.
