Saturday 3 September 2016 12:42, UK
As the 2016/2017 Aviva Premiership kicks off, we take a look at the five key questions that will be answered this season.
Exeter have exceeded expectations since their promotion to the Premiership in 2010.
Last campaign saw them qualify for the knock-out stages in Europe, losing out to a last-gasp Jimmy Gopperth conversion, before pushing Saracens all the way in the Premiership final.
While Rob Baxter's men were at times overwhelmed by the occasion at Twickenham, they rallied in the second half and will learn from the experience as they look to go one better this season.
However, with success comes new challenges, and with a number of Chiefs receiving international recognition, a full squad effort will be needed to ensure they don't replicate Bath's recent rise and fall.
While the Premiership title looks to be as hotly contested as ever, there are also a number of teams that could find themselves in the firing line in round 22.
Premiership returnees Bristol will need to get off to a flying start to ensure they avoid an immediate drop into the Championship, but with seasoned internationals such as Soane Tonga'uiha, Gavin Henson and Tusi Pisi in their armoury - led by former England and Scotland head coach Andy Robinson - they are equipped for the challenge.
Among their rivals, some expect Worcester to feature in the basement battles. The Warriors have finished outside the bottom three just twice in 10 seasons of top-flight rugby, while Newcastle face a similar plight. Two seventh-place finishes in 2004/05 and 2005/06 remains their best league finish.
The stats don't make great reading for the duo but their experience in survival could play to their advantage come crunch time.
The 2015/16 season was a turbulent 12 months for Bath. The club went from Premiership runners-up the season before, to languishing ninth in the table at the close of last season, leading to three coaches and 17 senior players heading for the exit door.
The man to lead the fresh start is former Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder, a man who enjoyed a successful playing career with the all-conquering Super Rugby side before leading them to four semi-finals and one final as a coach.
When Blackadder took over the reins at the Crusaders back in 2009, he inherited a side who had won three of the last four Super Rugby tournaments.
A different situation now faces him at Bath. Can Blackadder restore Bath to their glory days or does another miserable season await the Rec's faithful?
When Josh Charnley announced his move from Wigan Warriors to Sale Sharks, he joined a long list of players who have attempted to cross the great divide in recent years.
For every Jason Robinson, Chris Ashton and Sonny Bill Williams who have made their mark on the 15-man code, there is a Sam Burgess, Joel Tomkins or Henry Paul who struggled to replicate their form in a new sport.
A team-mate of former Saracens and England centre Joel Tomkins, Charnley will be all too aware of the challenges he faces.
Sale will be hoping the 25-year-old will emulate their most famous league import Jason Robinson. With his running game and try-scoring exploits regularly on show for the Warriors, Charnley possesses the skill-set to succeed in union.
Danny Cipriani will make his long-awaited return to Wasps colours on Sunday when they welcome Exeter to the Ricoh Arena.
The 28-year-old rejected a transfer to three-time European champions Toulon to return to the club for whom he made 95 appearances before his move to the Melbourne Rebels in 2011, and has been vocal in his desire to force his way into Eddie Jones' England plans.
A starting spot is far from a done deal for the seven-cap England fly-half, with Jimmy Gopperth the present incumbent.
Gopperth was a standout performer last season, scoring 253 points, including a last-minute conversion that sent Wasps into the Champions Cup semi-finals.
He found himself playing second-fiddle to Jonny Sexton during his time with Leinster, and will be keen to avoid history repeating itself as Cipriani returns home.
