A new season and a new name to the old Celtic League, the RaboDirect Pro 12 reflects the evolution of the league with the entry of the Italian sides last season. The new season kicks off this weekend with a full round of fixtures. Off course the new season is kicking off under the considerable shadow of the upcoming World Cup and the early rounds will see teams stretched in terms of their playing resources, with some being better able to equip than others.
The off season has seen the some star names leave the league, which may be no bad thing considering the sub-par performances of some of those "star" players over the past few seasons. The Ospreys have seen a dramatic exodus of high profile players, gone are Lee Byrne, James Hook, Mike Phillips, Jerry Collins and Marty Holah with an emphasis being placed on youth. The ‘Galacticos’ era at the region never really delivered the success which was anticipated and the new strategy of placing faith in the young talent may provide a more stable foundation for the region to build upon. Down the road from Swansea in Cardiff the Blues have also seen considerable change with head coach Dai Young heading to Wasps and no replacement has yet been announced. The strongest challenge from the welsh sides in this year’s competition could conceivably come from the Scarlets who have been steadily building a strong side over the past few seasons. The departure of Regan King and David Lyons can be overcome and the attacking verve which has been the hallmark of the side in recent years is set to continue. Expect the Dragons, as ever to spring a few surprises throughout the year but their lack of finance again withholding them from being serious contenders.
