THE new Premiership rugby season kicks off on Saturday with Heriot’s defending the title and Watsonians wanting to make its presence felt with a host of new signings. In the Borders, Gala, Hawick and Melrose will battle it out with Selkirk dropping into National League 1 where they will face Jed-Forest among other clubs.

Atholl Innes looks at how the clubs are shaping up.

GALA: Gala maintained its Premiership position thanks to a play-off win over Marr and have rebuilt for the new season.

Keeping with local tradition, Gala have appointed former backs coach Chris Dalgleish as head coach with Opeta Palepoi as forwards coach, both supported by Bruce Miller.

The Maroons have lost Euan Dods, Ewan Scott, Keith Young and Craig Borthwick to Watsonians. But Ruari Howarth has joined officially after leaving the Edinburgh Academy side; Gary Robertson, the under-20 prop is fit again; and Gregor Hunter and Gregor Mein are also back at the club.

“There is an air of confidence and expectancy,” said President Graham Low as he added the names of Paul Hendry (South African centre/wing) and Dean Brooker, prop from Cornish Pirates.

MELROSE: It is also a question of all change at The Greenyards where Rob Chrystie has been given the honour of taking over with the departure of John Dalziel to London Scottish. He is joined by new forwards coach Stuart Johnson.

“Our win at Peebles Sevens was a good work-out for us and I am looking forward to the new season,” Chrystie said. “There is change all the time and we move on.”

The club has been boosted by Mark Robertson winning a silver medal with the GB team in Rio and it is expected that he will be honoured in due course. New faces included Iain Moody, Craig Jackson and Russell Anderson. Ross McCann, winner of the John Macphail Scholarship, has shown form in the sevens, while Sam Pecquer, Joe Helps and Nyle Godsmark fight injuries.

HAWICK: It’s a new era at Hawick with Nicky Walker and Scott MacLeod still in charge of the players looking to build on previous foundations.

Hawick hope to bring in two overseas players before Saturday and a tough opener at Stirling County. But the current squad of local players has impressed the coaches despite losing to Darlington in a pre-season friendly.

MacLeod told the Hawick Paper, a new publication: “Our scrummaging and set-pieces were tremendous and we need to do that consistently.

“We are not the biggest team, but we can still be physical. Having a big heart is the important thing and we want that ethos in the team. We want playing for Hawick to be a big thing.

“If we do not have the bulk, we want to make sure that we play with heart and that our skill-set is superior to our opponents.”

Gary Johnstone is back at Hawick, while Neil Renwick and Lee Armstrong have both moved on. But few clubs will relish a visit to Mansfield Park.

SELKIRK: Despite dropping into National League 1, Selkirk will approach the new season with confidence. It is a new era with Graham Marshall back as coach with help from Michael Jaffray and Fraser Jack.

The Souters will be crossing Scotland on a new journey from Aberdeen to Marr and Dundee to Glasgow and places in between.

“Since taking over the reins, I have been hugely impressed by the attitude and commitment shown by the players at pre-season training,” said Marshall.

“It is a bonus that we have such a talented uptake of Youth Club players and I feel certain that they are going to make a big impact at the club.”

Like most clubs, players have come and gone. Angus Duckett has joined Watsonians; Callum Marshall has moved nearer his work to Heriot’s; James Bett is now at Boroughmuir, and Mickey Davies has taken a year out to concentrate on his accountancy exams.

But hooker Cameron McAulay has arrived from

Melrose, Rory Smith from Hawick, and Ciaran Whyte, from Stewart’s Melville.

South African prop Lwando Mabenge is back at the club.

JED-FOREST: The Young twin brothers have taken over at the helm at Jed-Forest – Gregor is captain for the second time with Lewis vice-captain.

Both ex-Scotland sevens’ players are expected to play an integral part in the season.

Off the field, former player Billy Grieve has taken over as Border League president.

The man, who has held every role at Riverside Park, as well as President of the Border Semi-Junior League, says that members have to address all issues each season instead of looking in the past.

“It is important that we highlight the Border League and take it forward,” Billy added.

KELSO: Kelso, under Adam Roxburgh and Andrew Skeen, will be looking to bounce back into National League 1.

There has been many changes with Neil Renwick joining from Hawick; Kris Mein, Gala; Rhys Morgan, prop from Stewart’s Melville; Angus Roberts, centre Merchiston; Paudie Lawlor, second row from Northern Ireland; Colin Arthur, prop; Nick Hart, Preston Lodge hooker; Andrew Ford, Hawick; and Jack Chambers, Melrose.

Blair Robertson has moved to Hawick for more experience; Michael Barber back down south; Donald Crawford, Heriot’s; and Richard Minto, Murrayfield Wanderers.

PEEBLES: Peebles will put youth on top of its playing agenda with more youngsters emerging to compete for places in the 1st XV.

Director of Rugby Adam Moffat will be urging his players to bounce back into Division 1 and continue the form shown at the end of last season.

While back-rower Kiwi, Corrie Togiia, returns and Callum Leckey joins from Belfast Harlequins, Peebles will place the emphasis on local lads.

“We want to build on last season,” said Moffat, in his second season as Rugby Director, while Ewen Robbie and Drew Moore continue as coaches.

“There is a lot of optimism,” said Moffat. “But we know that there will be a lot of hard games in the Division – Kelso, for example, who dropped down last season, too, and Biggar.

“Promotion is our goal and we hope to achieve that.”

Moffat was a great supporter of the Autumn Sevens, when tournaments were played at Kelso and Selkirk, and believes that the Peebles event earlier this month encouraged skills and got players in the mood for the new season.

Peebles, who played Forrester in a friendly on Saturday, open its campaign in the BT Cup this weekend before Biggar are the visitors a week after.

That is the yardstick on which Peebles may well be judged for the games ahead.

BIGGAR: Attendance has been good at pre-season with all senior players enjoying the training which has been led jointly by Alistair Browning and new coach Gary Mercer with assistance from Doug Fleming.

For the first season in many, there are no recruits from the Southern Hemisphere in the senior squad. The one 'new' face is that of Andrew Dunlop, who having 'retired' from Premiership rugby after a long stint with Ayr, has returned to play at Hartree Mill.

“An uncompromising back row/No 8, he brings a wealth of experience to an otherwise youthful squad,” said spokesman Al Stewart.

Biggar's aim has always been to play at the highest level possible. Coach Mercer is an ambitious and driven coach and sees promotion as his goal.

“A good start is essential and the opening encounter against Peebles will be a cracker while the addition of Kelso who dropped down, and the resurgence of two ambitious Glasgow sides in the shape of West and GHK mean that there will be no 'easy' games.

“The pitch development meanwhile, which will increase the available pitches to 5, nears completion with a projected handover in November.”