Team-by-team guide for the new URC season

The new season of the BKT URC is upon us and we have compiled a team-by-team guide of this year's squds.

URC INS AND OUTS: Siya Kolisi has left Racing 92 to return home to Hollywoodbet Sharks. Picture: Warren Little/Getty Images

BENETTON 

Ins: Louis Lynagh (Harlequins), Matt Gallagher (Bath), Lautaro Bazan Velez (Rovigo), Riccardo Genovesse (Zebre Parma), Marco Manfredi (Zebre Parma) 

Outs: Giacomo Nicotera (Stade Francais), Giacomo De Re (Zebre Parma), Joaquin Riera (Rouen), Gianmarco Pettinelli (Mogliano Veneto), Edoardo Padovani (Mogliano Veneto), Marco Lazzaroni (Mogliano Veneto), Santiago Ruiz (Released), Federico Zani (Released), Henry Stowers (Released), Dewaldt Duvenage (Released), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Released), Marcus Watson (Retired), Matteo Minozzi (Retired), Gianmarco Lucchesi (Toulon).

VODACOM BULLS 

Ins: Cobus Wiese (Sale Sharks), Boeta Chamberlain (Sharks), Nama Xaba (Stormers), Alulutho Tshakweni (Cheetahs), Sintu Manjezi (Glasgow Warriors), Aphiwe Dyantyi (Sharks).

Outs: Deon Slabbert (Pumas), Jacques du Plessis (Bath), Wandisile Simelane (Stormers), Chris Smith (Oyonnax), WJ Steenkamp (Lions)

CARDIFF 

Ins: Callum Sheedy (Bristol Bears), Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Northampton Saints), Steffan Emanuel (Bath), Tom Bowen (Bristol Bears), Joe Cowell (Cardiff Metropolitan University), Danny Southworth (Exeter Chiefs), Ed Byrne (Leinster), Iwan Stephens (Newcastle Falcons), Rory Jennings (Newcastle Falcons), Dan Thomas (Bristol Bears), Josh McNally (Bath), Aled Davies (Saracens), Johan Mulder (Lions)

Outs: Tomos Williams (Gloucester), Rhys Carrè (Saracens), Owen Lane (Valence Romans), Shane Lewis-Hughes (Dragons), Arwel Robson (Chambery), Lopeti Timani (Narbone) Jamie Hill (Released), Max Clark (Released), Gonzalo Bertranou (Released), Aled Summerhill (Released), Willis Halaholo (Released), Matthew Aubery (Released), Ciaran Parker (Retired), Josh Turnbull (Retired), Ellis Jenkins (Retired)

CONNACHT 

Ins: Ben Murphy (Leinster), Temi Lasisi (Leinster), David O‘Connor (Ealing Trailfinders), Adam McBurney (Edinburgh), Piers O’Conor (Bristol Bears), Hugh Gavin (Academy), Matthew Devine (Academy), Josh Ioane (Loan from Chiefs), Josh Murphy (rejoining after 12-month leave to complete medical studies), Chay Mullins (Academy) 

NEW SIGNING: Josh Ioane has joined Connacht from Chiefs on loan. Picture: ©INPHO/Craig Watson

Outs: Tiernan O’Halloran (retired), Diarmuid Kilgallen (Munster), Tom Farrell (Munster), Jarrad Butler (released), Dominic Robertson-McCoy (Stade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne), Tom Daly (Stade Nicois Rugby), Gavin Thornbury (released), Matthew Burke (released), Oran McNulty (released), Tadgh McElroy (released), Micheal McDonald (completed loan from Ulster), Declan Moore (Athem RC), Oisin Michel (Cornish Pirates), Liam McNamara (Early release)

DRAGONS 

Ins: Solomone Funaki (Moana Pasifika), Harry Wilson (NSW Waratahs), Oli Burrows (Exeter Chiefs), Steve Cummins (Pau), Shane Lewis-Hughes (Cardiff), Harri Ford (RGC 1404), Lloyd Evans (Gloucester), Owen Conquer (Ebbw Vale), Owain James (Cardiff) 

Outs: Sean Lonsdale (Ealing Trailfinders), Aki Seiuli (Released), Corey Baldwin (Released), Gonzalo Bertranou (Released), Max Clark (Released), Nathan Evans (Released), Lewis Jones (Released), Sio Tomkinson (Released), Ellis Shipp (Released), Jack Dixon (Retired), Chris Hollis (short term deal concluded)

EDINBURGH 

Ins: Paul Hill (Northampton Saints), Magnus Bradbury (Bristol Bears), Mosese Tuipulotu (NSW Waratahs), Ross McCann (Great Britain Sevens), Ross Thompson (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Leicester Tigers) 

Outs: Viliame Mata (Bristol Bears), Luan de Bruin (Newcastle Falcons), Adam McBurney (Connacht), Charlie Savala (Northampton Saints), Cameron Neil (Sale Sharks), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Jacob Henry (Coventry – loan), Jamie Campbell (Released), Scott Steele (Retired), WP Nel (Retired)

GLASGOW WARRIORS 

Ins: Patrick Schickerling (Exeter Chiefs), Rory Sutherland (Oyonnax), Adam Hastings (Gloucester), Grant Stewart (Ayrshire Bulls), Fin Richardson (Exeter Chiefs), Sam Talakai (Melbourne Rebels) 

Outs: Greg Peterson (San Diego Legion), Ali Price (Edinburgh), Ross Thompson (Edinburgh), Oli Kebble (Oyonnax), George Turner (Kobe Kobelco Steelers), Tom Gordon (Newcastle Falcons), Enrique Pieretto (NSW Waratahs), Lucio Sordoni (Racing 92), Sintu Manjezi (Bulls), Fraser Brown (Retired)

LEINSTER 

Ins: RG Snyman (Munster), Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes – short term deal), Rabah Slimani (Clermont) 

PROVINCE SWAP: RG Snyman has left Munster to join the Leinster ranks this season. Picture: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Outs: Michael Ala’alatoa (Clermont), Jason Jenkins (Sharks), Ross Moloney (Bath), Ed Byrne (Cardiff), Temi Lasisi (Connacht), Ben Murphy (Connacht), Rhys Ruddock (Retired)

EMIRATES LIONS 

Ins: Kade Wolhunter (Stormers), Franco Marais (Urayasu D-Rocks), Juan Schoeman (Bath), Siba Qoma (Cheetahs), WJ Steenkamp (Bulls), Tapiwa Mafura (Cheetahs) 

Outs: Jordan Hendrikse (Sharks), Hanru Sirgel (Grenoble), Emmanuel Tshituka (Sharks), Tyler Bocks (Ealing Trailfinders), Ruan Dreyer (Sharks), Johan Mulder (Cardiff), Stean Pienaar (Released), Travis Gordan (Released), Andries Coetzee (Released), Sibusiso Sangweni (Released), Ruan Smith (Released), Corne Fourie (Released), Williem Alberts (Retired), Rhynardt Rijnsburger (Retired).

MUNSTER 

Ins: Diarmuid Kilgallen (from Connacht), Billy Burns (Ulster), Tom Farrell (Connacht), Thaakir Abrahams (Lyon), Brian Gleeson (Academy), Tony Butler (Academy), Ethan Coughlan (Academy), Mark Donnelly (Academy), Edwin Edogbo (Academy), Bryan Fitzgerald (Garryowen, three-month contract).

NEW CLUB: Billy Burns has left Ulster and joined Munster. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Outs: Joey Carbery (to Bordeaux), RG Snyman (Leinster), Antoine Frisch (Toulon), Keynan Knox (Bourgoin), Neil Cronin (released), Andrew Conway (retired), Simon Zebo (retired), Daniel Okeke (released), Jack O’Sullivan (released), Chris Moore (released).

OSPREYS 

Ins: William Greatbanks (Soyaux Angouleme), Phil Cokanasiga (Leicester Tigers), Steffan Thomas (Scarlets), Kieran Hardy (Scarlets), Daniel Kasende (Cheetahs), Ryan Conbeer (Scarlets – short term deal) 

Outs: George North (Provence), Jack Regan (Toyota Industries Shuttles), Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers), Toby Fricker (New England Free Jacks), Cam Jones (Cornish Pirates), Alex Cuthbert (Released), Mat Protheroe (Hawke’s Bay), Chris Moore (Released), Dom Morris (Released)

SCARLETS 

Ins: Marnus van der Nerwe (Cheetahs), Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs), Henry Thomas (Castres), Max Douglas (Canon Eagles), Blair Murray (Canterbury), Rhodri Lewis (Ospreys), Ellis Mee (Nottingham), Archer Holz (NSW Waratahs) 

Outs: Steffan Thomas (Ospreys), Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), Iwan Shenton (Ampthill), Joe Jones (Doncaster Knights), Johnny McNicholl (Crusaders), Henry Thomas (Castres), Ryan Conbeer (Released), Jonathan Davies (Released), Luca Giannini (Released), Iestyn Gwilliam (Released), Dan Jones (Released), Wyn Jones (Released), Lewis Morgan (Released), Eduan Swart (Released), Callum Williams (Released), Scott Williams (Released), Teddy Leatherbarrow (Released), Ken Owens (Retired), Samson Lee (Retired)

HOLLYWOODBET SHARKS 

Ins: Siya Kolisi (Racing 92), Jordan Hendrikse (Lions), Andrè Esterhuizen (Harlequins), Emmanuel Tshituka (Lions), Jason Jenkins (Leinster), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92), Ruan Dreyer (Lions) 

Outs: Le Roux Roets (Sale Sharks), Werner Kok (Ulster), Aphiwe Dyantyi (Bulls), Boeta Chamberlain (Bulls), Joel Hintz (Western Force), Curwin Bosch (Brive), Hyron Andrews (Sale Sharks), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Montauban), Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Canon Eagles – short term, Bordeaux – permanent), Simon Miller (Released), Zee Mkhabela (Released), Anthony Volmink (Released), Lionel Cronje (Released), Kerron van Vuuren (Released), Murray Koster (Released), Nevaldo Fleur (Released), Kabous Bezuidenhout (Released)

DHL STORMERS 

Ins: Steven Kitshoff (Ulster), JD Schickerling (Kobelco Kobe Steelers), Dave Ewers (Ulster) 

Outs: Jarrod Taylor (Scarlets), Juan de Jongh (Retired), Cornel Smit (Bulls), Kwenzo Blose (Exeter Chiefs), Tristan Leyds (South Africa 7s), Nama Xaba (Bulls), Hacjivah Dayimani (Racing 92), Kade Wolhuter (Lions), Simon Miller (Released), Godlen Masimla (Released), Lee-Marvin Mazibuko (Released), Chris Hollis (Released), Chad Solomon(Released), Junior Pokomela (Released), Leon Lyons (Released), Mnombo Zwelendaba (Released)

ULSTER 

Ins: Werner Kok (Sharks), Aidan Morgan (Hurricanes), Michael McDonald (Returning from loan at Connacht), Zac Ward (Ireland 7s – trial), James Humphreys (Academy).

NEW SIGNING: Werner Kok joins Ulster from Sharks. Picture: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images

Outs: Billy Burns (Munster), Steven Kitshoff (Stormers), Greg Jones (Released), Will Addison (Sale Sharks), Dave Ewers (Stormers), James French (Released) Shea O’Brien (Released), Angus Curtis (Retired), Luke Marshall (Retired)

ZEBRE PARMA 

Ins: Giacomo Da Re (Benetton), Giovanni Quattrini (Capitolina), Bruno Valeesi (Viadana) 

Outs: Riccardo Genovese (Benetton), Tommaso Boni (Old Glory DC), Jake Polledri (Retired), Antoni Rizzi (Released), Pierre Bruno (Released), Tiff Eden (Released), Riccardo Genovese (Released), Josh Kaifa (Released), Marco Manfredi (Benetton), Alessio Sanavia (Released), Franco Smith Jr (Released), Liam Zocchi-Dommann (Released)