The United Rugby Championship and Gallagher Premiership begin this weekend, with Welsh players set to feature prominently. It is also a pivotal season for Steve Tandy's Wales, with the Rugby World Cup now just a year away.
Wales face another challenging campaign
Wales are likely to face another hugely challenging season. Encouraging signs emerged towards the end of the Six Nations, particularly in physicality, but the summer tour brought a sobering reminder of the gap that remains, with Wales comfortably beaten by Argentina and South Africa.
The Nations Championship this autumn offers an immediate opportunity to secure a win, and Wales simply have to beat Japan in Cardiff. The task becomes considerably harder against the All Blacks, while Australia are also likely to prove beyond them.
Wales may be more competitive than a year ago, but a sizeable gulf remains between them and the leading Tier One nations. Avoiding a fourth successive Wooden Spoon in the Six Nations would constitute progress, yet their fixture list is unforgiving, with France in Paris followed by a trip to Scotland.
Regional predictions: Ospreys to lead the way
The Ospreys look best placed to finish highest among the four Welsh regions. Despite the departures of Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake to Gloucester, they have recruited impressively, with Australian internationals Marika Koroibete and Lalakai Foketi adding X-factor behind the scrum, and former Wallabies captain Liam Wright a particularly astute addition to the back row.
Cardiff punched above their weight last season, finishing sixth in the URC before a quarter-final defeat by the Stormers. Repeating that achievement will be a considerable challenge, but there is enough quality and continuity to suggest they should at least be in the play-off conversation. They will also carry the burden of being the only Welsh club in the Investec Champions Cup.
The Dragons' ambition is to reach the URC play-offs, but even being in contention for the top eight would represent significant progress. Filo Tiatia has brought a harder edge to the side, although the loss of talismanic No 8 Aaron Wainwright is a seismic blow. For the Scarlets, the biggest question is whether they have sufficient strength in depth, with several key players already unavailable for the opening game.
Key players and competitions to watch
Liam Wright could prove to be the best signing made by a Welsh region this season. If he can rediscover the form that earned him international recognition with Australia, the Ospreys will have landed a significant player. Provided he is not selected by Australia, he will become eligible to play for Wales next summer through his grandfather, who was born in Pembroke.
Will Evans, the 19-year-old Wales Under-20s lock, could announce himself on the senior stage with a starting role for the Scarlets in their URC opener. Aaron Wainwright's switch to Leicester Tigers has the potential to take his game to another level, while Dragons lock Ben Carter is a model of consistency and one of Welsh rugby's unsung heroes.
Off-field politics remain difficult to predict, with the restructuring debate unlikely to disappear quietly. In the Super Rygbi Cymru, Ebbw Vale have the ingredients to go one better than last season's beaten finalists, built around a powerful pack and plenty of experience.
