Matthew Pinsent (Triple Olympic Rowing gold medallist)

I'm looking forward to seeing Lawrence Dallaglio have a full season. He is still one of the best players around and deserves a good run after his injury problems last year. However, I'll take an outside punt on Sale for the Premiership.

One player I expect to do really well this season is Lewis Moody at Leicester and I think that they'll retain the Heineken Cup. I have no doubts that England will end up Six Nations champions.

Gregor Townsend (Borders and Scotland)

Toulouse should win the Heineken Cup but they only tend to get their act together in the second half of the season. I'll go for Leicester for the Premiership and France for the Six Nations.

Terry Wogan (Radio 2 DJ)

There's a particular leaning to my choices of Ryan Strudwick as my player to watch this season, and Declan Danaher as a young star to shine in the Premiership. While both play for London Irish, I still think Leicester will be champions, although I'd tip Toulouse for the Heineken Cup and England for the Six Nations.

Damian Hopley (Players' union chief executive)

You can't look beyond England and France for the Six Nations, and the way France have turned their fortunes around over the last 12 months makes them the favourites.

Everyone's looking at Leicester and asking whether they're a bit long in the tooth to win the Premiership again, but I look at Arsenal and what their seasoned campaigners have done. I also think Leicester will be difficult to beat in Europe; they set the benchmark for where English rugby needs to be.

Howard Thomas (Chief executive of Premier Rugby)

I'll be boring . . . it's extremely difficult to look past Leicester for the Premiership, and I certainly can't see them coming lower than second.

In Europe you have to look at the French resurgence at international level and be very wary of their club teams. It wouldn't surprise me to see a really serious French challenge, perhaps from Toulouse. The Six Nations? England.

Phil Bennett (Former Lions and Wales outside-half)

Leicester will again be the side to beat in the Premiership. But I think Gloucester will give them a run for their money.

Leicester have won the Heineken Cup twice in a row, but my French friends have told me to watch out for Montferrand while Toulouse have the capacity to beat any side on their day.

I cannot see further than England and France in the Six Nations: and with the sides meeting at Twickenham you have to fancy England.