BKT United Rugby Championship ready for big kick-off

There are more than 300 international players playing in the tournament. Here is a list of the ins and outs from last season.

Benetton Rugby

In: Andy Uren (Bristol Bears), Malakai Fekitoa (Munster), Edoardo Iachizzi (Vannes), Giosue Zilocchi (London Irish), Eli Snyman (Leicester Tigers), Gideon Koegelenberg (Kurita Water Gush Akishima), Mirco Spagnolo (Petrarca), Nicolo Casilo (Colorno), Paolo Odogwu (Stade Francais), Santiago Ruiz (Pampas XV)

Out: Manfredi Albanese (retired), Corniel Els (retired), Manuel Arroyo (released), Braam Steyn (released), Carl Wegner (Cheetahs), Nicola Piantella (Zebre Parma), Enzo Avaca (Mogliano), Giuliano Avaca (Mogliano), Matteo Meggiato (Rovigo Delta), Mattia Bellini (Petrarca), Matteo Drudi (Fiamme Oro), Cherif Traore (Mont-de-Marsan)

Cardiff Rugby

In: Theo Cabango (Academy), Rhys Litterick (Harlequins), Tinus de Beer (Pumas), Rhys Barratt (Academy), Jacob Beetham (Academy), Gwilym Bradley (Academy), Evan Lloyd (Academy), Alex Mann (Academy), Mackenzie Martin (Academy), Cameron Winnett (Academy), Ciaran Parker (London Irish), Arwel Robson (Cornish Pirates), Matthew Aubrey (Ospreys), Max Clark (Dragons, loan), Josh Reynolds (Dragons, loan)

Out: Max Llewellyn (Gloucester), Jarrod Evans (Harlequins), Dillon Lewis (Harlequins), Dmitri Arhip (released), Willis Halaholo (released), Kirby Myhill (released), Josh Navidi (retired), Rhys Priestland (released), James Ratti (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Ealing Trailfinders), Brad Thyer (Ealing Trailfinders), Joe Peard (Jersey Reds), Liam Williams (Kubota Spears), Ioan Evans (Cornish Pirates), Kristian Dacey (Brecon), Jason Harries (Cardiff)

Connacht

In: Joe Joyce (Bristol Bears), Sean Jansen (Leicester Tigers), Andrew Smith (Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Leinster), Santiago Cordero (Bordeaux), Liam McNamara (Ireland Sevens), Declan Moore (Ulster, loan), Michael McDonald (Ulster, loan), JJ Hanrahan (Dragons), Tadgh McElroy (Leinster).

Out: Kieran Marmion (Bristol Bears), Alex Wootton (retired), Shane Delahunt (retired), Conor Fitzgerald (released), Sean Masterson (released), Ciaran Booth (Jersey Reds), Peter Sullivan (Jersey Reds), Adam Byrne (retired), Leva Fifita (Oyonnax).

DHL Stormers

In: Sti Sithole (Emirates Lions), Lizo Gqoboka (Vodacom Bulls), Ben Loader (London Irish), Hendre Stassen (Unattached), Courtnall Skosan (Northampton Saints), Warrick Gelant (Racing 92).

Out: Steven Kitshoff (Ulster), Ernst van Rhyn (Sale Sharks), Marvin Orie (Perpignan), Kade Wolhuter (Emirates Lions, loan).

Dragons RFC

In: Dane Blacker (Scarlets), Corey Baldwin (Scarlets), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Cai Evans (Ospreys), Rodrigo Martinez (Pampas XV)

Out: Will Rowlands (Racing 92), Lennon Greggains (released), Ben Moa (released), Sam Davies (Grenoble), JJ Hanrahan (Connacht), Huw Taylor (RGC 1404), Luke Yendle (Ampthill, loan), Ioan Davies (Newport), Rob Evans (Miami Sharks), Ben Fry (Dallas Jackals), Ross Moriarty (Brive), Max Clark (Dragons, loan), Josh Reynolds (Dragons, loan)

Edinburgh

In: Ben Healy (Munster), Robin Hislop (Saracens), Javan Sebastian (Scarlets), Mikey Jones (Academy), Harry Paterson (Academy), Cameron Scott (Academy), Scott Steele (Harlequins), Ewan Ashman (Sale Sharks), Nathan Sweeney (Academy), Tom Dodd (Coventry), Mitch Eadie (Toronto Arrows), Tim Swiel (Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi), D’Arcy Rae (Montpellier), Cameron Neild (Glasgow Warriors)

Out: Henry Immelman (Vodacom Bulls), Murray McCallum (Newcastle Falcons), Lee-Roy Atalifo (retired), Nick Auterac (released), Jack Blain (Warrringah Rats), Ben Evans (released), Nick Haining (retired), Bruce Houston (Heriot’s), Damien Hoyland (Old Glory DC), Henry Pyrgos (released), Matt Russell (released), Stuart McInally (retired), Cammy Hutchison (Newcastle Falcons), Elliot Millar-Mills (Northampton Saints), Dan Gamble (Southern Knights), Jamie Jack (Bedford Blues), Harri Morris (Doncaster Knights, loan), Harrison Courtney (Doncaster Knights), Jaco van der Walt (Vodacom Bulls), Pierce Phillips (Grenoble), Rudi Brown (Vannes), Mitch Eadie (Hartpury University)

Emirates Lions

In: Erich Cronje (Zebre Parma), Zander du Plessis (Griquas), Richard Kriel (Zebre Parma), Conraad van Vuuren (Cheetahs), Kade Wolhuter (DHL Stormers, loan)

Out: Jaco Kriel (retired), Sti Sithole (DHL Stormers), Pieter Jansen van Vuren (Biarritz), Michael van Vuuren (Newcastle Falcons), Andre Warner (Agen), Jannie du Plessis (retired)

Glasgow Warriors

In: Henco Venter (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kyle Rowe (London Irish), Logan Trotter (London Irish), Facundo Cordero (Exeter Chiefs), Gregor Hiddleston (Stirling Wolves), Richie Simpson (Ayrshire Bulls), Greg Peterson (Newcastle Falcons)

Out: Lewis Bean (Montauban), Cameron Neild (Edinburgh), Ryan Wilson (released), Sam Johnson (Brive), Rhys Tait (Doncaster Knights), Archie Smeaton (Doncaster Knights), Simon Berghan (retired), Cole Forbes (Bay of Plenty), Domingo Miotti (Oyonnax).

In: Vincent Koch (Stade Francais), Siya Masuku (Cheetahs), Diego Appollis (Pumas), George Cronje (Cheetahs), Ig Prinsloo (Pumas), Coenie Oosthuizen, Aphiwe Dyantyi (unattached), Francois Hougaard (Saracens)

Out: Siya Kolisi (Racing 92), Thaakir Abrahams (Lyon), Carlu Sadie (Bordeaux), Ben Tapuai (Bordeaux), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Henco Venter (Glasgow Warriors), Thembelani Bholi (Valence Romans), Mpilo Gumede (Vodacom Bulls), Khutha Mchunu (Vodacom Bulls), Fred Zeilinga (Bourg-en-Bresse), Ockie Barnard (Saitama Wild Knights)

Leinster

In: John McKee (Academy), Rob Russell (Academy), Alex Soroka (Academy), Lee Barron (Academy), Sam Prendergast (Academy)

Out: Johnny Sexton (retired), Andrew Smith (Connacht), Sean O’Brien (Connacht), Dave Kearney (Chicago Hounds), Nick McCarthy (Chicago Hounds), Tadgh McElroy (Connacht), Max O’Reilly (released), Marcus Hanan (released), Vakh Abdaladze (Brive), Charlie Ryan (retired), James Tracy (retired)

In: John Ryan (Chiefs), Alex Nankivell (Chiefs), Patrick Campbell (Academy), Cian Hurley (Academy), Sean O’Brien (Exeter Chiefs).

Out: Ben Healy (Edinburgh), Kiran McDonald (Newcastle Falcons), Malakai Fekitoa (Benetton), Dan Goggin (Montauban), Eoin O’Connor (Exeter Chiefs), Oli Morris (Ampthill), Keith Earls (retired), Chris Farrell (Oyonnax), James French (Ulster), Liam O’Connor (retired), Paddy Kelly (retired).

Ospreys

In: James Ratti (Cardiff), Luke Davies (Jersey Reds), Dom Morris (Saracens, loan), Cameron Jones (unattached), Ethan Lewis (Saracens), Toby Fricker (Bristol Bears)

Out: Stephen Myler (retired), Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler (Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi), Joe Hawkins (Exeter Chiefs), Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs), Dan Lydiate (Dragons), Bradley Davies (retired), Dan Evans (retired), Tom Cowan-Dickie (Plymouth Albion), Elvis Taione (retired), Matthew Aubrey (Cardiff), Osian Knott (Swansea), Scott Baldwin (retired), Tomas Francis (Provence), Rhys Webb (Biarritz), Alun Wyn Jones (Toulon), Cai Evans (Dragons), Michael Collins (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo), Gareth Anscombe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Sam Cross (Newcastle Falcons)

In: Ioan Lloyd (Bristol Bears), Tomi Lewis (Jersey Reds), Eddie James (Academy), Teddy Leatherbarrow (Loughborough University), Charlie Titcombe (Loughborough University), Alex Craig (Gloucester), Efan Jones (RGC 1404), Taine Plumtree (Blues), Ed Scragg (London Irish), Archie Hughes (Academy)

Out: Javan Sebastian (Edinburgh), Sione Kalamafoni (Vannes), Dane Blacker (Dragons), Leigh Halfpenny (released), Alex Jeffries (retired), Tom Price (released), Lewis Rawlins (released), Aaron Shingler (retired), Corey Baldwin (Dragons), Iestyn Rees (Ampthill), Griff Evans (Ampthill), Harri Williams (Ampthill), Dafydd Hughes (Jersey Reds), Phil Price (Bridgend Ravens), Rhys Patchell (Highlanders), WillGriff John (Racing 92), Taylor Davies (Llandovery), Tomas Lezana (Montauban), Josh Helps (Carmarthen Quins), Blade Thomson (retired)

Ulster

In: Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Carson (Academy), Reuben Crothers (Academy), James McCormick (Academy), Conor McKee (Academy), Harry Sheridan (Academy), James French (Unnattached), Ben Griffin (Clontarf), Greg McGrath (Jersey Reds)

Out: Frank Bradshaw Ryan (Montauban), Jordi Murphy (retired), Rob Lyttle (released), Craig Gilroy (released), Declan Moore (Connacht, loan), Michael McDonald (Connacht, loan), Rory Sutherland (released), Duane Vermeulen (released), Sam Carter (Leicester Tigers), Gareth Milasinovich (Valence Romans), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Queensland Reds), Ian Madigan (retired)

Vodacom Bulls

In: Wilco Louw (Harlequins), Jannes Kirsten (Exeter Chiefs), Henry Immelman (Edinburgh), Sebastian de Klerk (Pumas), Sergeal Petersen (Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks), Jaco van der Walt (Edinburgh), Mpilo Gumede (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Khutha Mchunu (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Akker van der Merwe (Sale Sharks), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz), Devon Williams (Pumas), Deon Slabbert (Pumas)

Out: Morne Steyn (retired), Bismarck du Plessis (retired), Lizo Gqoboka (DHL Stormers), Sbu Nkosi (released)

Zebre Parma

In: Jake Polledri (Gloucester), Ben Cambriani (Ampthill), Fetuli Paea (Highlanders), Nicola Piantella (Benetton), Filippo Bozzoni (Calvisano), Scott Gregory (Highlanders), Giovanni Montemauri (Rovigo Delta), Bautista Stavile (Rovigo Delta), Tommaso Di Bartolomeo (Petrarca), Liam Zocchi-Dommann (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Danilo Fischetti (London Irish), Matteo Canali (Petrarca), Dylan de Leeuw (Western Province), Thomas Dominguez (Valorugby Emilia), Luca Morisi (London Irish), Steven Longwell (Jersey Reds)

Out: Johan Meyer (retired), Dennis Visser (Narbonne), Matt Kvesic (Coventry), Erich Cronje (Emirates Lions), Richard Kriel (Emirates Lions), Chris Cook (released), Jacques du Toit (released), MJ Pelser (released), Jan Uys (released), Kobus van Wyk (released), Gabriele Venditti (released), Joshua Furno (Dax), Joey Caputo (Petrarca), Mattia Mazzanti (Valorugby Emilia)