Our next spotlight takes us to European Rugby Challenge Cup Pool 4, which includes 2017 winners Stade Français Paris and newly-promoted Brive.

Bristol Bears

Ground: Ashton Gate, Bristol, England.

Challenge Cup record: Bristol have reached four Challenge Cup quarter-finals, winning one of them in 2000 at Biarritz (32-29). However, they couldn’t reach a maiden final, as they fell 51-27 to Pau at the semi-final stage in Tarbes.

Last season: They again reached the last eight, having finished second in Pool 4 with 21 points. That meant they faced pool stage rivals La Rochelle again in the quarter-finals, but they were beaten 39-15 at Stade Marcel-Deflandre.

Director of rugby: Pat Lam remains in charge at Ashton Gate, having guided the club to Greene King IPA Championship success in 2018 and finished ninth last season on their return to the Gallagher Premiership.

New signings: England No.8 Nathan Hughes has moved from Wasps to Ashton Gate, while lock Dave Attwood has re-signed for Bristol, having spent four seasons with the Bears from 2005 to 2009.

Brive

Ground: Stade Amédée-Domenech, Brive, France.

Challenge Cup record: Brive have been prolific in reaching the latter stages of the Challenge Cup, qualifying for the last eight on 12 occasions. Despite that, they have only made the semi-finals on three occasions, with the last coming in 2011/12.

Last season: The French side were not involved in European competition in 2018/19, as they were fighting for promotion from Pro D2, which they duly achieved.

Director of rugby: Jeremy Davidson, the former Ireland lock, guided Brive to promotion last season. The 45-year-old has previously coached at Castres Olympique, Ulster Rugby, Aurillac and Bordeaux-Bègles.

New signings: Prop Hayden Thompson-Stringer is a notable addition from Heineken Champions Cup winners Saracens, while Scotland centre Alex Dunbar moved from Glasgow Warriors, having spent time on loan at Newcastle Falcons last season.

Stade Français Paris

Ground: Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris, France.

Challenge Cup record: Stade Français Paris won the Challenge Cup in 2017, defeating Gloucester Rugby 25-17 at BT Murrayfield in the final. They were previously losing finalists in 2011 to Harlequins and in 2013 to Leinster Rugby, going down 19-18 and 34-13 respectively.

Last season: The French side finished bottom of Pool 2 with 12 points after two wins from their six games.

Head coach: Heyneke Meyer has been in charge at Stade since 2018, having previously occupied similar roles with South Africa, Super Rugby side Bulls and Leicester Tigers.

New signings: Argentina flanker Pablo Matera is one of a host of off-season acquisitions for Stade, who have also signed Newcastle Falcons prop Sami Mavinga, Australia centre Sefa Naivalu and South Africa backs Ruan Combrinck and Lionel Mapoe.

Zebre Rugby Club

Ground: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma, Italy.

Challenge Cup record: Despite having never finished bottom of a Challenge Cup pool, Zebre have yet to reach the knockout stages of the competition.

Last season: The Italian side could only finish third in Challenge Cup Pool 4 with 14 points, after winning three games and losing three.

Head coach: Former Ireland scrum-half Michael Bradley is entering his third season in charge, having previously bossed Ireland A, Connacht Rugby and Edinburgh Rugby.

New signings: Harlequins wing Charlie Walker has moved to Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi alongside Leinster lock Ian Nagle and flanker Mick Kearney. Italy hooker Luca Bigi and Romania prop Alexandru Tarus are another notable signings from Benetton Rugby and Sale Sharks respectively.