Rugby Union's Kick-off: Four players to follow in the new season

RICHARD COCKERILL (Leicester)

As Brian Moore cannot go on for ever, England are looking for a long-term hooker; Richard Cockerill's step up from Coventry to Leicester may soon mean they have found one. Cockerill has consistently impressed playing for England Under-21, was on the England B bench last season and, if the selectors had had an eye to the future, he rather than Kevin Dunn would have been the hooker to accompany Graham Dawe on the summer B trip to New Zealand. Dunn's experience was deemed essential, but it was also a missed opportunity. Even without the benefit of the tour, Cockerill already looks the business.

SEAN O'LEARY (Bath)

The arrival of Sean O'Leary is a piece - probably the last piece - in the Bath jigsaw but it could also be the move that at last leads O'Leary to fulfil his potential. Had he done so at Wasps, he instead of Martin Bayfield might by now have been in the England second team. But a serious car accident put him out of the 1990 tour to Argentina after he had been selected and since then a career which brought B honours back in 1988 has been marking time. At 6ft 8in, O'Leary has the necessary physique; if Bath can engender the fitness and temperament to go with it, he could yet make the final international step.

MARK RUSSELL (Harlequins)

But for indisposition, Mark Russell would in all probability already have arrived instead of still being on the journey. His performance on the blind side in last season's cup final against Bath was the more prodigious because it was his first appearance for three months; his prospects on the B tour of New Zealand were undermined by a bout of flu. Still, with Mick Skinner now back at Blackheath, Russell has a big chance to go with a big talent - first with Harlequins and then perhaps with England, where Skinner has left so gaping a hole in their squad that the selectors have felt obliged to turn all the way back to Mike Teague.

PETER WALTON (Northampton)

If Newcastle Gosforth had gone up, perhaps he would have stayed, but their blind-side flanker Peter Walton had no more time to lose and has gone to Northampton. Walton represented Scottish Schools before playing for England Colts. Given the presence of Wayne Shelford it will be a shrewd move provided Tim Rodber is not constantly switched from No 8 to accommodate Shelford. Walton, 6ft 4in and 18st, came highly recommended, the feeling in the North being that but for being out of sight - and therefore out of mind - for the selectors he would have been on the B tour of New Zealand.