ROYAL Wootton Bassett start their pre-season with their firsts and seconds taking on Chippenham in a pair of friendlies today.

Head coach Alan Low believes it will be a good test for his side to go up against an experienced National League team but with Chippenham’s well-regarded seconds providing stiff opposition for Bassett’s own twos.

“Our first run out is against Chippenham,” said Low. “They have been an established National Three side for a long time, it’s their first run out as well in pre-season and will give us a good sounding board for where we are and where we would like to be.

“Their second team have been strong in the Dorset & Wilts for the last few years and it will be a good gauge to where they are and great gauge for their first teams as well.

“We won’t be far off our full team, we have three or four guys missing, Tim Gallimore and a couple of the new guys are away but we could get that in the first week of September. Being August they could have that as well anyway. We’re going over there to get as much from the game as possible.

“We have two more games after that the firsts and seconds at Coney Hill and Salisbury for firsts. It’s a really strong pre-season programme for us, hopefully we’ll hit the ground running in September really looking strong.”

Bassett are always looking to recruit extra members and anyone interested should contact rugby manager Steve Milner on 07919 410755.