Head coach Andy Pratt will be assessing the form of up to eight new players when Canterbury Rugby Club open their pre-season programme this week with the first of three friendly matches.

Kent rivals Westcombe Park are the first visitors to Merton Lane on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.
High profile signings over the summer include scrum-half Dan Smart, from Glasgow Hawks, Kiwi wing Mason Rosvall and prop Ruairi McLeod, who returns to Canterbury after a spell with Henley Hawks.

Kent Under-20s player Sam Kenny is another addition to the front row and flanker Ryan Ward, from Saracens Academy, will be among those eager to make an early impression.

The club has boosted the back division with the arrival of Ollie Best, brother of first team regular Tom; scrum-half Tom Wathey, a product of the Canterbury youth system who has finished university studies, and centre Courtney Horey from Thanet Wanderers.

After the Westcombe Park encounter, Canterbury have two more testing games against National Division 1 sides.

Kent rivals Blackheath are the visitors on Saturday, August 23, and the following week (August 30) the city club travel to meet Old Albanians before the start of the new National 2 South season on Saturday, September 6, away to Clifton.

Canterbury open their home league campaign against Old Elthamians on Saturday, September 13.