Canterbury players will be doing some hard labour on Dartmoor before the start of the new rugby season.

As part of preparations for the National 2 South campaign, which promises to be the toughest since the city club were promoted four years ago, their fitness will be put to the test in a weekend on the Devon moor.

The tough regime will include challenges set and supervised by Royal Marines and test the players resourcefulness as well as physical fitness.

The build-up to the Dartmoor trip in August began this week when the players reported back for pre-season training.

A programme of warm-up games against Tonbridge Juddians, Blackheath and Deal & Betteshanger has been arranged next month.

When the league season starts in September there will be five new clubs in the Division with Leicestershire side Hinckley named by the National Clubs’ Association to join Jersey, Taunton, Newbury and Old Albanians.