CANTERBURY will unveil a raft of new players in Saturday’s first pre-season friendly against National Division 2 side Southend at Merton Lane.

Among them will be Scottish Under-21 internationals Nick Mactaggart and John Coutts and former England Under-18s and Bath Academy prop Mark Livesey.

Other summer acquisitions on view will be versatile back Dave Marshall, recruited from Westcombe Park, scrum-half David Heads, who has joined the club from Maidstone and Kent County fly-half Tom Best,

Flanker Mactaggart and Coutts, who plays full back or centre, are both from Hawick while Livesey has spent a season in Australia with the West Subiaco side.

Best returned from South Africa this week where he made a big impression at the Natal Sharks Academy. Canterbury sent the 18-year-old to the Durban-based Sharks to polish his skills and he has rewarded them by being voted ‘Best Back’ during his five-week stay.

"Because of new visa rules imposed by the National Clubs Association and increased work commitments for some players, we have lost several of last year’s squad, including Neil Meyer and Wessel Wolmarans," said club press officer David Haigh.

"We have been working hard to fill the gaps and recruited well. We will be announcing a number of further signings before the league season starts on September 6."

Saturday’s kick-off is at 2pm with the game broken down into three 30-minute sessions which will allow all of the 25-man city club squad some game time.