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

Kent rivals Westcombe Park are the 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 a second addition to the front row and flanker Ryan Ward, from Saracens Academy, will be another eager to make an impression.

The club has bolstered 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.

Canterbury have also given themselves two more testing games this month against National Division One sides Blackheath and Old Albanians before the start of the new league season on September 6th.

Picture supplied by www.sarahansellphotography.co.uk