MINEHEAD Barbarians play away to Nailsea in their opening rugby match of the new season in Counties Two Somerset on Saturday, September 7.

As always, pre-season has been affected by various issues - work, cricket and holidays - but head coach Mick Orton said: “We want to play the best rugby we can.

“I think it is going to be a relatively new team - old heads combined with players coming up from the twos to the ones.”

But Orton, in his eighth season in charge with a one-season gap, admitted: “The side we field on Saturday will probably not be the one I chose earlier the week. There are still players who will be unavailable - there always is at this time of the year.”

Minehead will have joint captains this season - Jacob Gower and George Buckingham - as they try to better their position in the table last winter. They were very strong before Christmas, particularly at home where they attracted big crowds and gained some impressive victories. The team had injuries and unavailability issues in the second half of the season which meant thy slipped down the table.

Minehead Barbarians 2nd XV also start the new season with a home game against Yeovil in Counties Four Somerset South (kick off 3p.m.).

BARRY KNOTT