READING Abbey travel to Tribute South West One side Thornbury on Saturday (3pm) for their first pre-season warm up game.

Head coach Fungai Mutepfa will take a squad of 25 as the Rose Hill side gear up ahead of their first Southern Counties North game of the season at home to Windsor on September 9.

The club is looking for a second warm up fixture, which could be either a Saturday or weekday under lights, but not the Bank Holiday weekend.

Abbey have retained the nucleus of last season’s squad although scrum half Will Bevan has taken over from Maidenhead-bound Sam Hallett as captain.

Talented back row Will Woodward is vice-captain.

Mutepfa has been pleased with pre-season training and said: “I want the team to play to their best, to achieve their potential, and I’ll be happy with that. We didn’t do that last year, and this season I’ve graduated the sessions so they got increasingly intense, rather than starting off at full bore. It’s been good with high numbers attending.”

Anyone is welcome to come to training sessions, whether for serious rugby, to get to know the game, or just to increase their fitness levels. These take place on Tuesday and Thursdays, with a 7.15pm meet for a 7.30pm start.

Mutepfa added: “I don’t mind if newcomers drop out of the contact session – this club reaches out to everyone. There are several social sides as well as an outstanding ladies team.”

  • FORMER Reading Abbey colt Tom Willis has been picked for England Under 18s' three-match tour of South Africa.

They play South Africa Schools tomorrow, Wales next Tuesday and lastly France on Saturday, August 19.