THE ROYALS will kick-start their pre-season training with a trip to Holland, it has been revealed.

Jaap Stam's men will travel to his home nation for a string of friendly fixtures as they prepare for another tough Championship season.

A group of first-team and Under-23 players will join the club's coaching staff in the Netherlands on Wednesday July 12 before heading back to Berkshire on July 22.

A club spokesman said: "The opening day of our Championship campaign is little more than two months away - the 2017-18 adventure officially kicks off on Saturday 5th August 2017. But pre-season begins in less than a month's time with the players due back at Hogwood Park on Monday 26th June.

Some of our internationals who will be on duty with their countries over the summer will return a little later, but all will have minutes under their belt before the start of a ten-day stay in Holland as Jaap Stam takes his squad back to his homeland to ready themselves for what we hope will be another promotion challenge."

The fixtures will be announced in the coming weeks.