Albion to face two top Welsh sides in pre-season

PLYMOUTH Albion will play two Welsh Premiership sides, Newport and Neath, as part of their pre-season schedule.

Albion will host Newport – who they play away in this term's British and Irish Cup in November – at Brickfields on Saturday, August 22 (1pm).

Graham Dawe's side will also travel to Neath, who they have met for the last five years, on either Friday, August 28 or Saturday, August 29.

Last season when Albion and Neath met at Brickfields, Plymouth emerged 13-10 winners.

Newport finished runners-up to Cardiff in last season's Welsh Premiership, while Neath were sixth in the 14-team division.

The clash with Newport is one of just two home pre-season fixtures Albion have confirmed.

The other is against National Division One side Redruth on Sunday, August 16 (2.30pm).

Dawe's Championship side are also hoping to arrange two away pre-season games.

They provisionally face Redruth at the Recreation Ground on Saturday, August 8 or Sunday, August 9.

Tickets for the Newport match, which are access all areas, are priced £8 for adults with under-16s free of charge.

For the home clash with Redruth, access all areas tickets are priced £5 for adults with, again, under-16s free of charge.

Tickets for both matches will be available to buy from the club from Friday, July 10.

Meanwhile, chairman of rugby Dawe is expected to feature for an ex-Premiership XV when they face a Royal Marines XV in the Chara Challenge charity match at Brickfields on Tuesday, July 14 (7pm).

As well as Dawe, other former England internationals set to be on show include Andy Gomarsall, Phil Greening and ex-Exeter and Launceston player Dave Sims.

Tickets for the match are priced £10 adults and £5 OAPs, with under-16s free.