TAUNTON Titans are preparing for a stern test in their first pre-season friendly on Saturday as National 1 outfit Plymouth Albion visit the Commsplus Stadium (3pm).

The match will offer Titans fans a first glimpse of new signings Dan Lee, Frankie Dart, Jack Arnott and James Tait.

In addition, there are opportunities handed to Sam Blanchet, a former England Sevens and Team GB bobsleigh star, and centre Sam Kennaugh, who has been training with Taunton and is set to start at Bath University in September.

 

 

Tom Wyatt, a young inside centre from North Petherton, has linked up with the club on loan from Exeter Chiefs but is away on Saturday.

Taunton centre Nick Mason, who now combines his playing duties with a role as commercial co-ordinator at the club, said: “Training has been going really well.

“We had a great session at 40 Commando, which involved hard fitness tests and was a real test of mental resilience.

“On Tuesday night, we had a behind closed doors friendly against Exeter University, which offered an opportunity for some of our younger players to impress and also gave us a first look at Sam Blanchet.

“Saturday’s game will be a predominantly first team squad.

“We are also expecting Plymouth to send a strong squad, which is exactly what we want.

“They, like us, are an ambitious club who are aiming for promotion this season, so it will be a great test for us.”

Head coach Tony Yapp added: “We are under no illusions about the quality Plymouth have and we want to test ourselves against those sort of teams.”

The match is free of charge to all spectators.

Taunton Titans’ first league match is at home to Bournemouth on Saturday, September 7.