Chester RUFC renew rivalries with Preston Grasshoppers at Hare Lane on Saturday (September 5, 3pm) as the 2015-16 National League Two North begins.
Chester, who finished fifth for the past two seasons, and Preston first met in 1965 and have faced each other 27 times since, with the Grasshoppers tasting defeat in both meetings last term.
It has been a summer of change at Hare Lane with former RGC 1904 director of rugby Jon Aby appointed head coach and No8 Guy Ford taking over as captain from Tom Gregory, who will continue to lend his nous in the pack. Aby has retained the core of last season’s squad with Mike Craven, Ross White and Tom Foden bringing bags of experience, while promising talents such as Ali Millar, Kyle Joseph and James Preston will be given even more game-time.
Chester have strengthened the front row with the capture of Shaun Strudwick, who spent time in the academy at Wasps, but fly-half Will Goodwin will not be around having moved to Rotherham Titans last season.
