THE fixtures for the 2024/25 South West rugby season are out including for Launceston in Regional One South West.
The Polson Bridge outfit start on home soil with a visit from Brixham who have a fantastic record against the Cornishmen in recent years, on Saturday, September 7.
A week later they go to last year’s third-placed side Chew Valley before rounding off the month with further clashes with Devon opponents.
Exmouth come to North Cornwall on September 21 before a trip down to Ivybridge seven days later.
The 12-team division has three new sides compared to last season, and the first of those they face is a visit from Marlborough on October 12.
A long trip to Lydney is the assignment on October 19 before they welcome Matson from Gloucester seven days later.
Like October, the first weekend of November is a chance to rest, and they are on their travels when they head to East Devon to face promoted Sidmouth, last year’s Regional Two South West champions.
Another side to have come up, Royal Wootton Bassett, make the long trip down from Wiltshire on November 16.
Supporters and players then have a fortnight to gear themselves up for a mouthwatering Cornish derby with St Austell at Polson Bridge, before the first half of the campaign comes to an end on December 7 with the always difficult trip to last year’s runners-up Barnstaple.
Like in recent seasons, the opening game is also the final fixture, and the rest of the fixtures are played in the same order but in reverse.
Launceston’s final home game before Christmas sees them welcome Chew Valley before their festive outing is at Exmouth on December 21.
January has three matches scheduled for the 4th, 11th and 18th against Ivybridge, Marlborough and Lydney.
Like last year there are several gaps in the calendar with February’s league outings limited to a long trip up the M5 to Matson (February 1) before a rare visit from Sidmouth on the 15th.
March is slightly busier with games on the 1st, 8th and 22nd, before the final day on April 5.
If Launceston can improve on last year’s fifth-placed finish, then the final two games of the season against much-fancied Barnstaple and Brixham could be huge.
The Castles are once again in Counties Three Cornwall and will hope better availability can see them push for promotion. Mike Haines’ side finished fourth and produced some large victories, but a lack of depth and first team call-ups at times shunted their ambitions.
Their division now consists of 15 teams who will play 18 games each.
Those coming into the league from Counties Two Cornwall are Illogan Park and Camborne School of Mines, while Hayle and Wadebridge Camels Seconds have made the step up.
Admitted for the 2024/25 season are the second teams of Penryn, St Ives and Truro.
Launceston are in action over the first four Saturdays in September.
They start with a trip to Roseland before hosting Lankelly-Fowey a week later.
Newly-formed Truro Seconds will provide a question of the unknown on September 21 before they round off the month with a visit from St Agnes.
Launceston are away twice in October with a home game against Bude Seconds sandwiched inbetween.
They visit Saltash Seconds on October 12 before a trip to St Austell Thirds on October 26.
It’s the opposite in November they are at home on the 9th and 23rd against Falmouth Seconds and Illogan Park respectively, either side of a trip down to Redruth Albany.
They round off 2024 with just two games in December with a trip to St Ives on the seventh followed by a visit from Camborne School of Mines a week later.
Strangely there are just six league games in 2025 up to the final one on April 5 at their Falmouth counterparts.