LAUNCESTON’S preparations for the start of the 2024/25 Regional One South West campaign continue tonight as they visit Devonport Services (7.45pm).

The two were in the same league last year, but Services secured National League rugby for the first time in their history when they edged out Barnstaple for the title.

It means a second successive outing for the Cornishmen against National League Two (West) opposition after a highly-encouraging performance against Redruth last Friday where they were edged out 26-19.

Launceston make four changes for the game which will be played at Tamar Saracens RFC (PL5 2EY), due to floodlight improvements at the Rectory.

Both props are swapped as Ethan Pearce-Cowley and Charlie Short come in for Mitch Hawken and Alex Bartlett, while Charlie Tummon, who won’t be around during the season anyway, is injured and replaced by new signing Dom Ellery.

Scrum-half George Hillson, who made his debut against the Reds, is getting married this weekend and is unavailable for the next two friendlies, is replaced by Ben Bryant who lines up at outside-centre.

That means skipper Tom Sandercock shifts to nine, full-back James Tucker lines up at fly-half and skilful Argentinian Jose Luis Juarez starts at 15.

With the second team taking on home club Tamar Saracens in a pre-season outing of their own at the same ground (6.45pm), it gives chances joint head coaches Ian Goldsmith and Ryan Westren an opportunity to run the rule over the players.

Tamar Saracens play in Counties Two Devon, compared to Launceston Castles’ Counties Three Cornwall, so will start as firm favourites against Mike Haines’ side.

However, with a large squad to choose from and several Colts making the step up, he has plenty of options to choose from.

The squads for both matches are as follows: 

LAUNCESTON v Devonport Services (7.45pm): Jose Luis Juarez, Zerran Hammond, Ben Bryant, Cam Fogden, Ollie Bebbington, James Tucker, Tom Sandercock (capt); Ethan Pearce-Cowley, Levent Bulut, Charlie Short, Dan Goldsmith, Tom Bottoms, Dom Ellery, Lloyd Duke, Brandon Rowley. Replacements: Mitch Hawken, Alex Bartlett, Seb Cox, Jamie Chapman.

LAUNCESTON CASTLES v Tamar Saracens (6.45pm): Dale Johnson, Kuda Chisango, Mark Knight, Richard Jasper, Cohen Larson, Ollie Tomkies, Corey Sillifant; Ollie Martin (capt), Isaac Blencowe, Callum Johns, Leion Cole, Tom Hargreaves, Ben Greene, Tom Walton, Pete Bebbington. Replacements: Cody Smith, Chris Hall, Will Young, Harvey Basford, Simon Burden, Harvey Fry, Josh Elias, Adam Collings, Ollie Redwood, James Redwood, Walter Tucker, Aaron Curtin.