Worcester Warriors can today confirm the club will kick-off preparations for the 2012/13 Aviva Premiership campaign with a trip to Heineken Cup giants Cardiff Blues in August.
Warriors will hit the road for the opening game of the pre-season fixture list as they travel to the Welsh capital to face the Blues – now under the guidance of former Worcester coach Phil Davies – at the Arms Park on Saturday, August 11 (kick-off 2.30pm).
Cardiff’s powerful star-studded squad currently includes the likes of Wales internationals Leigh Halfpenny, Jamie Roberts, Alex Cuthbert and captain Sam Warburton.
Full ticketing details for the fixture with Rabo Direct Pro 12 side Blues – currently ranked the fifth best team in Europe by ERC and in the top pool for the Heineken Cup draw next week – will be posted nearer the time.
Head Coach Richard Hill said: “It is crucial we have a tough pre-season schedule to ensure we build up to the Aviva Premiership campaign and we start with a testing fixture in Wales against the Blues.
“We all know Phil Davies very well from his time at Warriors and he has a very strong squad at his disposal.
“They will be determined to give us a very tough afternoon in the Welsh capital as we look to produce some of the rugby we will have worked on in pre-season.
“It is an exciting start to our pre-season fixtures before we return to Sixways. We hope as many fans as possible will make the journey down to the Arms Park to back us against one of the most powerful teams in European club rugby.”
Cardiff Blues last faced Worcester in a pre-season friendly in August 2006 at the Arms Park, when they defeated the Warriors by 41-19 courtesy of tries by Deiniol Jones, Bradley Davies, Daf Hewitt, Xavier Rush, Rhys Williams, Mosese Luveitasau and Martyn Williams.
Cardiff Director of Rugby Phil Davies has firsthand experience of the Worcester team having spent two years as the Forwards Coach before joining the Blues this summer.
He said: “I’m really pleased that we are playing Worcester in a friendly match. I had a fantastic time there and have a healthy respect for Richard Hill, all the coaching staff and the board.
“It will be a hard test for us and Worcester should be near full strength. We will be using the match as an opportunity to give many of our young players the chance and see what they can do. I’m really looking forward to playing at the Arms Park and hopefully so are the supporters.”
Full details for all the club’s pre-season fixtures at Sixways will be published on www.warriors.co.uk soon.
Pre-season Schedule 12/13:
11th August Cardiff Blues (away) kick-off 2.30pm
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