CHINNOR have been handed a testing away trip to start their debut season in the third tier of English rugby.

The Thame-based side will travel to Plymouth Albion, who finished third in National League 1 in 2017/18, on Saturday, September 1.

Chinnor then welcome Ampthill to Kingsey Road for their first home game seven days later.

Henley Hawks begin their National League 2 South campaign with a trip to Bury St Edmunds.

Oxford Mail:

  • Banbury's Dan Brady goes on the attack against Witney on the final day of last season. The sides meet on the opening day of the South West 1 East campaign Picture: Richard Cave 

The South West 1 East season also starts on September 1, with Witney hosting Banbury in an Oxfordshire derby.

It will be the third successive year the sides have faced each other on the first day of the campaign.

Oxford Harlequins have been handed an away fixture at Royal Wootton Bassett, with Salisbury their first opponents on the artificial pitch at their new Horspath Sports Ground home on September 8.

Grove kickstart their Southern Counties South bid with a trip to North Dorset on the second weekend of the month.

In the North division, Wallingford host Bicester in a local derby, while Littlemore begin life at the highest level in their history with an away fixture at Reading Abbey.

OTHER FIXTURES

(all to be played on September 8)

BB&O Premier: Oxford v Gosford All Blacks, Tadley v Didcot, Wheatley v Chesham.

BB&O Championship: Farnham Royal v Faringdon, Harwell v Chipping Norton.

BB&O Div 2: Aylesbury 2nd v Grove 2nd, Bicester 2nd v Reading Abbey 2nd, Redigensians 4th v Oxford Harlequins 2nd.

BB&O Div 3: Gosford All Blacks 2nd v Witney 3rd, Maidenhead 3rd v Wallingford 2nd.

BB&O Div 4 North: Bicester 3rd v Banbury 3rd, Chinnor 4th v Oxford 2nd, Chipping Norton 2nd v Wheatley 2nd, Didcot 2nd v Stow-on-the-Wold 2nd, Grove 3rd v Abingdon 2nd.