LAUNCESTON Rugby Club’s first pre-season outing of the season has been cancelled.

The Polson Bridge side were due to welcome North Devon outfit Bideford this evening to give their first and second team squads a run-out, but the Chiefs have advised they won’t be coming due to a player shortage.

This will be a source of disappointment for Launceston as they gear up for the start of the season on Saturday, September 7, but they do at least have further outings against Redruth on Friday (August 16), followed by away trips to Redruth’s league rivals Devonport Services (August 22) who were promoted out of Launceston’s league last year, and Okehampton who went out of the division the other way (August 31).