DEVONPORT Services, Plymstock Albion Oaks and Plymouth Argaum will step up their preparations for the new rugby season with a 10s tournament at the Rectory on Thursday night (7pm).

Hosts Services, who play in Western Counties West, are fielding two teams with ambitious Cornwall/Devon League outfits Oaks and Argaum bringing one side each.

New Services joint coach Mike Lewis (pictured above) is looking forward to the evening.

“We need that little bit of match fitness and I think this will work out well for the boys,” said Lewis.

“We’ll have two teams and they’ll have one each, so our boys will get a good run-out, which is what it is for. It will keep them on their toes.

Plymouth Argaum and Plymstock Albion Oaks will play at the Rectory on Thursday

“There’s a few people away on holiday, but, hopefully, we’ll have about 80 per cent of our squad out split across two teams.

“We’ll also have plenty of the second team out and some of the older age colts.

“It’s just good to get that competitive edge early. We want to make sure the players do the right things at the right time.

“We’ve worked on plenty of things over pre-season and we need to try and put them into a more realistic environment and this is the best way of doing that.”

Lewis knows Oaks and Argaum will be keen to prove a point with them being a division lower.

“They are both bringing about 20 or 25 players each and I’m sure they’ll have plenty of players who want to take us on,” he said.

“They’ll have players who have played for or against Services and there’s always that little local Plymouth rivalry.

“It won’t be as serious as if it was a league game, but I’m sure it will still be competitive.”