HERBIE STUPPLE is delighted to have been appointed Plymouth Albion’s club captain for the 2016/17 season.

The 25-year-old is Albion’s longest-serving player, having joined the club in the summer of 2011, initially as a dual-registered player from Exeter before making the move permanent.

Stupple, who was vice-captain last year, said: “I think I have been here long enough now and I want to take on that role.

“I have never turned my nose up at it. I have always wanted to do it.

“I feel like I want to lead anyway, whether I’m club captain or not, but now it is official, I’m delighted.”

Albion will begin their pre-season campaign away at newly-promoted National Two South side Exmouth tonight (7pm).

“We’ll blow off the cobwebs with this first game,” said Stupple.

Albion have yet to announce their team for the match, but it is expected Stupple will feature in the second half with the visitors changing their pack around after the break.

Plymouth do not have as many backs to select from and dual-registered winger Harrison Cully could be facing a spell on the sidelines after suffering a nasty shoulder injury playing sevens for Exeter.

Exmouth have named two completely different teams for the first and second periods.

Former Albion centre Tom Bedford will play the second half for Exmouth, along with Ben Hawley, while another ex-Plymouth player James Harris will feature for the Cockles in the first period. Harris used to travel down to Plymouth from Exeter with Stupple in the 2011/12 season.

Albion will follow up their match at Exmouth, with a home games against Camborne and Ivybridge and an away trip to Stupple’s former club Redruth.

“We’ve got Camborne on Sunday, which should be good,” said Stupple. “But I’m looking forward mostly to the Redruth game as I have a lot of my old friends playing for them. That will be a good little test, as will Camborne.”