Saints are unable to play any pre-season games at Franklin’s Gardens due to the building work being carried out on the extension to the South Stand, so the club has organised two away fixtures against Munster and Leinster.

Head coach Budge Pountney’s new-look squad will play Munster at Thomond Park on Friday, August 19, and Leinster at Donnybrook on Friday, August 26. Both games are scheduled to kick-off at 7.30pm but these times will be confirmed nearer the time.

Saints are also hoping to play a French team on the weekend of August 12/13. Details of this fixture will be released once they have been confirmed.

Pountney said: “Munster and Leinster will give us a very hard start to our 2005/06 campaign but it will give the coaching team a chance to see our new signings in action alongside seasoned Saints players. These Irish provincial sides have formidable home records, but we are looking forward to experiencing some of their Irish hospitality!”

The extension to the South Stand also means the ground will not be suitable for an open day this year. It is hoped a similar event will be held later on in the season once the building work has been completed.