Ledbury RFC's pre-season warm-up has been changed and curtailed as competitive rugby starts sooner than originally expected.

The RFU have altered the league structure with a month to go before the season starts. This is the result of a couple of appeals lower down the Midlands West structure.

Both Midlands West Three and Midlands West Four divisions are affected. In Ledbury's case, Midlands West Three South, the division has been extended to 12 teams, with Old Leamingtonians and Southam, who thought themselves relegated, now re-instated.

This means that for Midlands West Three (North and South) there are four more league games to schedule, the first of which is September 6, when Ledbury were due to have a warm-up friendly against Kidderminster, who, incidentally, are affected in similar way.

Ledbury now open their league campaign at home against Shipston-on-Stour on September 6, followed by an away trip to Stratford-on-Avon on September 13.

Prior to that, they still have two warm-up games. Over the Bank Holiday Saturday and Sunday, the 1st team squad are holding a training camp at Ross Road, which will culminate, on Sunday August 24, in a warm-up match against last season's divisional winners, Nuneaton Old Edwardians.

They are doing something similar to Ledbury on a residential basis at Hartpury College.

The intention is to hold this game at Ross Road, with a kick-off at the end of the morning, details still to be finalised.

On August 30, Ledbury make the small trek over the Hills to take on Malvern in another friendly.

All support welcome.