Cardiff Rugby are set for two mouth-watering Anglo-Welsh encounters as part of their 2021/22 pre-season preparations.
Dai Young’s side will reignite old rivalries in September as preparations for the new United Rugby Championship and Heineken Champions Cup campaigns intensify.
The Blue and Blacks will travel to Twickenham Stoop on Saturday, September 4 (KO 3.00pm), to take on Gallagher Premiership champions, Harlequins, in the English capital - marking the 140th season anniversary since the sides first met in 1881/82.
The London-based outfit came out on top of a thrilling final against Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham last month and were crowned English champions for the first time since 2012.
The match will provide a taste of what’s to come, with the sides drawn against each other in the upcoming Heineken Champions Cup pool stage.
The following week sees Cardiff welcoming Bath Rugby to Cardiff Arms Park on Friday, September 10 (KO 7.15pm), with the sides set to go head-to-head for the first time since the 2016/17 Challenge Cup campaign.
Encounters between the clubs date back to 1924, and this year’s clash could see outside half Rhys Priestland making his Arms Park debut by taking on his former side at the capital.
Director of rugby, Young, said: “To prepare for the new season, we knew that we needed to face quality opposition, and that’s exactly what we’ll get in the form of Harlequins and Bath. These are the standard of games which should get us up to speed before we get underway in the URC.
“Hopefully they’ll also be a set of friendlies that all fans can enjoy. There’s usually plenty of edge to these Anglo-Welsh matches and I’m sure they’ll be entertaining matches between sides who enjoy playing an expansive brand of rugby.
“Pre season training has started well but it’s also nice to have these matches in the diary, which gives us something to target at the end of an intense block of training. We’re really excited to get going and hopefully these games can set a positive tone heading into the new campaign.”
Ticketing details for the home encounter against Bath Rugby will be announced in due course and is dependant on the latest Welsh Government guidelines.