BANBRIDGE AT THE FOREFRONT

BANBRIDGE are expected to be the main challengers in Division Three when the new All Ireland League season gets underway on October 2.

After going so close last season to earning promotion the Rifle Park will be looking to build on their significant improvements of recent years.

A Bann old hand, Daniel Soper, has returned to the club after spell as assistant coach at Ballynahinch and taken over the reigns from Andre Bester.

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He enjoyed success not only with Ballynahinch recently, but also at Ballyclare High School in the Ulster Schools' Cup and comes to Banbridge with a good pedigree.

But with four automatic promotion places up for grabs this season, plus the opportunity for the fifth place finisher to stake a claim for Division Two rugby, there are high expectations Banbridge will not be the only Ulster side battling it out in the mix towards the end of the season.

Banbridge open their campaign on October 2 with a tough trip to Barnhall, one of the sides also expected to be among the promotion candidates.

That will be followed by a home game against Connemara before the first of their Ulster derby games with City of Derry.

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One key factor in Division Three this season, which will go a long way to taking some of the pressure off, is that there is no relegation, due to the restructuring and that should lend to a some more attacking and open rugby.

The new format will build on the success of the recently introduced Division One system, and will include a new structure to be implemented from the 2011/12 season; an increase in the number of senior clubs from 48 to 52; rolling substitutions to be introduced on a trial basis; new regulations on contracted players' participation; structures to remain in place until the 2016/17 season to provide stability to All-Ireland League; and the majority of opinion across this consultation process was the desire to retain an All-Ireland competition format rather then moving to a provincial or regionalised competition grouping.

Meanwhile Bann's fixtures for their Ulster League campaign have also been announced.

The locals will kick off the new season with the visit of City of Derry to Rifle Park with the month of September dominated by Ulster league fixtures as they build up to the start of the All Ireland League campaign.

FIXTURES: AUGUST: 28, City of Derry (H, Ulster League).

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September: 4, Queens (A, Ulster League); 15, Rainey (H, Ulster League); 18, Ards (A, Ulster League); 25, Ballymena (H, Ulster League).

OCTOBER - 2, Barnhall (A, AIL); 9, Connemara (H, AIL); 23, City of Derry (A, AIL); 30, Suttonians (H, AIL).

NOVEMBER - 13, Wanderers (A, AIL); 20, Ballynahinch (A, Ulster League); 27, Sunday's Well (H, AIL).

DECEMBER - 4, Navan RFC (A, AIL).

JANUARY - 8, Belfast Harlequins (H, Ulster League); 15, Dungannon (A, Ulster League); 22, Instonians (H, Ulster League); 29, Greystones (H, AIL).

FEBRUARY - 5, Rainey OB (H, AIL); 12, Ards (A, AIL); 19, Nenagh Ormond (H, AIL); 26, Instonians (A, AIL).

MARCH - 26, Highfield (H, AIL).

APRIL - 2, Nass (A); 16, Seapoint (H, AIL).