Braintree Rugby Club will be starting life in Essex League division one with a trip to the seaside in September as they travel to Clacton on the opening day of the season.

Having pulled out of London League division two north east last year after finding it increasingly tough to fulfil fixtures, the Black and Ambers will be hoping to regroup at the lower level this season.

After trekking around Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire in the London Leagues, it will be trips up and down the A12 that Braintree will now have to get used to and journeys to the likes of Maldon and Millwall.

Following the opening day game at Clacton on September 19, Braintree’s first home game will come the weekend after as they host Millwall, before games against Kings Cross Steelers, Pegasus Palmerians and Maldon in October.

See this week's paper for the full available fixture list and how the league will be split after Christmas.