A NUMBER of rugby players with Basingstoke connections will represent Hampshire in their County Championship campaign.

The white rose county will play their opening game at Down Grange on Saturday (kick-off 3pm), when Kent will be the visitors.

The side is being managed by former ’Stoke director of rugby John Byett and he has included current Basingstoke players Neil Young, Simon Appleby, Mike Goodall and David Byett in his squad.

They will be joined by Newbury players Matt Oliver and Karl Buttle, who are themselves no strangers to Down Grange, having begun their careers at the club.

Having been promoted in 2008, Hampshire consolidated their place in division two of the County Championship last season – but manager Byett has his sights set higher this time around.

“The side we have is good enough to win the group and get through to the promotion play-off,” he said.

“That is the target and I am quietly confident because we have a good basis to the side.”

Saturday’s home game against Kent will be followed by a trip to Middlesex next week, with Somerset due to visit Down Grange in the final game a week after that.

Basingstoke must top the group to earn a place in the promotion play-off but Byett has secured the services of some top players in the form of Rotherham centre Tom Allen and Newbury flanker Liam Perkins, who will captain the side.

Kent appear in division two after winning promotion last season but will come to Down Grange as |something of an unknown quantity.

Byett said: “Kent have got some big clubs and could field some good players – it just depends who wants to play.

“It should be a good day and hopefully we will be able to play the same sort of rugby we have played over the last few years.”

Hampshire warmed up for their County Championship campaign by taking on Basingstoke in the John Boyle Memorial Match at Down Grange on Monday.

The county side won 26-12, with Dan Sergeant of Portsmouth and Havant’s Joe Robinson and Craig Parker among the scorers.

“I certainly learned a lot,” Byett added. “There were a couple of players who have not featured for the county before but they have forced their way in with their performances in the game.”