Canterbury Rugby Club will begin life in National League 1 with back-to-back home derbies.

Andy Pratt's side, playing in rugby’s third tier for the first time in their history, host Old Elthamians on Saturday, September 7 before playing Blackheath at the Marine Travel Ground a week later.

Their first away game will be at Rosslyn Park on September 21with another home game to follow on September 28 when they entertain Sale.

The return fixture with Blackheath is on December 21 with the curtain coming down on the 2019/20 season, at Old Elthamians on April 25.

Canterbury earned their place in League 1 after beating Chester 19-10 at home in the promotion play-off on May 4.

They had finished the regular season, runners-up to champions Rams after winning 24 of their 30 games in National 2 South.

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Full 2019/2020 fixtures

Sept 7 H Old Elthamians

Sept 14 H Blackheath

Sept 21 A Rosslyn Park

Sept 28 H Sale

Oct 5 A Plymouth

Oct 12 H Cambridge

Oct 19 A Birmingham Moseley

Oct 26 H Darlington Mowden Park

Nov 2 A Chinnor

Nov 9 H Richmond

Nov 16 A Hull Ionians

Nov 23 H Rams

Nov 30 A Bishops Stortford

Dec 7 H Cinderford

Dec 14 A Rotherham

Dec 21 A Blackheath

Jan 4, 2019 H Rosslyn Park

Jan 11 A Sale

Jan 18 H Plymouth

Jan 25 A Cambridge

Feb 1 H Birmingham Moseley

Feb 8 A Darlington Mowden Park

Feb 15 H Chinnor

Feb 29 A Richmond

March 7 H Hull Ionians

March 21 A Rams

March 28 H Bishops Stortford

April 4 A Cinderford

April 18 H Rotherham

April 25 A Old Elthamians