Cardiff Blues have announced two pre-season matches against English pair Leicester and Northampton.

Guinness Premiership champions Leicester will be the Blues' first opponents in their new City Stadium home on Friday, 21 August.

The Saints arrive the next week as the Blues complete preparations for the Magners League kick-off on 4 September.

"Everyone is looking forward to playing our first match at the new stadium," said Blues director of rugby Dai Young.

The Blues lost to Leicester in the semi-finals of last season's Heineken Cup but beat Northampton in the EDF Energy Cup semi-final.

"We had two very competitive matches against Northampton and Leicester last season and look forward to welcoming them to Cardiff in August," Young added.

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"We will face two English sides in our Heineken Cup group and two in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, so these friendly matches are a great chance for us to test ourselves against two of the biggest teams in England."

"Northampton are proving to be a real force and are improving season on season, while we know all about Leicester being last season's Guinness Premiership champions and Heineken Cup finalists."

The Blues begin their league campaign at home to Edinburgh, while they face a tricky Heineken Cup group - that campaign starting on 9-11 October - against Toulouse, Sale Sharks and Harlequins.

This Anglo-Welsh Cup sees the Blues start their title defence on 6-8 November against Gloucester - the team they beat in the final last season.

London Irish, Newcastle Falcons and Welsh rivals the Scarlets are the Blues' other Anglo-Welsh Cup opponents.

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