WORCESTERSHIRE and Herefordshire launch the defence of the RLF Three Counties Rugby Championship and attempt to win the title for the seventh time in eight years against Greater Birmingham at Kings Norton’s Hopwood Park ground tonight (7.30pm).

The match will be a re-run of last season’s thrilling final which the Combined Counties won 27-24 in extra-time with a late penalty from Dudley Kingswinford’s Gareth Bown.

Greater Birmingham must avenge that defeat if they are to have any hope of appearing in this season’s final as they were beaten 15-8 by Shropshire in the tournament opener at Aston OEs last week.

Worcestershire and Herefordshire face Shropshire at Telford Hornets in their second group match on May 7. The top two teams in the group will contest the final at Stourbridge on May 14.

The Combined Counties have again named an experienced squad for their opening group match including former England Under 21 back-rower Dave Merlin.

The RLF Three Counties Championship is contested by the three domestic unions that make up the North Midlands RFU and has provided a number of players to the senior North Midlands county side in recent seasons.

Worcestershire and Herefordshire (v Greater Birmingham): Jefferson (Dudley Kingswinford); Fairhurst (Kings Norton), Knight (Hereford), Johnson (Kings Norton), Ellis (Pershore); Biggs (Worcester Wanderers), Preece (Hereford); Drew (Worcester Wanderers), Dickinson (Old Halesonians), Peel (Pershore), Breeze (Old Halesonians), Merlin (Walsall), Breakwell (Old Halesonians), Daws (Worcester Wanderers), Saddlington (Worcester Wanderers). Replacements: Goddard (Droitwich), Eversham (Droitwich), Talbot (Hereford), Rees (Kings Norton), Powell (Hereford), Kendrick (Kings Norton), Tisdale (Malvern).