Three of the Zurich Premiership's finest have confirmed they are off to the Celtic regions of Britain on pre-season tours as the 2001/02 kick off nears.

Bath are off to Ireland on August 8 where Wasps are also headed and the two sides will meet on August 13 at Thomond Park, Limerick, where Bath are due to play Munster three days previously.

Bob Calleja, Bath's general manager, said: "This is a very important pre-season competition in preparation for the start of the season."

The Northampton Saints, on the other hand, have preferred the fantastic hospitality of Scotland for their preparations, for a three-match tour starting on August 11.

Matt Dawson, Ben Cohen and Tom Smith will join the squad and new fitness instructor Tim Exeter from the Lions tour ahead of the opening game against Aberdeen. The Saints will also play Glasgow Caledonians and a combined districts side.

John Steele, the Saints's director of rugby, said: The Scottish districts have gone from strength to strength in recent years and provide ideal opposition for us to gauge how far we have come in our pre-season training.

"Glasgow have shown their worth, beating Leicester in the Heineken Cup and the combined districts side will be full of talent."

Meanwhile back home at Franklin's Gardens the club has reported record season ticket sales of 4,300.

That beats last year's sales, that were 4,230 by the end of the season, after an offer halfway through the season and just 3,600 before the first match.

Allan Robson, the club's commercial director, said: "Our aim is to fill the new Franklin's Gardens for what are always passionately fought fixtures.

"Obviously the more season ticket holders we have the more likely it will be that we will achieve that aim - not just for the Bath and Leicester games, but every week."

New floodlights and a new stand have been constructed at the ground in the off season sponsored by Tetley's the club's shirt sponsor.

The Bath tour to Ireland is sponsored by Mistral Environmental but the club is looking for other backers, if you are interested call 01225 325 200.