FORMER Okehampton player Julian White is on the bench for this weekend's first Six Nations rugby nternational at Cardiff — and a West Devon firm will also be playing its part.

The sponsors of the 2001 Six Nations rugby championships, Lloyds/TSB, have teamed up with Rhino Rugby Ltd to produce branded safety pitch kits for the forthcoming tournament.

Post pads, wedges, corner pole pads and flags will provide sponsor branding for the bank as well as safety for the players at the three venues where the matches are to be played this weekend in Cardiff, Rome and Paris.

The favourites to win the tournament are England, who have contracted Rhino — based on the Westbridge Industrial Estate, Tavistock — to supply all their training equipment for the next two years.