Harlequins and the three other London-based Zurich Premiership sides have been selected for a double-header season curtain raiser to be staged at Twickenham on December 4.

Quins will play London Irish while Saracens take on London Wasps in their opening fixture of the 2004/2005 season at the home of English rugby.

Quins chief executive and head coach Mark Evans said: "Everyone knows the problems we face with capacity at the Stoop. We are currently the smallest club in terms of capacity and have had several sell outs already this season with tickets to our last three home games already sold out. "The history between the two clubs means the fixture between Quins and London Irish is always popular and so we could probably predict now that that game will be sold out. This initiative not only means we won't need to turn supporters away but it has the potential to become a special event in the London sporting calendar."

lHarlequins' second XV gave a commanding performance last Tuesday as they demolished a Gloucester 2nd XV 62 - 24 at the Stoop.

Despite going behind in the early stages they battled through, running in ten tries and now top the the Zurich A league Southern group table.Their next match is against London Wasps this Monday March 15, at Rosslyn Park.

Scorers: tries - Dunne 2, Moore 2, Evans 2, Bemand, Jarvis, Jones; cons: Dunne 4, Jarvis 3; pens - Jarvis.

Quins:Williams, Moore, Barratt, Deane, Jewell, Dunne, Bemand, Jones, Hayter, Dawson, Evans, Miall, Cracknell, Sherriff (c), Hortsmann. Replacements: Gomez, Dott, Parker, Winters, Willis, Jarvis, Reay.