Premiership Rugby has confirmed the fixtures for the upcoming 2023/24 season, with some exciting dates for the diary to pencil in from the opening weekend. The new season kicks off on Friday October 13th, with Leicester Tigers travelling over to Ashton Gate to take on Bristol Bears.
Defending champions Saracens then start their journey to retain their title, with a hotly anticipated away trip to take on the new-look Exeter Chiefs at 1:30pm on Saturday 14th October. Bath then take on Newcastle at the Rec at 3pm, with Gloucester welcoming Harlequins over to the Kingsholm Stadium.
Sunday’s action (15th October), sees one last clash to wrap up the opening round of action. Last season’s runners-up Sale Sharks will battle it out against Northampton Saints at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Following the financial collapses of Worcester Warriors, Wasps and London Irish, the Premiership will feature just 10 teams for the 2023/24 season. There has been no promotion from the RFU Championship, as last season’s late-coming winners Jersey Reds did not meet the Premiership’s minimum standards criteria.
However, the 2023/24 Premiership Rugby Cup is set to include Championship sides, in what is an exciting re-structuring of the domestic cup competition. The 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals are set to clash with the returning Premiership. England fans are expecting a knock-out stage match come that weekend, against either the winners or runners-up of Pool C, dependent on the success of Steve Borthwick’s side.
England are likely to be set to take on either Six Nations rivals Wales, or welcome a re-union with Eddie Jones and go up against the Wallabies. The 4pm UK time kick-off may well see some of the Premiership action overlap with England’s quarter-final on Saturday 14th or Sunday 15th, putting some fans in the tough spot of choosing between watching their club or country live.
The full schedule for the 2023/24 Premiership Rugby season can be found here.
The all important date for the Premiership Final has also been confirmed, with Twickenham Stadium set to host the season’s curtain-caller on June 8th.
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There will be a derby weekend in round six from November 17 to 19, which will see Sale play Newcastle and Bath host Bristol on the Friday night.
The action on the Saturday sees Northampton travel to Leicester with Saracens at London rivals Harlequins. Both matches will be shown live ahead of Exeter playing Gloucester on the Sunday afternoon.
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Let the countdown begin ?
The full 2023/24 #GallagherPrem fixture list is here ??
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) July 18, 2023
Clubs will also have one home fixture over the Christmas period, which it is hoped will allow families to enjoy games together. December 30 will see Harlequins’ Big Game series back in the festive schedule when they take on Gloucester at Twickenham.
Following a break of league action during the Guinness Six Nations, Saracens play Harlequins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in March before Northampton face Quins back at Twickenham during round 16 in April.
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As well as the live schedule on TNT Sports, which has been announced through until January 2024, there will be highlights of all 90 regular-season games on ITV along with seven full free-to-air fixtures and the Premiership final.
Premiership Rugby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor said: “Today is always an exciting day in the sporting calendar and I know that our dedicated Gallagher Premiership Rugby fans, players and clubs are counting down until the big kick-off.
“It’s great to welcome our new-look broadcast partner TNT Sports in their debut season under their new brand and we look forward to delivering unmissable world-class sporting entertainment together.”
- Click here to view the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership fixtures