"Who is Your Team Playing?" All Pre Season Matches Confirmed for Premiership Rugby Clubs

We are exactly one month away from the start of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership Rugby season, with the league set to get started on September 20th 2024. The preparations have well and truly begun for the 10 teams in the English top flight, and each club will soon be putting their plans into action with some pre-season fixtures.

Whilst these matches are dubbed as 'friendlies' on paper, the players out on the pitch will be far from the namesake. These pre-season battles are the perfect opportunities for the fringe players in the Premiership, to put their hands up for starting contention once the season officially rolls around. The curtain raising encounters also act as the perfect place for returning stars to get their first few reps in ahead of the new season.

All 10 Gallagher Premiership clubs have announced their fixture lists for the pre-season matches, and we have compiled them all in a helpful guide so you don't miss a minute of the action. These matches are very rarely shown on terrestrial television, so if you can't take advantage of the reduced ticket prices and get to the games in person, be sure to check out your club's website for online streaming information.

2023/24 Premiership Finish: Runners Up

After begrudgingly taking home silver medals from the 2023/24 Premiership Final at Twickenham, the blue, black and whites are out to lay down a marker ahead of their return pilgrimage to 'HQ'. Whilst the name of the end destination may have changed to the Allianz Stadium, the goal remains the same for Johann van Graan's men as Bath search for their first Premiership title since 1995. Spearheaded by their Scottish talisman Finn Russell, Bath fans were delighted to see their side make their way to their first Premiership Final in six seasons.

First Match of 2024/25 Premiership: vs Northampton Saints (Home) 20/09, 19:45 KO

2023/24 Premiership Finish: 5th

Bristol Bears came agonisingly close to the Premiership play-off places last season, as they were ousted from the top four in the final week of the season. Pat Lam's men missed out on the play-offs by just two points, with Saracens hurdling the Bears for a place in the semi-finals. Bristol have added some serious firepower to their ranks, after bringing in Fijian international Viliame Mata and former London Irish & Harlequins prop Lovejoy Chawatama ahead of the new season.

First Match of 2024/25 Premiership: vs Newcastle Falcons (Away), 20/09, 19:45 KO

2023/24 Premiership Finish: 7th

Exeter Chiefs surpassed all expectations in the 2023/24 Premiership season, as the men from Devon underwent a mass player exodus ahead of the campaign. After missing out on the England squad for the Rugby World Cup, a rejuvenated Henry Slade led the Chiefs to a solid league campaign and an enjoyable run in the Champions Cup, and earned himself the Premiership player of the Year award in the process.

First Match of 2024/25 Premiership: vs Leicester Tigers (Home) 21/09, 15:05 KO

2023/24 Premiership Finish: 9th

Gloucester found themselves in the hunt for two trophies come the end of the 2023/24 season, and in doing so put less of an onus upon their performances in the Premiership. The Cherry and Whites were successful in claiming the 2024 Premiership Rugby Cup, in what was their first piece of silverware for nine years. The West Country side then finished runners up in the EPCR Challenge cup, as the Hollywoodbets Sharks claimed the title. A 90-0 defeat to Northampton set a new Premiership record win for the Saints, and Gloucester fans will want to see their side perform in all competitions this season.

First Match of 2024/25 Premiership: vs Saracens (Home) 21/09, 17:30 KO

2023/24 Premiership Finish: 6th

The biggest accomplishment of the 2023/24 season for the Premiership's resident entertainers actually came in Europe, as Harlequins reached the semi-finals of the Champions Cup for the first time in their history. Despite coming away with a defeat to eventual champions Toulouse, Quins rejoiced in the accomplishment, yet like Gloucester, caused the Premiership to take a back seat in the progress. It's a fine balance to get right, and the ultimate comeback artists are hopeful with the new recruitment of Wales legend Leigh Halfpenny at fullback.

First Match of 2024/25 Premiership: Sale Sharks (Away) 22/09, 15:00 KO

2023/24 Premiership Finish: 8th

It was a forgettable season for the Welford Road faithful, as Leicester Tigers were had a sub-par campaign from their high standards. The eighth placed finish just two seasons removed from their 2022 Premiership title triumph encapsulates the ruthlessness of the competition, with every match mattering from the first to the final round of action. Leicester's biggest signings of the season are Australian centre Izaia Perese from the Waratahs, and former Junior Springbok of the Year, 20-year-old back row Corne Beets.

First Match of 2024/25 Premiership: Exeter Chiefs (Away), 21/09, 15:05 KO

2023/24 Premiership Finish: 10th

18 defeats in 18 games. If there ever was a Premiership season to move on from, the 2023/24 campaign for Newcastle Falcons was just that. Whilst Newcastle did record a win in the Challenge Cup against Perpignan, Kingston Park was far from a fortress against English opponents. However, the Falcons are optimistic for the season ahead, having brought in former Sale and Worcester head coach Steve Diamond upon their coaching staff to turn the ship around. Couple this with the arrival of 15 new players, including former Leicester Tigers fly half prodigy Kieran Wilkinson, and the future looks brighter for Newcastle's upcoming Premiership season.

First Match of 2024/25 Premiership: Bristol Bears (Home) 20/09, 19:45 KO

2023/24 Premiership Finish: Champions

Northampton Saints ended their 10-year wait for the Premiership Rugby title last season, with the streets painted green, black and gold in jubilant celebration. The Saints bid farwell to an assortment of club legends at the end of the campaign, as the likes of Courtney Lawes, Alex Waller and Lewis Ludlam all departed Franklin's Gardens with winners medals around their necks. It's the start of a new era for Phil Dowson's men, and what better way to commence it by defending their Premiership title with some of England's most exciting back-line talents leading the way.

First Match of 2024/25 Premiership: Bath (Away) 20/09, 19:45 KO

2023/24 Premiership Finish: Semi Finalist

Sale Sharks were a game away from back-to-back Premiership Rugby Finals, but it would be Bath that claimed the semi-final triumph for a spot at Twickenham. Alex Sanderson's side have enjoyed some top four finishes in recent seasons and will be out to do it again, albeit without their powerhouse centre Manu Tuilagi. The former England international has signed for Bayonne in the Top 14, with Sale bringing in Fiji star Waisea Nayacalevu in his place from Toulon. George Ford is ready to lead the way, with exciting England talents Joe Capenter and Tom Roebuck flying down the wings.

First Match of 2024/25 Premiership: Harlequins (Home) 22/09, 15:00 KO

2023/24 Premiership Finish: Semi Finalists

Watching Owen Farrell bid farewell to the Saracens fans, after his side was defeated by Northampton Saints in last season's Premiership play-off semi final, solidified the end of an era at the StoneX Stadium. Now with Mako and Billy Vunipola both departing for France, and their younger cousin Manu also exiting North London, Mark McCall has started over this past Summer. Enter Fergus Burke from the Crusaders, as the New Zealand born fly half is also eligible for England, and could well be on his way to Steve Borthwick's squad in the near future.

First Match of 2024/25 Premiership: Gloucester Rugby (Away) 21/09, 17:30 KO