BRISTOL Bears have been handed the honour of kicking off the new Gallagher Premiership Rugby season, hosting promoted Saracens, as we see supporters return to our stadiums.
The Bears, who last season suffered an agonising semi-final defeat to eventual champions, Harlequins will open the season on Friday 17 September in front of the live BT Sport cameras at 7.45pm. The match at Ashton Gate will be one of three live games on BT Sport on the opening weekend.
To view all 159 fixtures in the Gallagher Premiership Rugby season 2021-22 click here
Bristol Bears Director of Rugby Pat Lam said: “It’s great that Bristol Bears will host the competition curtain-raiser and better still that we will have fans back at the stadium again. Having the opportunity to welcome Saracens back into the Gallagher Premiership will be a fantastic spectacle for our fans and BT Sport’s audience too.
“A capacity crowd at Ashton Gate, under the lights on a Friday night, always creates one of the best atmospheres in the country so we’re excited about getting underway.”
Saracens are returning to Gallagher Premiership Rugby after beating Ealing Trailfinders 117-15 in the RFU Championship promotion play-off.
Director of Rugby Mark McCall said: “As a club, we are obviously looking forward to the new season and what lies ahead. Playing at Ashton Gate first up will be a great challenge but one our group will relish.”
Last season ended in breath-taking style as the average number of tries in matches moved above six for the first time in the competition’s history.
- 6,232 points were scored in 2020-21 at an average of 49.9 per game played, this average hasn’t been bettered since 2000
- The average winning margin was 11.9 points per game – a figure only once beaten in the previous four seasons.
- The six-try-per-game barrier was broken for the first time – 6.3 per game – the previous best was 5.9 in 2017/18.
- 786 tries were scored last season, a figure only bettered twice in the competition – despite ten games not being played
Champions Harlequins start the defence of their title on the road as they travel to Newcastle Falcons where former coach Dean Richards and former players Mike Brown and Nathan Earle are set to be waiting for them in the north-east.
Harlequins Director of Rugby Performance Billy Millard said: “It’s great to have sight of how our first season as defending Gallagher Premiership Rugby champions will kick-off. Newcastle Falcons away is a tough match and we’re looking forward to testing ourselves early with a trip north.
“Our first game back at The Stoop will be something special. The majority of our fans weren’t able to celebrate our trophy win last season, and we’re excited to welcome many more of them on 25 September as we host Worcester Warriors.
“We have welcomed some new faces and a new senior coach during the off-season and we’ll be looking to hit the ground running with Tabai Matson joining us.
“These are exciting times to be part of the Club. We feel we have a group that has so much more potential growth despite having already reached title status. I’m looking forward to kicking off the next part of our journey.”
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