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.
ALL PREMIERSHIP RUGBY CLUBS PRE-SEASON FIXTURES
BATH RUGBY
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.
PRE-SEASON FIXTURES
- Saturday 31 August – Bath Rugby v Munster Rugby – The Rec, 3pm
- Friday 6 September – Cardiff Rugby v Bath Rugby – Cardiff Arms Park, 7:15pm
- Saturday 7 September – Bath Rugby v Ealing Trailfinders – The Rec, 3pm
- Friday 13 September – Bath Rugby v Dragons RFC – The Rec, 7:15pm
First Match of 2024/25 Premiership: vs Northampton Saints (Home) 20/09, 19:45 KO
BRISTOL BEARS
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.
PRE-SEASON FIXTURE
- Friday 6 September – Bristol Bears v Dragons RFC – Station Road (Clifton RFC), 7:30pm
First Match of 2024/25 Premiership: vs Newcastle Falcons (Away), 20/09, 19:45 KO
EXETER CHIEFS
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.
PRE-SEASON FIXTURES
- Saturday 24 August – Exeter Chiefs v London Scottish – Sandy Park, 2pm (double header)
- Saturday 24 August – Exeter Chiefs v Cornish Pirates – Sandy Park, 4pm (double header)
- Saturday 14 September – Exeter Chiefs v Ulster – Sandy Park, 5pm
- Saturday 7 September – Exeter Chiefs v Ospreys – Sandy Park, 3pm
First Match of 2024/25 Premiership: vs Leicester Tigers (Home) 21/09, 15:05 KO