The all important dates for the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership season have been confirmed, with the opening weekend set to clash with the latter-stages of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Premiership Rugby is set to make it’s return, with round one kicking off the weekend of Friday 13th October. There is no Rugby World Cup action on the Friday, yet the Quarter Finals are set to take centre stage on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th of October.
The completed fixture list will be announced by Premiership Rugby next week, with fans hoping for a full day of action on the Friday. However, if matches are set to take place over the Saturday and Sunday, then it could well clash with the knock-out stages in France.
This famously ‘unlucky’ date could well see some rugby fans torn between club and country with what match to watch. If England progress out of Pool D as runners up, they are set for a run in with the Pool C winners on Saturday 14th, a possibly problematic timeslot unless the Premiership book accordingly.
If Steve Borthwick’s side see off Argentina, Japan, Samoa and Chile to finish top of Pool D, they are set for a Quarter Final showdown with the Pool C Runners Up on Sunday. This could well be a clash-free slot, with a slightly later kick off of 16:00pm (GMT).
Pool C’s winner and runner-up will be decided out of Wales, Georgia, Fiji, Portugal, and of course, Eddie Jones’ Australia. The Wallabies were considered favourites to top the group, however a recent poor showing against a weakened South Africa has raised a few eyebrows.
The rest is all to play for as Wales, Georgia and Fiji all stake viable claims for a spot in the knock-out stages. Portugal are an outside shout, as they make their Rugby World Cup return for the first time since 2007.
Premiership Rugby has also confirmed the date for the 2024 Premiership Final, with the showpiece event taking centre-stage at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday June 8th. Saracens were fast to share the news, as the reigning champions are eyeing up back-to-back title defences.