2019/20 Gallagher Premiership fixtures released
Premiership Rugby has confirmed that the new Gallagher Premiership Rugby season will kick off on Friday, October 18, at Ashton Gate with Bristol Bears taking on Bath Rugby.
The West Country derby is part of a compelling first round of Gallagher Premiership action on the same weekend as the World Cup quarter-finals in Japan.
Gallagher Premiership Rugby – Round One
Friday 18 October – Bristol Bears v Bath Rugby (7.45pm, BT Sport);
Saturday 19 October – Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins (3pm, BT Sport), Sale Sharks v Gloucester Rugby (3pm), Saracens v Northampton Saints (3pm), Worcester Warriors v Leicester Tigers (3pm);
Sunday 20 October – Wasps v London Irish (3pm, BT Sport).
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Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam said: “We couldn’t have asked for a better start than Bath. When we launched Gallagher Premiership Rugby last year it was a huge, full house at Ashton Gate with both sets of supporters, the weather was good, we played good rugby and obviously got the win – it was a magical night.
“To be asked to do it again – you’ve got supporters from both sets who were there, there are people who missed out and heard about it, so there’s no doubt they’ll want to be there. There’s a good rivalry. All we’ve got to do is play our part in it and make sure we’re at our best.”
Premiership Rugby will break new ground in the 2019-20 season by staging the first rugby match at the new £1billion Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which will also host the Heineken Cup Champions Cup Final in 2021.
We're LIVE at the BT Tower as we reveal the #GallagherPrem 2019-20 fixtures https://t.co/vSDp8fAvJv
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) July 10, 2019
The release of the Gallagher Premiership Rugby fixtures confirms that the Gallagher Premiership Rugby champions, Saracens, will play Harlequins on Saturday, March 28, at the 62,000-seater state of the art stadium in north London.
“I look forward to all the big games – I love them!” said Saracens assistant Alex Sanderson. “There’s no better place to play Harlequins than the big stadiums. I’m really looking forward to going down there. The boys have been there, and they’ve said it’s worth every penny of the billion pounds it cost.”
The clash with Harlequins is one of the red-letter dates in the Gallagher Premiership calendar. It has been staged at Wembley Stadium and the London Stadium before moving into its exciting new home.
Sanderson added: “When we started using the bigger stadiums people said we wouldn’t get any crowds, then we started getting 60,000, 80,000, and these younger lads that are coming through – they won’t get that kind of experience – for some of them it’ll be the biggest game they’ll play ever.
“It’s a great experience before you start getting to semi-finals and finals. It’s good preparation for the whole team, but certainly for the young lads to get that exposure on the big stage which is slightly out of their comfort zone and where they have to focus on their game. “
Saracens start the defence of their title with a repeat of the 2014 final at home to Northampton Saints. Sanderson added: “There are two big fixtures to start us off given how well Northampton Saints are doing and the comeback that Leicester Tigers are going to make. We’re pretty big targets for both teams.
Happy @premrugby fixtures day! ?
Who do you think Saracens will face on the opening day? ???? pic.twitter.com/1vJ6cSyEuj
— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) July 10, 2019
“The opener is going to be a tough game. Saints have made massive strides with Chris Boyd – he’s a good coach. He’s put real confidence into some of his younger players as well – particularly in the backline. If you look at the stats, they’re probably the best-attacking team in terms of yardage.
“They’re able to score long-distance tries with some of the attacking prowess of a team almost in the Hurricanes making, it’s that kind of style that means they’re able to score from anywhere.
“And that’s just off the back of one season – the longer you work together the better you fit together, and I can only imagine that that’s going to be up a level again with another pre-season. For a defence coach, that’s worrying – how you’re going to be able to contain them.”
Promoted side London Irish start their campaign on Sunday, October 20, at the Ricoh Arena against Wasps with their first home match against Sale Sharks on October 26, their last season at Madejski Stadium before the move to Brentford.
“There’s excitement on many levels. It’s our last season at Madejski Stadium so we need to make sure we do that justice for the supporters but then if we get it right we’re moving to Brentford and there’s a massive opportunity there,” said London Irish head coach Les Kiss.
“First and foremost, we want to survive because we want to be a club that’s sustainable at the next level. Wasps is a pretty tough place to go. They’ve got some changes in their team, they’ve lost a few but you look at what they’ve signed, it’ll be a tough gig for sure. It’s a handy enough start for us to see where we are.”
“Sale really have strengthened. They’re a team that’s probably going to see a huge rise in their fortunes this year. They were close to it last season and the way they’ve strengthened with the du Preez brothers and they’ve obviously got the Curry boys too.
“A few of them will be missing early in the season when we play them but they’re a team on the rise. To get them at first, hopefully that falls in our favour.”
To help supporters plan ahead Premiership Rugby has been able to work with BT Sport to ensure all Gallagher Premiership Rugby fixtures up to and including January 5 have already been confirmed six months in advance.
As proud partners of @premrugby we were delighted with our inaugural #GallagherPremFinal?? at @twickenhamstad.
Congratulations to both @Saracens and @ExeterChiefs, for both performing brilliantly!
Take a look at what we got up to here ???? pic.twitter.com/LuxHt8xLvU
— Gallagher UK (@GallagherUK) June 6, 2019
A Premiership Rugby spokesperson said: “It’s not easy to deliver, but we make a commitment to our fans to announce fixtures as early as possible as we know they need time to plan. Without BT Sport’s co-operation it would not be possible.”
The top flight season kicks off in England on Friday, September 13, with the Premiership Rugby 7s – contested by all 12 Gallagher Premiership Rugby – sides with the first match in the Premiership Rugby Cup taking place on Friday, September 20.
WATCH: Going Pro, the RugbyPass behind the scenes documentary on the title-winning Saracens women’s team
Comments on RugbyPass
The Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
15 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
18 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
18 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
18 Go to commentsthe success of the premiership can be summarized by : only 10 teams. It makes a huge difference with the overcrowded top 14 (let us not talk about Leinster and URC…)
1 Go to commentsGood for him. The ABs were fooling around again with converted fullbacks that had a penetration of a marshmallow. Laumape or as Aki has shown for Ireland, go forward is important in the centres. If it had been DMac - Aki- Aumua - Ioane- Telea- Jordan in France the final result would have been different.
4 Go to commentsDan Carter a apporté son professionnalisme, des méthodes de travail, un esprit qui manquaient à l’USAP. Son influence, même une fois blessé a été énorme. Et pour citer une anecdote, certains soirs il venait de lui-même à l’entraînement des jeunes pour dispenser ses conseils. On ne peut pas compter ce qu’il a apporté au club en heures de jeu sur le terrain. Est-ce que le club en a eu pour son argent ? Avec la publicité sur son nom et le titre, je suppose que oui.
1 Go to commentsThe SA sides are suffering from a bum rap here. There isn’t a side anywhere in the world that would do things differently in their shoes. They’ve been set up to fail in the EPCR comps by vested interests, with last minute intercontinental travel requirements that costs an arm and a leg to book in advance just on the possibility they might be required. And the total nonsense that denies any chance of home venues is entirely biased and absolutely unsporting. Either EPCR, the Top14 & the Gallagher Premiership get it sorted on a fair and equitable sporting basis for ALL participants or expect the ridicule to continue. Right now, these comps are a joke!
18 Go to commentsSA sides should do the right thing and leave the champions cup, they are lowering the standard with completely one sided games, not up to the right level. The greatest club tournament in the world is being banjaxed by the weak SA sides.
18 Go to commentsCouldnt agree more. SA sides need to show more committment and really have a go at the Champions Cup. Its quite possibly the most prestigious title in Europe and SA sides need to respect that prestige and serve up their best. EPCR needs to do more to ensure that sides from South Africa and sides travelling to and from SA have a better chance in this competition. The Bulls were put in a really difficult position of having to travel there and back in one week. One could argue that this is what the SA sides signed up for and that La Rochelle didnt complain or send out weakened sides despite having to travel to SA and back and play on successive weekends but surely the situation is also unfair on La Rochelle as well and so EPCR needs to think about successive gameweeks and the travel effect of the competition
18 Go to commentsI hadn’t watched much Canes this season but sat through a replay of that Chiefs game with no distractions. That pack is beastly. I really like the look of Iose. He loves the tough stuff. The first Quins clip may be the best I have even seen for a TH driving his opposite into oblivion. i need to take your word for the contribution of Walker, but Collier there with a straight back pushing up from under was a lovely thing to see. Have you fallen in love with Baxter also, Nick? I think Stuart Barnes may have written his column about him recently, naked. He positively frothed.
15 Go to commentsSmart guy. I wish he was running the RFU or something!
3 Go to commentsWhy Barrett, when Leinster already have at least 4 top centres.?
15 Go to comments