By Falcons Admin
July 11 2020

The Gallagher Premiership is back and will kick off at The Stoop on August 14 when Harlequins take on Sale Sharks in their round 14 match-up. 

Round 14 fixtures

• August 14, Harlequins vs Sale Sharks
• August 15, Exeter Chiefs vs Leicester Tigers
• August 15, Bath vs London Irish
• August 15, Worcester Warriors vs Gloucester
• August 15, Bristol Bears vs Saracens
• August 16, Northampton Saints vs Wasps

Round 15

• August 21, Sale Sharks vs Exeter Chiefs
• August 21, Gloucester vs Bristol Bears
• August 21, Wasps vs Worcester Warriors
• August 22, Saracens vs Harlequins
• August 22, London Irish vs Northampton Saints
• August 22, Leicester Tigers vs Bath

Round 16

• August 25, Wasps vs Sale Sharks
• August 25, Bristol Bears vs Exeter Chiefs
• August 26, Saracens vs Gloucester
• August 26, Worcester Warriors vs Harlequins
• August 26, Northampton Saints vs Bath
• August 26, Leicester Tigers vs London Irish

Round 17

• August 29, Sale Sharks vs Bristol Bears
• August 30, Harlequins vs Northampton Saints
• August 30, Exeter Chiefs vs Worcester Warriors
• August 30, London Irish vs Saracens
• August 30, Gloucester vs Leicester Tigers
• August 31, Bath vs Wasps

Premiership Rugby CEO Darren Childs confirmed that BT will be televising ‘most games’ and that there will be four matches appearing on free to air television.  Childs also advised that no teams would play in less than a four-day turnaround, for player welfare, and has stated further scheduling for times and free to air selections is yet to be fully decided.   This announcement will also confirm the next four rounds of Premiership fixtures.   Childs also confirmed the final will be held on October 24.

“The reaction has been positive. It was clear early on that we wanted to keep the integrity of the competition and if possible, we wanted to avoid cancelling rounds or awarding points,” said Childs.  "Every single club is on board and supportive of th schedule".

Leicester - Contingencies in place should local lockdowns take place

With Leicester having recently entered a ‘local lockdown’ as a city, Premiership Rugby have confirmed there are contingencies in place should a side not be able to play at home, with Twickenham discussed as a potential option as a neutral venue.

Despite these measures, Premiership Rugby have said there is no room in the calendar for a re-scheduled game.

“As part of the ‘Return to play’ under DCMS we were required to list contingency plans and we’re working on that. There is no room in the calendar to re-schedule. There are a number of options available to us.

“Looking at the recent Leicester lockdown, Public Health England were happy to continue sport in those areas,” said Premiership Rugby Director Phil Winstanley.

London Irish - PRL have confirmed that Irish can no longer play at the Madejski Stadium, talks are currently taking place to find a suitable venue before they move to Brentford.  A souloution for this is thought to be sorted within the next few days.