Premiership champions Saracens will start the new season with a trip to Exeter Chiefs on Saturday, 14 October.<\/span><\/p>\n This season’s league will be made up of just 10 teams after London Irish, Wasps and Worcester all went out of business in the past 12 months.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The campaign is starting later because of the World Cup in France, with the domestic season <\/span>beginning with the Premiership Rugby Cup on 8 September.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Bristol host Leicester in the first Premiership game on Friday, 13 October.<\/span><\/p>\n Last season’s Premiership final runners-up Sale welcome Northampton Saints on Sunday, 15 October.<\/span><\/p>\n Sarries claimed their first title since being relegated for breaches of the salary cap in 2020 with an <\/span>entertaining 35-25 win against the Sharks<\/span><\/a> at Twickenham in May.<\/span><\/p>\n Elsewhere over the opening weekend, Bath host Newcastle and Harlequins travel to Gloucester.<\/span><\/p>\n The Premiership final will take place on Saturday, 8 June at Twickenham Stadium.<\/span><\/p>\n The team that finishes bottom will face the winners of the second-tier Championship in a two-legged promotion-relegation play-off – should the latter pass the Rugby Football Union’s minimum standards criteria. If that is not the case, there will be no relegation or promotion.<\/span><\/p>\n Friday, 13 October <\/strong><\/p>\n Bristol Bears v Leicester Tigers (19:45 BST)<\/span><\/p>\n Saturday, 14 October<\/strong><\/p>\n Exeter Chiefs v Saracens (13:30 BST)<\/span><\/p>\n Bath v Newcastle Falcons (15:00 BST)<\/span><\/p>\nOpening weekend Premiership fixtures<\/h3>\n
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