New fixture list for Gallagher Premiership Rugby confirmed

Designed to create minimal disruption to the original list - following the suspension of Worcester Warriors and Wasps - it now guarantees five matches each round, with one team having a bye each weekend.

With round 14 now a bye week, Bears now face London Irish on Sunday, January 8^th at Gtech Community Stadium, before travelling to the StoneX Stadium to face league leaders Saracens on Saturday, January 28^th.

In round 17, Newcastle Falcons are the visitors to Ashton Gate on Friday, February 17^th and round 18 is a West Country derby against Bath on the weekend of February 24^th/25^th/26^th.

Round 19 and 20 see back-to-back home games for the Bears, against Northampton Saints (Friday, March 3^rd) and Harlequins (Sunday, March 12^th), while round 21 is a trip to Mattioli Woods Welford Road to face Leicester Tigers on the weekend of March 24^th/25^th/26^th.

Sale Sharks are the visitors to Ashton Gate in round 22 on Friday, April 14^th and round 23 sees a trip to Sandy Park on April 21^st/22^nd/23^rd.

The final weekend of the regular season is a West Country derby against Gloucester at Ashton Gate on Saturday, May 6^th.

The significant changes include:

• Gallagher Premiership Rugby 2022-23 reduced from 26 rounds to 24
• A rest weekend for all players, coaches, and staff in February
• The Premiership Rugby Cup semi-finals are moved to the weekend of 10-12 February
• The Premiership Rugby Cup Final is moved to the weekend of 17-19 March
• The season will end as planned with the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final on Saturday 27 May, live on ITV and BT Sport

Fixture list

Simon Massie-Taylor, Premiership Rugby’s Chief Executive said: "Restructuring the fixture list has allowed us to create a better narrative in the second half of the season, ensuring five Gallagher Premiership Rugby matches are played on each weekend.

“The new list also reduces the number of bye weeks for teams and the stop/start challenge for some clubs created by the unfortunate issues at Wasps and Worcester Warriors. I am aware that this has created some real challenges for some of our clubs but I’d like to thank them for agreeing to these changes. 

"It is a compelling fixture list with big matches every weekend starting with the New Year games which includes a re-run of the unforgettable 2019 Final, between Saracens and Exeter Chiefs, which is of course live on BT Sport.

"The Premiership Rugby Cup will be moved into the weekends reducing the number of midweek games and the pressure this creates for players, coaches, and staff.

"We would also like to thank our broadcast partners, BT Sport and ITV, who have allowed us to give certainty to our fans with all Gallagher Premiership Rugby matches now confirmed until the middle of February.”

Ticketing information for these fixtures will be announced in due course.