Aviva Premiership 2017/18 fixtures announced

Premiership Rugby has confirmed the fixtures for the 2017/18 season of Aviva Premiership with defending champions Exeter Chiefs taking on Gloucester at Kingsholm on 1st September in the opening game.

Newcastle Falcons will also be hosting Worcester Warriors on the same day in evening while Wasps, who lost the Premiership final last season will begin their campaign against Sale Sharks on 2nd September.

European champions Saracens will take on Northampton Saints while the recently promoted London Irish will lock horns with Harlequins in the customary Twickenham double header on Saturday. The opening round will come to a conclusion with Leicester Tigers hosting Bath Rugby at Welford Road.

Exeter boss Rob Baxter insisted on the need to start well this season and is looking forward to the Gloucester challenge.

"It doesn't matter who won the Premiership last season, the league table right now says zero points and we have got to start collecting them again," Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter said.

"In a lot of ways, Gloucester is a really good starting fixture for us because the players will look at it and know it's a big challenge and know we have to start very well.

"Gloucester will be buoyed by some new signings and a new head coach so it is a very interesting start point for us."

The fixture for the first 10 weeks has been released by the board and the Philadelphia clash between Saracens and Newcastle Falcons has been slotted on 16th September.

Aviva Premiership 2017-18 round-one fixtures:

Friday, September 1

19:45 Gloucester Rugby v Exeter Chiefs, Kingsholm, BT Sport

19:45 Newcastle Falcons v Worcester Warriors, Kingston Park

Saturday, September 2

14:00 Saracens v Northampton Saints, Twickenham, BT Sport

15:00 Wasps v Sale Sharks, Ricoh Arena

16:30 London Irish v Harlequins, Twickenham, BT Sport

Sunday, September 3

15:00 Leicester Tigers v Bath Rugby, Welford Road, BT Sport