Gloucester have a chance to revenge for last season’s play-off semi-final loss to Leicester when they meet on the opening weekend of the 2008-09 Premiership season. The first round also include a West Country derby with Bristol facing Bath. Promoted Northampton play Worcester while the London double-header sees London Irish take on champions Wasps and Saracens face Harlequins. The other match on the opening weekend sees Sale travel north to face Newcastle.

The final round of the regular season will take place on Saturday 25 April, with the Guinness Premiership final brought forward by a fortnight to 16 May to avoid a clash with the opening fixture of the Lions tour in South Africa on 30 May. To allow for this change a midweek round of Premiership fixtures will be played on Tuesday, 30 September and Wednesday, 1 October.

Opening round of fixtures

Sat 6 September
London Irish v London Wasps 1430 (Twickenham)
Gloucester v Leicester Tigers 1500
Northampton Saints v Worcester Warriors 1500
Saracens v Harlequins 1700 (Twickenham)
Sun 7 September:
Bristol v Bath 1500
Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks 1500

Final round of fixtures

Saturday 25 April 2009
Bath v Saracens
Harlequins v Newcastle Falcons
Leicester Tigers v Bristol
Wasps v Gloucester
Sale Sharks v Northampton
Worcester Warriors v London Irish