Prem season to open with first Thursday night game

The Sale Sharks take on Gloucester for the first time in history on Thursday night as the prem season begins.

The first of 18 rounds will be played at 19:45 BST on Thursday, September 25 at the Salford Stadium.

The following day, defending champions Bath will play host to Bristol Bears at home on Sunday, September 28th, while runners-up Tigers of Leicester will travel to Harlequins for their first game of the campaign.

In the two other games of the opening weekend, Newcastle travel to Saracens on Friday, September 26 and Exeter travel to Northampton on Sunday afternoon.

To prevent a clash with the Women’s Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham on September 27, there will be no Saturday games.

The Prem final will decider at Twickenham on Saturday, June 21, 2026, with the final match of the 18 rounds set to end on the weekend of June 6, 2026.

Following the announcement that the men’s Six Nations will play their first Thursday night game in February 2026, the team switched to a midweek night fixture to begin the season.

Final weekend of March (27-29) will feature three games played at Premier League or international football stadiums.

On Saturday, March 28th, Aston Villa’s Villa Park will host Tigers of Leicester in the Slater Cup, which is named after Ed Slater, former head coach of both teams, who retired in 2022 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

In the club’s Big Day Out, Bristol Bears and Harlequins will play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while Saracens and Bristol Bears will travel to the Welsh capital to face Northampton Saints.

“Our strategy to expand rugby’s reach continues to be a pillar,” Massie-Taylor continued.

Thursday, September 25

Sale v Gloucester (19: 45 BST)

Friday, September 26

Harlequins v Bath (19: 45 BST)

Newcastle v Saracens (19: 45 BST)

Sunday, September 28.

Northampton v Exeter (13: 00 BST)