1
Premiership Rugby statement: The revised 11-team fixtures list
By Liam Heagney
Premiership Rugby have revealed the revised 11-team top-flight fixtures list that will take the 2022/23 season from the start of January through to its completion at the end of May with the final at Twickenham. The tournament was thrown into chaos with the suspension of Worcester and Wasps, leaving clubs scrambling to fill vacancies in their schedule caused by the sudden additional bye weeks.
ADVERTISEMENT
Certainty has now been arrived at, however, with officials adapting the remainder of the calendar and streamlining the run of games. A statement read: “Premiership Rugby have announced a revised Gallagher Premiership Rugby and Premiership Rugby Cup fixture list for the second half of the season, which starts with the new year matches in round 14.
“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. 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 February 10-12;
- The Premiership Rugby Cup final is moved to the weekend of March 17-19.
“The season will end as planned with the Gallagher Premiership Rugby final on Saturday, May 27, live on ITV and BT Sport.”
Premiership Rugby CEO Simon Massie-Taylor 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 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 include a re-run of the unforgettable 2019 final between Saracens and Exeter Chiefs.
“The Premiership Rugby Cup will be moved to 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.”
- Click here to see the fixtures
The fact that they're still going to overlap with 2 rounds of Six Nations is bonkers. Hopefully they stick to the 10 club plan and this is the last season we'll have to see Premiership and international rugby take place on the same weekend.
I understand next season if they stick with 11 to see who will be fairly relegated (assuming no one else goes belly up before then), but even with 20 fixtures, no more international/domestic overlap.