TotalSportek Rugby Fixtures: Premiership & Champions Cup
The rugby fixtures UK fans need for the 2026/27 club season start with Gallagher PREM Rugby on Friday 25 September 2026. The Investec Champions Cup then begins unusually early on 16 October, bringing England’s leading clubs up against teams from France, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and South Africa.
There is an important TV difference between the two competitions. TNT Sports shows every Gallagher PREM match in the UK, while Premier Sports holds the UK and Ireland rights to all 63 Champions Cup matches. Selected Premiership matches are also available free on ITV.
AI Snapshot
The 2026/27 Gallagher PREM season runs from 25 September 2026 to the Final at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on 19 June 2027. The Champions Cup starts on 16 October and ends in Lyon on 22 May 2027.
- Premiership opening weekend: 25-27 September
- Premiership regular season: 18 rounds
- Premiership semi-finals: 11-12 June 2027
- Premiership Final: 19 June 2027
- Champions Cup Round 1: 16-18 October
- Champions Cup Final: 22 May 2027
- Premiership TV: TNT Sports, plus seven ITV matches
- Champions Cup TV: Premier Sports
- Eight English clubs are in the 2026/27 Champions Cup
- Later Premiership kick-off times remain subject to TV scheduling
The rugby fixtures and scores section can be used alongside this season calendar for current match information.
Gallagher Premiership Rugby Fixtures 2026/27
Gallagher PREM Rugby, still widely searched for as Premiership Rugby, begins on Friday 25 September. Ten clubs play 18 regular-season rounds before the top four move into the semi-finals.
The season contains 93 matches when the 90 regular-season fixtures, two semi-finals and Final are counted together. Northampton Saints begin as defending champions after winning the 2025/26 title.
Premiership Opening Weekend
Round 1 already has confirmed dates and UK kick-off times.
| Date | Fixture | UK kick-off |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 25 September | Harlequins v Bath Rugby | 7:45pm BST |
| Friday 25 September | Northampton Saints v Newcastle Red Bulls | 7:45pm BST |
| Saturday 26 September | Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester Rugby | 3:05pm BST |
| Saturday 26 September | Sale Sharks v Bristol Bears | 5:30pm BST |
| Sunday 27 September | Leicester Tigers v Saracens | 3pm BST |
The opening Friday immediately gives supporters two strong fixtures. Bath travel to the Twickenham Stoop, while champions Northampton begin their defence against Newcastle Red Bulls.
Leicester Tigers v Saracens closes the opening weekend on Sunday. Between them, those two clubs have been responsible for a large share of Premiership titles in the professional era.
Premiership Rugby 2026/27 Round Dates
The first nine rounds have detailed dates and times, while several later rounds are currently published as Friday-to-Sunday windows. That distinction matters if you plan to buy match tickets or book travel months ahead.
| Round | Date window |
|---|---|
| 1 | 25-27 September 2026 |
| 2 | 2-4 October |
| 3 | 9-11 October |
| 4 | 23-25 October |
| 5 | 30-31 October |
| International break | November |
| 6 | 4-6 December |
| 7 | 18-20 December |
| 8 | 26-28 December |
| 9 | 1-3 January 2027 |
| 10 | 22-24 January |
| Six Nations break | February-March |
| 11 | 19-21 March |
| 12 | 26-28 March |
| 13 | 16-18 April |
| 14 | 23-25 April |
| 15 | 7-9 May |
| 16 | 14-16 May |
| 17 | 28-30 May |
| 18 | 4-6 June |
| Semi-finals | 11-12 June |
| Final | 19 June |
The long breaks are deliberate.
Domestic league rugby has to fit around international windows as well as European club competitions. The Nations Championship affects November, while the Six Nations creates the large gap between Round 10 in January and Round 11 in March.
Premiership Derby Weekend
Round 4 is the designated derby weekend and falls from 23-25 October.
The fixtures are:
- Gloucester Rugby v Bath Rugby
- Newcastle Red Bulls v Sale Sharks
- Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints
- Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs
- Harlequins v Saracens
Leicester v Northampton is scheduled for 3:05pm on Saturday 24 October, while Harlequins host Saracens at 3pm the following day.
Christmas and New Year Rugby
The festive period gives UK rugby fans two rounds in quick succession.
Round 8 starts on Boxing Day. Bath host Leicester Tigers, Sale face Gloucester and Bristol play Newcastle before Exeter v Saracens on 27 December.
Big Game 18 then takes place at Allianz Stadium on Monday 28 December, when Harlequins face Northampton Saints at 5pm.
Round 9 follows from 1-3 January, including Saracens v Bath and Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs.
When Are the Premiership Rugby Play-Offs and Final?
The Gallagher PREM semi-finals are scheduled for Friday 11 and Saturday 12 June 2027, with the two highest-ranked qualifying clubs earning home advantage under the normal play-off format.
The winners move to Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, for the Gallagher PREM Final on Saturday 19 June. Premiership Rugby’s official Final page confirms the date and venue.
ITV remains useful here for fans without TNT Sports.
Under its new two-year agreement covering 2026/27 and 2027/28, ITV will show seven Gallagher PREM matches free-to-air in each season. That package includes the Final, which will be available through ITV and ITVX.
Investec Champions Cup Fixtures 2026/27
The Champions Cup starts earlier than in recent seasons, with Round 1 taking place from 16-18 October 2026.
There are 24 clubs in four pools of six. Each club plays four pool matches, and the highest-ranked four clubs in each pool move into the Round of 16.
The English representation for 2026/27 includes Bath Rugby, Bristol Bears, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester Rugby, Leicester Tigers, Northampton Saints, Sale Sharks and Saracens.
Champions Cup 2026/27 Key Dates
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Pool Round 1 | 16-18 October 2026 |
| Pool Round 2 | 11-13 December |
| Pool Round 3 | 8-10 January 2027 |
| Pool Round 4 | 15-17 January |
| Round of 16 | 2-4 April |
| Quarter-finals | 9-11 April |
| Semi-finals | 30 April-2 May |
| Champions Cup Final | 22 May |
EPCR moved the opening round back to October for 2026/27, rather than starting the competition in December as it had done in recent seasons.
Champions Cup Fixtures for English Clubs
The four pool rounds are already confirmed. The UK times below make the schedule easier to use without converting fixtures in France or South Africa yourself.
Champions Cup Round 1
| Date | Fixture | UK time |
|---|---|---|
| 16 October | Gloucester v Bordeaux-Bègles | 8pm BST |
| 17 October | Sale Sharks v Glasgow Warriors | 1pm BST |
| 17 October | DHL Stormers v Bristol Bears | 3:15pm BST |
| 17 October | Connacht v Saracens | 5:30pm BST |
| 17 October | Bath Rugby v Montpellier | 8pm BST |
| 18 October | Pau v Leicester Tigers | 1pm BST |
| 18 October | Toulouse v Exeter Chiefs | 3:15pm BST |
| 18 October | Northampton Saints v Cardiff Rugby | 5:30pm BST |
The first European weekend comes only three weeks after the Premiership season starts.
Gloucester open the whole Champions Cup on Friday night against defending champions Union Bordeaux Bègles. Exeter have one of the toughest first assignments, travelling to six-time champions Toulouse.
Champions Cup Round 2
| Date | Fixture | UK time |
|---|---|---|
| 11 December | Stade Français v Northampton | 8pm GMT |
| 12 December | Leicester v Clermont Auvergne | 3:15pm GMT |
| 12 December | Leinster v Sale Sharks | 5:30pm GMT |
| 12 December | Saracens v La Rochelle | 5:30pm GMT |
| 12 December | Bristol Bears v Munster | 8pm GMT |
| 12 December | Cardiff v Bath | 8pm GMT |
| 13 December | Exeter Chiefs v Connacht | 1pm GMT |
| 13 December | Racing 92 v Gloucester | 5:30pm GMT |
Round 2 lands between Premiership Rounds 6 and 7, which explains the gap in the domestic fixture list.
Champions Cup Round 3
| Date | Fixture | UK time |
|---|---|---|
| 8 January | Glasgow Warriors v Leicester | 8pm GMT |
| 9 January | Gloucester v DHL Stormers | 1pm GMT |
| 9 January | Exeter Chiefs v La Rochelle | 3:15pm GMT |
| 9 January | Vodacom Bulls v Bath | 3:15pm GMT |
| 9 January | Montpellier v Northampton | 5:30pm GMT |
| 10 January | Racing 92 v Bristol Bears | 1pm GMT |
| 10 January | Saracens v Lions | 3:15pm GMT |
| 10 January | Sale Sharks v Clermont Auvergne | 5:30pm GMT |
South African away matches are the ones most likely to confuse UK viewers because local venue time can differ considerably from the UK listing.
Using a UK-based schedule avoids accidentally treating a South African local kick-off as GMT.
Champions Cup Round 4
| Date | Fixture | UK time |
|---|---|---|
| 15 January | Northampton v Vodacom Bulls | 8pm GMT |
| 16 January | Lions v Exeter Chiefs | 1pm GMT |
| 16 January | Pau v Sale Sharks | 1pm GMT |
| 16 January | Bristol Bears v Bordeaux-Bègles | 3:15pm GMT |
| 16 January | Munster v Gloucester | 5:30pm GMT |
| 16 January | Leicester Tigers v Leinster | 8pm GMT |
| 17 January | Toulouse v Saracens | 3:15pm GMT |
| 17 January | Bath v Stade Français | 5:30pm GMT |
The final pool weekend decides which 16 clubs continue in the Champions Cup and which sides are eliminated.
Exact Round of 16 matchups cannot be known until the pool stage is complete.
When Is the Champions Cup Final?
The 2027 Investec Champions Cup Final is on Saturday 22 May at OL Stadium in Lyon.
This is worth checking carefully because some third-party fixture pages currently list 23 May. EPCR’s official Finals information and ticketing schedule confirm Saturday 22 May 2027 as the correct date.
The current ticket schedule lists the match for 3:45pm local time in Lyon, which converts to 2:45pm BST in the UK, although EPCR marks the kick-off as subject to change.
The Challenge Cup Final takes place at the same stadium one day earlier, on Friday 21 May.
How to Watch Premiership Rugby on TNT Sports
TNT Sports is the main UK home of Gallagher PREM Rugby and all matches are available through its coverage.
For 2026/27, supporters can therefore follow every regular-season fixture and the play-offs through TNT Sports rather than waiting to see which matches have been selected for television.
Seven fixtures during the season are also shown free-to-air through ITV under the extended broadcast agreement.
The Final is included in ITV’s package, giving UK viewers a free legal option for the title decider.
That split is useful to understand before buying a subscription:
| Competition | Main UK broadcaster | Free coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Gallagher PREM Rugby | TNT Sports | Seven ITV matches including Final |
| Investec Champions Cup | Premier Sports | Selected free coverage may be announced separately |
Is the Champions Cup on TNT Sports?
No. This is an easy mistake to make because TNT Sports has such a strong association with English Premiership rugby.
The main UK and Ireland broadcaster for the 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup is Premier Sports, not TNT Sports.
EPCR’s three-year agreement gives Premier Sports coverage of all 63 Champions Cup matches through the end of the 2026/27 season.
That means a fan following Bath or Northampton across both competitions may need different services.
A Premiership match involving Bath is on TNT Sports. A Bath Champions Cup fixture sits under the Premier Sports European rights package.
This broadcaster split is one of the most important things to check when planning your weekend rugby.
Why Rugby Fixture Dates Can Change
A fixture appearing in a season calendar does not always mean its exact day and kick-off time are final.
Premiership Rugby has already confirmed detailed times for the opening part of the season, but later rounds are still shown as weekend windows.
Changes can happen because of:
- TNT Sports selections
- Champions Cup scheduling
- Six Nations and other international windows
- Stadium availability
- Club recovery requirements
- Knockout competition results
This becomes particularly important from January onwards.
For example, Premiership Round 10 is scheduled for 22-24 January, but the domestic league then pauses during the Six Nations before returning in March.
European knockout rounds in April and May create another layer of scheduling pressure for clubs that remain in the Champions Cup.
The wider sports coverage can help when rugby weekends overlap with other major competitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Premiership Rugby start in 2026/27?
Gallagher PREM Rugby starts on Friday 25 September 2026. Harlequins host Bath Rugby and defending champions Northampton Saints face Newcastle Red Bulls on the opening night, with both matches scheduled for 7:45pm BST. The first round continues through Sunday 27 September.
What channel is Premiership Rugby on in the UK?
TNT Sports shows every Gallagher PREM Rugby match in the UK. ITV also has seven free-to-air live fixtures during the 2026/27 season, including the Premiership Final. The ITV agreement covers both the 2026/27 and 2027/28 seasons.
When does the Champions Cup start?
The 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup starts on Friday 16 October, with Gloucester Rugby hosting Union Bordeaux Bègles. Round 1 continues through Sunday 18 October. The competition then returns for Round 2 from 11-13 December before two further pool rounds in January.
Is the Champions Cup on TNT Sports in the UK?
No. Premier Sports is the lead UK and Ireland broadcaster for the Investec Champions Cup. Its current agreement covers all 63 matches through the end of the 2026/27 season. TNT Sports is the main broadcaster for Gallagher PREM Rugby instead.
When are the Premiership Rugby semi-finals and Final?
The Premiership semi-finals are scheduled for 11-12 June 2027. The winners advance to the Gallagher PREM Final at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on Saturday 19 June. ITV’s free-to-air agreement includes the Final as well as TNT Sports coverage.
When is the 2027 Champions Cup Final?
The Investec Champions Cup Final is on Saturday 22 May 2027 at OL Stadium in Lyon. The current EPCR ticket schedule lists a 3:45pm local start, equivalent to 2:45pm BST, but the kick-off time remains subject to change.
Rugby Fixtures UK: What to Remember
The key rugby fixtures UK fans need for 2026/27 run across two separate club calendars.
Gallagher PREM Rugby starts on 25 September, pauses for international windows, and finishes at Twickenham on 19 June. The Champions Cup starts on 16 October, runs through four pool weekends and ends in Lyon on 22 May.
The biggest viewing point is equally simple: use TNT Sports for Premiership Rugby and Premier Sports for the Champions Cup. ITV also gives UK viewers seven free Premiership matches, including the Final.
For later Premiership rounds, check the exact date and kick-off again before booking non-refundable travel, as several fixtures are still listed only by weekend window.
