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Premiership Rugby unveils new season's programme

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Premiership Rugby today confirmed that reigning champions Leicester Tigers will start the defence of their title at home to Dean Ryan's Worcester Warriors, live on BT Sport.

The Tigers who claimed their historic 10th Aviva Premiership Rugby title in May, face the Warriors on Sunday 8 September, kicking off at 2pm.

The Tigers move from their Welford Road home in round two to face one of their oldest rivals in Bath, a match which celebrates the 100th anniversary of games between the two sides. The first match was on September 13, 1913.

The opening weekend of the Aviva Premiership Rugby season will kick off on Friday September 6 when newly-promoted Newcastle Falcons have the honour of opening the new campaign with a match against Bath in the first match to feature live on BT Sport.

The Saturday of the first weekend will feature the traditional London Double Header which sees London Irish kick off against Saracens (2pm), followed by London Wasps against Harlequins (4.30pm), both live on BT Sport.

To complete the opening weekend, Northampton Saints entertain Exeter Chiefs while Sale Sharks go to Gloucester Rugby.

“Every year the anticipation over the new fixtures grows and looking at the 2013-14 season it is clear we have huge matches every weekend,” said Phil Winstanley the rugby director at Premiership Rugby.

“Matches in Aviva Premiership Rugby get more compelling and competitive every year and last season we again had a smaller average winning margin (a slim 11 points) in our games than in any other league in the world.

“We’ve had three different Aviva Premiership champions in the last three years and last May we had a new club (Northampton Saints) in the Aviva Premiership Rugby Final.”

This season there will be two Aviva Premiership Rugby matches at Twickenham in addition to the London Double Header and the Final as well as one at Wembley.

Harlequins face Exeter Chiefs on December 28 and London Wasps entertain Gloucester Rugby on April 19 at Twickenham, while Saracens play their match with Harlequins on March 22 at Wembley.

Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said: “BT Sport is the new home of club rugby and we’ll be broadcasting 69 live and exclusive Aviva Premiership Rugby games across the season. Friday night coverage will be anchored live from the grounds with games broadcast live on a Saturday and Sunday from the BT Sport Studio.

“We have a fantastic rugby team in place. Hosted by Craig Doyle, commentary will be provided by Nick Mullins and Alastair Eykyn who will be joined by BT Sport rugby experts Lawrence Dallaglio, Ben Kay, Matt Dawson and Austin Healey. Reporting duties fall to Sarra Elgan and Martin Bayfield.

“I’m also delighted to announce a new Wednesday night show, Rugby Tonight, which will be hosted by Matt Dawson, Craig Doyle, Martin Bayfield and Sarra Elgan, which will offer a mixture of rugby analysis, debate and lively entertainment.”

Heather Smith, UKDI & Ireland marketing director at Aviva, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring our fourth season of Aviva Premiership Rugby.

“To see three different winners in the last three years has been fantastic and shows just how competitive the Aviva Premiership has become. We are happy to be extending our partnership with the sport through to 2017. Good luck to all the teams involved in the coming season.”