Countdown to kick-off

7 Sep 2023 | 3 min |

The revamped Premiership Rugby Cup kicks off the 2023/24 season this weekend.

Premiership Rugby clubs return to action in the Premiership Rugby Cup, featuring Championship clubs for the first time.

Full PRC Fixtures List

TNT Sports will make their rugby debut as they showcase Sunday’s blockbuster clash between the 2021/22 Championship winners Ealing Trailfinders and last season’s Gallagher Premiership Rugby semi-finalists Northampton Saints.

Premiership Rugby’s all-time top try scorer, Chris Ashton, joins the TNT Sports punditry team and is alongside Red Roses centre Emily Scarratt for the Pool D match-up in West London.

Some of the other highlight fixtures include Leicester Tigers welcoming Caldy, Ampthill hosting Newcastle Falcons, and defending champions Exeter Chiefs facing fellow Premiership side Bristol Bears in a West Country derby.

Jack Innard, Exeter Chiefs’ Premiership Rugby Cup 2022/23 winning captain, said: “We can’t wait to defend our title, and there’s no better start than a local derby at Sandy Park.

“Some club stalwarts left the club this summer which opens the door to the exciting young players who broke through in our Premiership Rugby Cup victory last season to continue their development and I can’t wait to see what they’ll do in a Chiefs jersey this year.”

The Premiership Rugby Cup has played a key role in player development since taking its current form in 2018/19 and this year comes with added intrigue with Championship clubs featuring in the competition for the first time.

Alex Codling, Newcastle Falcons head coach, said: "I think the changes they have made to the competition are great.

"Having coached in the Championship for many years I know they were always keen to get the opportunity to play against the Premiership teams, and it'll be great for us to have that challenge.”

England star Max Malins was a key figure in Saracens’ run to the 2018/19 final push with Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit another to break onto the scene in that tournament, while the 2019/20 competition saw Harlequins blood England No.8 Alex Dombrandt and centre Luke Northmore who would go on to become Gallagher Premiership Rugby champions the following season.

The Cup fixtures will take place over the next five weekends before the Gallagher Premiership returns on October 14, with one fixture live on TNT Sports each weekend including Bath Rugby hosting last season’s Championship winners Jersey Reds in week two.