Round 1 Team News

8 Sep 2023 | 3 min |

Take a look at how the sides line up ahead of the opening round of the Premiership Rugby Cup.

The wait is finally over, the new-look Premiership Rugby Cup is upon us - featuring all 12 Championship clubs for the first time in the competition's history - and it all starts tonight with simultaneous kick offs at The Mennaye and Castle Park.

PREMIERSHIP VS CHAMPIONSHIP

With so many eye-catching fixtures this weekend, including eight Premiership vs Championship match-ups, it's hard to know where to start. Last season’s giant-killers, Caldy, head to Mattioli Woods Welford Road to take on a strong-looking Leicester Tigers outfit, while Coventry will be looking to take their fine form from last season into their heavyweight clash against Saracens at Butts Park Arena. The weekend's televised fixture sees Northampton Saints head to West London to take on Ealing Trailfinders, live on TNT Sports.

COMPETITION FORMAT

Just in case you need a reminder of how the PRC works...

The group stages take place over consecutive weekends up until October 6-8.
The winners from each pool will progress to the semi-finals with the two highest ranked sides earning home semi-finals.
In a change, the semi-finals will now be held on the weekend of February 16-18 and the final on the weekend of March 15-17.
The Premiership Rugby Cup Final will be held at the venue of the highest ranked club in the final.