2023 Premiership final brought forward to aid England’s World Cup planning

The 2023 Premiership rugby final will be held three weeks earlier than this year’s to assist England’s head coach, Eddie Jones, with preparations for the World Cup in September.

In announcing next season’s fixtures, Premiership Rugby said the final will be on 27 May, while it also confirmed that the Twickenham showpiece will be broadcast live on ITV’s main channel for the first time alongside BT Sport.

Leicester will begin their defence of the Gallagher Premiership title against Exeter at Sandy Park. Saracens, who were defeated in the final a month ago by Freddie Burns’s late drop goal, have a bye in the opening round on 9-11 September, but then kick off their domestic campaign by travelling to Harlequins.

The domestic season begins on 9 September with a Friday night West Country derby between Bristol and Bath at Ashton Gate, while Sale host Northampton. It will be the new Bath head coach Johann van Graan’s first Premiership game in charge as he sets about revitalising a team that finished bottom of the league last term.

Friday 9 September 9 – Bristol v Bath, Sale v Northampton

Saturday 10 September – Exeter v Leicester, London Irish v Worcester, Newcastle v Harlequins

Sunday 11 September – Gloucester v Wasps.

League games are scheduled on two of the three World Rugby-sanctioned autumn Test weekends in November, while Premiership action also clashes with all but one of five Six Nations weekends between early February and mid-March.

There will also be a two week gap between the Premiership playoffs and final to accommodate the Heineken Champions Cup and European Challenge Cup finals being played in Dublin on 19 and 20 May.