New boys Bristol land Twickenham visit in first fixture of 2016/17 Premiership season
BRISTOL know they are back in the big time after being handed a Twickenham date to mark their return to the Premiership.
Andy Robinson’s promoted side will take on Harlequins in one half of the London double header on Saturday, September 3 after champions Saracens take on Worcester.
Beaten finalists Exeter, whose England trio of Jack Nowell, Henry Slade and Luke Cowan-Dickie all signed three-year contracts yesterday, face Wasps the following day.
The Premiership final will be staged on May 27 – just seven days before the British and Irish Lions play their first match on the tour to New Zealand.
Aviva Premiership first round fixtures: Fri, Sept 2: Gloucester v Leicester, Newcastle v Sale. Sat, Sept 3: Saracens v Worcester, Northampton v Bath. Sun, Sept 3: Wasps v Exeter.