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New PREM Rugby Cup format and fixtures revealed
By Jon Newcombe
With Championship clubs no longer taking part, the PREM Rugby Cup has a new format for the 2025/26 season.
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The 10 PREM Rugby clubs have been split into two pools of five, with home and away fixtures against teams in their pool. The top two teams from each pool will progress to the semi-finals (March 6–8), with the winners meeting in the PREM Rugby Cup Final the following week (March 13–15).
All clubs are guaranteed at least eight games, with the finalists playing 10, which is one more than last year.
Pool A is largely made up of West Country clubs – defending champions Bath, Bristol, Exeter and Gloucester, along with Sale Sharks.
As the two northern clubs, Sale and Newcastle would ordinarily be drawn together to maximise interest and reduce travel costs. However, this time around the clubs have been kept apart with Newcastle joining Harlequins, Leicester, Northampton and Saracens.
On the opening night, last season’s Cup semi-finalists Newcastle Falcons welcome Harlequins to Kingston Park – live on TNT Sports and discovery+ (19:45 KO) – and Gloucester are at home to Exeter Chiefs.
Sale Sharks take on Bristol and Leicester play Saracens the following day.
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Reigning champions Bath make their Cup return in Round 2, following a first-round bye-week, as they host Exeter Chiefs in a rematch of last season’s PREM Rugby Cup Final on Saturday, September 20 – live on TNT Sports and discovery+ (15:05 KO).
The Cup resumes in November with three rounds of pool-stage action, before returning in January with a seven-week run of fixtures leading towards the PREM Rugby Cup Final on the weekend of March 13-15.
Pool A
Bath Rugby
Bristol Bears
Gloucester Rugby
Exeter Chiefs
Sale Sharks
Pool B
Harlequins
Leicester Tigers
Newcastle Falcons
Northampton Saints
Saracens
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For all the fixtures, visit HERE:
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