Leicester first up for Welsh
Harlequins will start the defence of their title against Wasps
Last Updated: July 5, 2012 5:20pm
Home opener: London Welsh
Sky Bet
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Newly-promoted London Welsh will open their Aviva Premiership debut season at home to Leicester Tigers.
More good news for the Championship winners comes with confirmation that their opening match will be screened live on Sky Sports.
Oxford's Kassam Stadium - Welsh's home ground for the season - will host the game and a week later they face champions Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop.
Director of rugby Lyn Jones said: "It doesn't get much tougher than Leicester for our first game.
"They've been the most successful club in English rugby over the last 10 years and would give us a tough game with a second team.
"We're not dull, we know we must win five or six games to be here next season."
Harlequins open the defence of their first Premiership title against Wasps in the traditional double-header at Twickenham.
Harlequins will start the defence of their title at Twickenham Stadium in the London Double Header, on Saturday, September 1, against London Wasps, the showpiece occasion being completed with Saracens against London Irish.
Sale will travel to Exeter in Round One, allowing the Sharks to showcase their new ground, the Salford City Stadium, with the arrival of 2011 Aviva Premiership champions Saracens a week later.
Completing the first round, Nigel Davies' first game in charge of Gloucester will be at home to Northampton, while Bath's new boss, Gary Gold, will make the short journey to face Worcester.
Round One:
Dates to be confirmed:
Exeter v Sale
Gloucester v Northampton
Worcester v Bath
September 1:
London Wasps v Harlequins, 2pm
Saracens v London Irish, 4.30
September 2:
London Welsh v Leicester, 3pm
Round Two: (Sept 7-9)
Bath v London Wasps
Harlequins v London Welsh
Leicester v Worcester
London Irish v Gloucester
Northampton v Exeter
Sale v Saracens
Round Three (Sept 14-16)
Bath v Northampton
London Welsh v Exeter Chiefs
Harlequins v Sale
London Wasps v London Irish
Saracens v Leicester Tigers
Worcester Warriors v Gloucester
