Bristol Bears' rescheduled 2022/23 Gallagher…

Bristol Bears' rescheduled 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership fixtures confirmed

The Gallagher Premiership fixtures for the second half of the 2022/23 season have been officially amended, it has been confirmed today

With Wasps and Worcester Warriors no longer taking part in the competition following the two clubs going into administration, a league-wide decision was made to ensure better spacing of home games for clubs, Premiership Rugby Cup matches are on weekends and there are appropriate rest weekends for players.

Premiership Rugby has today announced a revised Gallagher Premiership Rugby and Premiership Rugby Cup fixture list for the second half of the season, which starts with the New Year matches in Round 14.

The new fixture list guarantees five matches each round, with one team having a bye each weekend.

The Bears have still lost their big New Years fixture with working still going on behind the scenes to find a suitable opponent.

The significant changes include:

Gallagher Premiership Rugby 2022-23 reduced from 26 rounds to 24
A rest weekend for all players, coaches, and staff in February
The Premiership Rugby Cup semi-finals are moved to the weekend of 10-12 February
The Premiership Rugby Cup Final is moved to the weekend of 17-19 March
The season will end as planned with the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final on Saturday 27 May, live on ITV and BT Sport

Simon Massie-Taylor, Premiership Rugby’s Chief Executive said: "Restructuring the fixture list has allowed us to create a better narrative in the second half of the season, ensuring five Gallagher Premiership Rugby matches are played on each weekend.

“The new list also reduces the number of bye weeks for teams and the stop/start challenge for some clubs created by the unfortunate issues at Wasps and Worcester Warriors. I am aware that this has created some real challenges for some of our clubs but I’d like to thank them for agreeing to these changes.

"It is a compelling fixture list with big matches every weekend starting with the New Year games which includes a re-run of the unforgettable 2019 Final, between Saracens and Exeter Chiefs, which is of course live on BT Sport.

"The Premiership Rugby Cup will be moved into the weekends reducing the number of midweek games and the pressure this creates for players, coaches, and staff.

"We would also like to thank our broadcast partners, BT Sport and ITV, who have allowed us to give certainty to our fans with all Gallagher Premiership Rugby matches now confirmed until the middle of February.”