Twickenham date
Bath to play Bristol at home of rugby
Bath Rugby will play Bristol Bears at Twickenham next season.
The club have decided to take one of their home fixtures away from the Rec for the third campaign running, but this time The Clash will be against West Country rivals, rather than Leicester Tigers.
The derby, which is likely to be played in front of 60,000 plus, will take place on Saturday, April 6, with the kick-off time to be confirmed.
Bath and Bristol have not played against each other at the national stadium since the John Player Cup final of 1984. That day, Stuart Barnes missed a penalty for Bristol; meaning Bath won 10-9 to kick-start a run of four domestic cups in a row and ten in 13 seasons.
The two old foes also face each other on the opening day of the 2018/19 Premiership. Their clash at Ashton Gate on Friday, August 31 at 7.45pm, will be the curtain-raiser to the new season.
Long-time Premiership title sponsors Aviva have been replaced by US insurance company Gallagher, meaning a name change for the new campaign.
Bath also have Gloucester early in the fixture list. They will host the Cherry and Whites in Round 2 on September 8.
Harlequins away, Northampton Saints at home and champions Saracens away round off the first five rounds of action before Exeter Chiefs come to the Rec.
Director of rugby Todd Blackadder said: “I don’t think you could have asked for a more exciting start to the Gallagher Premiership season.
“The derbies against Bristol and Gloucester are always the ones that players and supporters look out for when the fixtures are released, so there’s going to be a lot riding on the first few games.
“To also play a local derby at Twickenham is a really exciting opportunity for everyone associated with the two clubs and I’m looking forward to seeing the stadium awash with blue, black and white once again.”
Bristol head coach Pat Lam played with Blackadder for the All Blacks 7s team in the early 90s and was coaching at Auckland Blues when Blackadder was in charge of Canterbury Crusaders in Super Rugby.
The man who led the newlynamed Bears to the Championship title and promotion last season said: “To open the season against Bath – and to come up against Todd, a man I know and respect a huge amount – is really exciting and a major boost for our supporters too. We have no doubt they will fill Ashton Gate and create an incredible atmosphere.”
Next season’s Premiership playoffs will be played on May 24 and 25, with the final at Twickenham on Saturday, June 1. The first nine rounds of matches are set in stone, with the rest to be confirmed.