Falcons opener in 2003/04

By Jason Harris
April 4 2003

Saracens are scheduled to kick off the 2003/04 season with a trip to Kingston Park to face Newcastle Falcons, according to a provisional fixture list published by Premier Rugby. The new season will start on 13 September and end with the Premiership final on 29 May 2004.

Premier Rugby has decided in conjunction with the clubs that top flight club rugby will continue alongside this coming autumn's World Cup and, unlike during the 1999 RWC tournament, the number of points awarded for wins will not be changed. The current points system of four for a win, two for a draw, one for a loss plus the existing bonus point scheme will remain intact.

Each club will play the others once in the opening 11 rounds, some of which will coincide with the big tournament in Australia. The remaining 11 will take place after the new World Champions are crowned in Sydney on 22 November.

Premier Rugby CEO Howard Thomas said in an official press release that a unanimous agreement had been reached over staging Zurich games when RWC 2003 takes place.

"Both the Premier Rugby and England Rugby Boards voted to play the Zurich Premiership during the Rugby World Cup. There will be massive interest in rugby during this period and Premiership rugby will be the only outlet for people to experience live, thrilling professional rugby union in this country, and we anticipate continued growth of the club game during this time."

Thomas continued by saying that the first half of the season will give younger players the opportunities to prove themselves at the highest club level in England and present their coaches with challenges about which team to play in the absence of ther international stars.

With European Rugby Cup Ltd confirming next season's European shedule some weeks before this announcement, the way is mapped out for everyone as far as the new season is concerned.

Premier Rugby concluded by stressing that relegation will take place at the end of the current season with the bottom-placed Zurich Premiership side making way for the champions of National League One.

Saracens Provisional Fixture List - Season 2003/4 (Zurich Premiership unless otherwise stated)

SUNDAY 14/09/03 2.30PM
NEWCASTLE AWAY

SUNDAY 21/09/03 3PM
LEICESTER TIGERS HOME

SATURDAY 27/09/03 3PM
GLOUCESTER AWAY

SUNDAY 5/10/03 3PM
NEC HARLEQUINS HOME

FRIDAY 10/10/03 7.30PM
LEEDS TYKES AWAY

TUESDAY 14/10/03 7.30PM
NORTHAMPTON HOME

SATURDAY 18/10/03 2.15PM
BATH AWAY

SUNDAY 26/10/03 3PM
LONDON WASPS HOME

SUNDAY 02/11/03 3PM
BRISTOL SHOGUNS
AWAY

SUNDAY 09/11/03 3PM
LONDON IRISH HOME

SAT/SUN 15/11/03
ROUND 6 POWERGEN CUP

FRIDAY 21/11/03 7.45PM
SALE SHARKS AWAY

SATURDAY 22/11/03
WORLD CUP FINAL

SUNDAY 30/11/03 3PM
BRISTOL SHOGUNS HOME

SAT/SUN 06/12/03
ROUND 1 EUROPE

SAT/SUN 13/12/03
ROUND 2 EUROPE

SUNDAY 21/12/03 3PM
LONDON WASPS AWAY

SUNDAY 28/12/03 3PM
BATH HOME

WEDNESDAY 31/12/03 3PM
NORTHAMPTON AWAY

SUNDAY 04/01/04 3PM
LEEDS TYKES HOME

SAT/SUN 10/01/04
ROUND 3 EUROPE

SAT/SUN 17/01/04
ROUND 4 EUROPE

SAT/SUN 24/01/04
ROUND 5 EUROPE

SAT/SUN 31/01/04
ROUND 6 EUROPE

SATURDAY 07/02/04 3PM
NEC HARLEQUINS AWAY

SATURDAY 14/02/04
SIX NATIONS

SATURDAY 21/02/04
SIX NATIONS

SAT/SUN 28/02/04
QUARTER FINAL POWERGEN

SATURDAY 06/03/04
SIX NATIONS

SAT/SUN 13/03/04
SEMI FINAL POWERGEN

SATURDAY 20/03/04
SIX NATIONS

SATURDAY 27/03/04
SIX NATIONS

SUNDAY 04/04/04 3PM
GLOUCESTER HOME

SAT/SUN 10/04/04
QUARTER FINAL EUROPE

SATURDAY 17/04/04 3PM
LEICESTER AWAY

SATURDAY 17/04/04
FINAL POWERGEN

SAT/SUN 24/04/04
SEMI FINAL EUROPE

SUNDAY 25/04/04 3PM
NEWCASTLE FALCONS HOME

SUNDAY 02/05/04 3PM
SALE SHARKS HOME

SUNDAY 09/05/04 3PM
LONDON IRISH AWAY

SATURDAY 15/05/04
ZP SEMI FINAL PLAY OFF

SATURDAY 15/05/04
WILDCARD SEMI FINAL PLAY OFF

SATURDAY 22/05/03
FINAL EUROPE

SATURDAY 29/05/04
ZP FINAL PLAY OFF

SATURDAY 29/05/04
WILDCARD FINAL PLAY OFF

N.B: Draft fixture list is subject to change upon publication of the Football League fixture list and all games are subject to change dependening on television coverage.