Fixture Changes during the Six Nations


By The Prof
August 5 2003

Premier Rugby today confirmed that three rounds of the Zurich Premiership will be played through the Six Nations period this coming 2003/04 season.

This opportunity has arisen following the decision by the Six Nations participants to withdraw from playing a full set of 'A' internationals during the Six Nations. The Zurich Premiership rounds will take place on the three weekends that England play away (w/e 14th February, 21st February and 27th March). The change further improves regular home and away rugby for the clubs, supporters and players and ensures greater continuity for the Zurich Premiership.

In a recent survey of Premiership rugby fans, conducted by the University of Leicester, the lack of season structure was identified as a major concern and area of dissatisfaction amongst the supporters. Several Premiership clubs were without a home match for up to ten weeks last season as a result of the break in campaign and the Premiership clubs welcome the decision to continue with the Premiership campaign throughout February and March.

Howard Thomas, Chief Executive of Premier Rugby, the umbrella organization responsible for the 12 Zurich Premiership clubs, explained the decision, "We have been working hard to resolve the current season structure issues for some time and are pleased to be able to provide supporters with a more consistent Premiership programme next season. This structure will be trialed this coming season and has been agreed by the Premiership clubs and is fully supported by our commercial partners.

"Mid-week games have never been an ideal solution for players or supporters. By playing through the Six Nations we are able to reschedule the mid-week games ensuring all the players have at least a week's recovery between each match. It also means that there will not be any Premiership games on the same weekend as the European semi finals which reduces the likelihood of having to further rearrange fixtures. We were reluctant to change a fixture list which has already been issued but feel this was an excellent opportunity to improve the Rugby World Cup season for the benefit of the Premiership.

"This is a new move for us but the decision was made having considered the success of playing through the Autumn Internationals. During this period there seems to be no negative effect on attendance or support for the club game and we are confident that the Premiership games played during the Six Nations period will be as equally supported as those played during the Autumn Internationals."

The fixtures previously scheduled for:

Matches will not be played at the same time as the England Six Nations matches

New Quins Fixtures

14-Feb Leicester Tigers v NEC Harlequins tbc

21-Feb London Wasps v NEC Harlequins tbc

26-Mar NEC Harlequins Leicester Tigers tbc