Premiership Rugby have confirmed the fixtures for the new-look 2023-24 Premiership Rugby Cup, which kicks-off in September and will see Cambridge named in Pool D alongside Premiership giants Northampton Saints and Bristol Bears.
For the first time ever, the competition features Premiership Rugby teams against their Championship rivals, with Cambridge also stepping up to the plate against Cornish Pirates, Doncaster Knights and Ealing Trailfinders in the opening stages.
Following the partnership with the RFU clubs, players will have the chance to stake a claim for the start of the Gallagher Premiership Rugby and Championship seasons.The pool stage fixtures begin on the weekend of September 8-10 where Cambridge travel away to Doncaster Knights for a Friday night lights clash.
Northampton Saints meanwhile head to West London to take on Ealing Trailfinders for the first TV game of the 2023-24 season, broadcast live on TNT Sports (kick-off 1pm, Sunday, September 10).
The following four rounds will take place over consecutive weekends from September 15-17 to October 6-8. With Cambridge playing host to Cornish Pirates in round three and last year’s Championship runners up Ealing Trailfinders in round four.
The winners from each pool will progress to the semi-finals with the two highest ranked sides earning home semi-finals.
In a change, the semi-finals will now be held on the weekend of February 16-18 and the final on the weekend of March 15-17.
The Premiership Rugby Cup Final will be held at the venue of the highest ranked club in the final.
Tickets to both Cambridge’s home matches are on sale now, and with demand set to be high, fans are encouraged to secure their tickets early to avoid disappointment.
In addition, this year’s season tickets not only guarantee entry to every single home pre-season and Championship fixture but also include the Premiership Cup.
Cambridge fixtures:
Round 1: Friday 8 September @ 7:30pm – Doncaster Knights (A)
Round 2: Saturday 16 September @ 3pm – Northampton Saints (A)
Round 3: Saturday 23 September @ 3pm – Cornish Pirates (H)
Round 4: Saturday 30 September @ 3pm – Ealing Trail finders (H)
Round 5: Friday 6 October @ 7:45pm – Bristol Bears (A)
Cambridge will play host to Cornish Pirates and Ealing Trailfinders in rounds 3 and 4.
View Cambridge’s full fixture list for 2023-24 here.
Premiership Rugby Cup info
The 22 teams are split into four seeded pools – two of six teams (Pool A & Pool B), two of five teams (Pool C & Pool D) – with the seedings based on league standings at the end of the 2022-23 season*.
The teams in Pools C and D will play one cross-pool fixture alongside their own pool games.
For the competition format, pools and the full list of fixtures, please visit here.
*The Championship club seeded 11, London Scottish, and seed 12 Cambridge who were promoted from National One were swapped with Nottingham and Caldy, seeded 9 and 10. The higher seeds therefore host a home fixture against a Premiership club.
Leicester Tigers and Exeter Chiefs also swap pools for operational reasons.
Fixtures live on TNT Sports
Round 1 – Sunday 10 September @ 1pm – Ealing Trailfinders v Northampton Saints
Round 2 – Saturday 16 September @ 1pm – Bath Rugby v Jersey Reds
Round 3 – Friday 22 September @ 7.45pm – Gloucester v Harlequins
Round 4 – Sunday 1 October @ 2.30pm – Harlequins v Saracens
Round 5 – Sunday 8 October @2pm – To be picked after the first two rounds