These Are The 5 Most Anticipated PREM Rugby Matches Of 2025-26

What started as a humble national league of England’s top rugby unions has now evolved into a can’t miss phenomenon. 

The 39th season of the Gallagher PREM, newly sporting the rebrand from The Premiership, kicks off Sept. 25 and concludes June 20, providing nine long months of hearty entertainment. Last season ended with Bath Rugby on top, and this season comes with its own set of anticipation.

Here are 5 PREM matches you can’t miss.

1. Sale Sharks vs. Gloucester – Thursday, Sept. 25, 2:45 p.m. ET

The season opener represents the emergence of a new campaign but also the beginning of Gallagher PREM’s fresh era. With a new name, a new logo and a new Thursday commencement, instead of the traditional Friday, the season can’t wait to get started. Game play will set the tone for the upcoming season. Fans will show out for their first taste of rugby since last season. 

2. Derby Weekend – Friday-Sunday, Oct. 10-12

Derby Weekend brings a host of historical rivalries including the Leicester Tigers vs. Northampton (Saturday, Oct. 11, 10:05 a.m. ET), Bath vs Gloucester (Sunday, Oct. 11, 12:30 p.m. ET) and Harlequins vs. Saracens (Sunday, Oct. 12, 10:00 a.m. ET). These matches are not only vital to the fanfare, but they prove rugby is more than sport. It’s also about history and passion. A win at this juncture can fuel a team’s play entering later rounds. Conversely, a loss may wound confidence that is hard to recover.

3. Harlequins vs. Bristol Bears – Saturday, Dec. 20, 1:00 p.m. ET

Positioned around the holidays, fans will be looking for the ultimate holiday gift, a win for their team. Harlequins and Bristol Bears may not have a geographical rivalry, but they both utilize high risk high reward play, making them a rowdy match up. This game could be one of the most physical and entertaining of the season.

4. Gloucester vs Leicester – Saturday, March 28, TBD

Beginning in 2022, The Slater Cup is a match played between Gloucester and Leicester. The cup is named after lock player Ed Slater, who previously played for both teams. Slater retired in 2022 after he announced his Motor Neurone Disease (MND) diagnosis. The match brings two deeply fervent clubs together to spotlight the fight against MND each season.

5. Bath vs Leicester – Saturday, June 6,TBD

This final round match mirrors the 2024/25 championship game. Both Bath and Leicester have had periods of dominating English rugby. After last year’s close score 23-21, ultimately leading to Bath’s victory, this game will reignite competition and potentially affect top 4 positions or title race.

PREM Rugby 2025-26 Full Fixtures 

Here’s the full schedule. 

Round 1Sept. 25, 2:45 p.m. ET – Sale Sharks vs. Gloucester Rugby, Salford StadiumSept. 26, 2:45 p.m. ET – Harlequins vs. Bath Rugby, Twickenham StoopSept. 26, 2:45 p.m. ET – Newcastle Red Bulls vs. Saracens, Kingston ParkSept. 28, 8:00 a.m. ET – Northampton Saints vs. Exeter Chiefs, Franklin’s GardensSept. 28, 10:30 a.m. ET – Bristol Bears vs. Leicester Tigers, Ashton GateRound 2 Oct. 3, 2:45 p.m. ET – Bath Rugby vs. Sale Sharks, The RecOct. 4, 10:00 a.m. ET – Exeter Chiefs vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, Sandy ParkOct. 4, 10:05 a.m. ET – Leicester Tigers vs. Harlequins, Welford RoadOct. 4, 12:30 p.m. ET – Saracens vs. Bristol Bears, StoneX StadiumOct. 5, 10:00 a.m. ET – Gloucester Rugby vs. Northampton Saints, KingsholmRound 3 Oct. 10, 2:45 p.m. ET – Sale Sharks vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, Salford StadiumOct. 11, 10:00 a.m. ET – Bristol Bears vs. Exeter Chiefs, Ashton GateOct. 11, 10:05 a.m. ET – Northampton Saints vs. Leicester Tigers, Franklin’s GardensOct. 11, 12:30 p.m. ET – Bath Rugby vs. Gloucester Rugby, The RecOct. 12, 10:00 a.m. ET – Harlequins vs. Saracens, Twickenham StoopRound 4 Oct. 17, 2:45 p.m. ET – Gloucester Rugby vs. Bristol Bears, KingsholmOct. 17, 2:45 p.m. ET – Newcastle Red Bulls vs. Northampton Saints, Kingston ParkOct. 18, 10:05 a.m. ET – Leicester Tigers vs. Bath Rugby, Welford RoadOct. 18, 12:30 p.m. ET – Saracens vs. Sale Sharks, StoneX StadiumOct. 19, 10:00 a.m. ET – Exeter Chiefs vs. Harlequins, Sandy ParkRound 5 Oct. 24, 2:45 p.m. ET – Northampton Saints vs. Saracens, Franklin’s GardensOct. 25, 10:00 a.m. ET – Exeter Chiefs vs. Gloucester Rugby, Sandy ParkOct. 25, 10:00 a.m. ET – Harlequins vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, Twickenham StoopOct. 25, 10:05 a.m. ET – Bath Rugby vs. Bristol Bears, The RecOct. 25, 12:30 p.m. ET – Leicester Tigers vs. Sale Sharks, Welford RoadRound 6Nov. 28, 2:45 p.m. ET – Newcastle Red Bulls vs. Leicester Tigers, Kingston ParkNov. 28, 2:45 p.m. ET – Sale Sharks vs. Exeter Chiefs, Salford StadiumNov. 29, 10:00 a.m. ET – Gloucester Rugby vs. Harlequins, KingsholmNov. 29, 12:45 p.m. ET – Bristol Bears vs. Northampton Saints, Ashton GateNov. 30, 10:00 a.m. ET – Saracens vs. Bath Rugby, StoneX StadiumRound 7 Dec. 19, 2:45 p.m. ET – Leicester Tigers vs. Gloucester Rugby, Welford RoadDec. 20, 10:00 a.m. ET – Northampton Saints vs. Sale Sharks, Franklin’s GardensDec. 20, 10:00 a.m. ET – Saracens vs. Exeter Chiefs, StoneX StadiumDec. 20, 1:00 p.m. ET – Harlequins vs. Bristol Bears, Twickenham StadiumDec. 21, 10:00 a.m. ET – Newcastle Red Bulls vs. Bath Rugby, Kingston ParkRound 8 Dec. 26, 12:30 p.m. ET – Sale Sharks vs. Harlequins, Salford StadiumDec. 27, 10:00 a.m. ET – Bristol Bears vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, Ashton GateDec. 27, 10:05 a.m. ET – Gloucester Rugby vs. Saracens, KingsholmDec. 27, 12:30 p.m. ET – Bath Rugby vs. Northampton Saints, The RecDec. 28, 10:00 a.m. ET – Exeter Chiefs vs. Leicester Tigers, Sandy ParkRound 9 Jan. 2, 2:45 p.m. ET – Bristol Bears vs. Sale Sharks, Ashton GateJan. 2, 2:45 p.m. ET – Newcastle Red Bulls vs. Gloucester Rugby, Kingston ParkJan. 3, 10:05 a.m. ET – Bath Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs, The RecJan. 3, 12:30 p.m. ET – Northampton Saints vs. Harlequins, Franklin’s GardensJan. 4, 10:00 a.m. ET – Leicester Tigers vs. Saracens, Welford RoadRound 10 Exeter Chiefs vs. Bristol Bears, Sandy ParkGloucester Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, KingsholmHarlequins vs. Leicester Tigers, Twickenham StoopSale Sharks vs. Northampton Saints, Salford StadiumSaracens vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, StoneX StadiumRound 11 Bath Rugby vs. Saracens, The RecExeter Chiefs vs. Sale Sharks, Sandy ParkHarlequins vs. Gloucester Rugby, Twickenham StoopLeicester Tigers vs. Bristol Bears, Welford RoadNorthampton Saints vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, Franklin’s GardensRound 12 Bristol Bears vs. Harlequins, Principality StadiumGloucester Rugby vs. Leicester Tigers, KingsholmNewcastle Red Bulls vs. Exeter Chiefs, Kingston ParkSale Sharks vs. Bath Rugby, Salford StadiumSaracens vs. Northampton Saints, Tottenham Hotspur StadiumRound 13 Bath Rugby vs. Harlequins, The RecBristol Bears vs. Gloucester Rugby, Ashton GateExeter Chiefs vs. Northampton Saints, Sandy ParkSale Sharks vs. Saracens, Salford StadiumLeicester Tigers vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, Welford RoadRound 14 Gloucester Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs, KingsholmHarlequins vs. Sale Sharks, Twickenham StoopNewcastle Red Bulls vs. Bristol Bears, Kingston ParkNorthampton Saints vs. Bath Rugby, Franklin’s GardensSaracens vs. Leicester Tigers, StoneX StadiumRound 15 Bristol Bears vs. Saracens, Ashton GateExeter Chiefs vs. Bath Rugby, Sandy ParkGloucester Rugby vs. Sale Sharks, KingsholmLeicester Tigers vs. Northampton Saints, Welford RoadNewcastle Red Bulls vs. Harlequins, Kingston ParkRound 16 Bath Rugby vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, The RecHarlequins vs. Exeter Chiefs, Twickenham StadiumNorthampton Saints vs. Bristol Bears, Franklin’s GardensSale Sharks vs. Leicester Tigers, Salford StadiumSaracens vs. Gloucester Rugby, StoneX StadiumRound 17 Bristol Bears vs. Bath Rugby, Ashton GateLeicester Tigers vs. Exeter Chiefs, Welford RoadNewcastle Red Bulls vs. Sale Sharks, Kingston ParkNorthampton Saints vs. Gloucester Rugby, Franklin’s GardensSaracens vs. Harlequins, StoneX StadiumRound 18 Bath Rugby vs. Leicester Tigers, The RecExeter Chiefs vs. Saracens, Sandy ParkGloucester Rugby vs. Newcastle Red Bulls, KingsholmHarlequins vs. Northampton Saints, Twickenham StoopSale Sharks vs. Bristol Bears, Salford StadiumHow To Watch PREM Rugby Information

All PREM Rugby matches stream live and on demand in the United States on FloRugby and the FloSports app. Fans can watch on smart TVs, mobile devices, and tablets, with replays, highlights, and expert analysis available all season.

From the opening kickoff in September to the final round in June, FloRugby is the home for American fans to follow every moment of the 2025-26 PREM Rugby season.

How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby

Professional club rugby in Europe all streams on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to: 

FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays. 

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