Worcester kick off at Northampton

Aleki Lutui scoring for Worcester on the opening day of last season.

Worcester Warriors will start the new season at Northampton Saints, before entertaining newly promoted Leeds in their first home game.

The opening game is a repeat of last season's fixture where Warriors were beaten 21-13 at Franklins Gardens.

They have a Boxing Day home game with the Saints, before going to Gloucester for the New Year's fixture.

The return local derby against Gloucester at Sixways is on the last weekend of the season.

Dircector of rugby Mike Ruddock said: "As we found out last season, this [the opening game] is a very tough fixture for us, particularly given Northampton's home record.

A good start at home will pave the way to a far more productive start to the season and that is exactly what we are looking to do

Worcester director of rugby MIke Ruddock

"However, the pain of that defeat still haunts us and we're determined to really give a good account of ourselves on the opening weekend.

"Our first home game is against Leeds Carnegie and they will be fired up to try and put us under pressure immediately.

"A good start at home will pave the way to a far more productive start to the season and that is exactly what we are looking to do.

"As ever, there are no easy games and it's important that we try and win our home games and create a Fortress Sixways, as well as being competitive on the road.

"Last season we won a number of games away from home against top quality opposition like London Wasps, Gloucester and Sale Sharks.

"Our objective would be to win our home games and pick up some of those victories away from home like we did last year in order to give us the opportunity to be a top six, and possibly top four, team."

Worcester Warriors - 2009/20010 fixture list

4/5/6 September - Northampton Saints Away

11/12/13 September - Leeds Carnegie Home

18/19/20 September - London Wasps Away

25/26/27 September - Sale Sharks Home

2/3/4 October - Leicester Tigers Away

23/24/25 October - Harlequins Home

30/31/1 October/November - Newcastle Falcons Away

20/21/22 November - Bath Rugby Home

27/28/29 November - Saracens Home

4/5/6 December - London Irish Away

26/27 December - Northampton Saints Home