Worcester to move first home game

Worcester Warriors will kick off the new Guinness Premiership home season with a Friday night game.

They take on Leeds on 11 September at 2000 BST and face Northampton Saints at Sixways on Boxing Day.

General manager Charlie Little said: "It's important that we make Sixways a very difficult place to come.

"Getting good crowds early in the season is crucial. We remain committed to playing most of our games on Saturday afternoon at 1500."

"The visit of Bath will be one exception and kicks off at 1230 to avoid a clash with the England's autumn international against New Zealand.

We have looked to get a few Friday night games into our home schedule, so we can also encourage a different audience to come and enjoy watching the Warriors

General manager Charlie Little

"We will now play early and then encourage fans to stay on and watch the England game in all the bars and with our players to make it a real rugby packed day.

"We have looked to get a few Friday night games into our home schedule, so we can also encourage a different audience to come and enjoy watching the Warriors.

"This also gives a large number of rugby players and enthusiasts, who have other sporting commitments on a Saturday, the chance to watch us.

"The home fixture list is now really taking shape, and we expect to discover the European Challenge Cup and Anglo-Welsh fixtures about by the middle to end of July."