Newcastle Falcons will kick off the 2017-18 Aviva Premiership Rugby season at home to Worcester Warriors on Friday September 1, with fixtures for the league campaign having been announced.
All games up to and including the Round 10 visit to Northampton Saints are confirmed with the correct dates and times – BT Sport having already chosen their live televised encounters for that block. All subsequent matches are subject to change for TV, while the European Challenge Cup and Anglo-Welsh Cup fixtures are yet to be announced.
Interest in the Falcons is at its highest level in recent years on the back of their best league finish in 11 seasons and a number of top-class acquisitions, including three-time French title winner Maxime Mermoz, Canada’s record try-scorer DTH van der Merwe and returning fly-half Toby Flood.
Two months out from the league kick-off the club have already sold more season ticket memberships than they had sold by the start of last season – a campaign which saw their average league crowds up 10% on the previous year.
Director of rugby Dean Richards is enthusiastic about his side’s prospects for 2017-18, saying: “We are looking to build on the considerable momentum we generated last season and believe we are in good shape to do that.
“We are playing an ambitious, attacking style of rugby which people enjoy watching, and we have added further proven quality to a squad which already has plenty of talent.
“In terms of the fixtures it is always the case that you have to play everyone twice, but it is nice to start with a home match and it’s great for us and our supporters to be able to start planning our Aviva Premiership season.”
Managing director Mick Hogan said: “Fixture announcement day is always an exciting time of year for the club – especially so this season with the squad we have put together and the way our supporters are responding.
“Season ticket membership sales are going well, there is a huge amount of confidence around the club and it is great now to be able to put some meat on the bones in terms of announcing our Aviva Premiership dates.
“We are conscious that the fixtures we have announced so far do not include a large number of Sunday afternoon games, and we wish to reassure supporters that with the European Challenge Cup and Anglo-Welsh dates still to come there will be ample scope for more Sundays.
“Team performance has to come first, and as well as television considerations we are also clear in the fact we do not wish to give the team a five-day turnaround between Aviva Premiership games. That has meant a number of matches being moved away from the Sunday slot, but we hope to add more Sundays into the mix once our cup games are announced.”
Adult season ticket memberships start from just £198 standing and £339 seating, the package including 10 Aviva Premiership home games, all three European Challenge Cup group home games, both Anglo-Welsh Cup group home games and all three home pre-season friendlies. Under-11s season ticket memberships are free of charge (up to two per paying adult), with this offer extended to under-15s for those children registered with an RFU-affiliated club.
To book your season ticket membership call 0871 226 6060.
NEWCASTLE FALCONS’ 2017-18 FIXTURES (Home games in capitals)
Key:
PREM = Aviva Premiership Rugby
ECC = European Challenge Cup
AW = Anglo-Welsh Cup
F = Friendly
JULY
Fri 28/Sat 29: Singha 7s (Northampton)
AUGUST
F – SAT AUG 12: v NOTTINGHAM (2pm)
F – SAT AUG 12: v DONCASTER KNIGHTS (4.30pm)
F – SAT AUG 19: v ROTHERHAM TITANS (4.30pm)
SEPTEMBER
PREM – FRI SEP 1: v WORCESTER WARRIORS (19:45)
Prem – Fri Sep 8: v Sale Sharks (19:45, live on BT Sport)
PREM – SAT SEP 16: v SARACENS (Philadelphia, 21:30 UK, 16:30 local, live on BT Sport)
Prem – Sat Sep 23: v Bath (15:00)
PREM – FRI SEP 29 v LONDON IRISH (19:45, live on BT Sport)
OCTOBER
Prem – Sat Oct 7: v Exeter Chiefs (15:00)
ECC – Oct 12/13/14/15: Games TBC
ECC – Oct 19/20/21/22: Games TBC
PREM – SUN OCT 29: v LEICESTER TIGERS (15:00)
NOVEMBER
AW – Nov 3/4/5: Games TBC
AW – Nov 10/11/12: Games TBC
Prem – Sat Nov 18: v Wasps (16:30)
PREM – FRI NOV 24: v GLOUCESTER RUGBY (19:45)
DECEMBER
Prem – Fri Dec 1: v Northampton Saints (19:45, live on BT Sport)
ECC – Dec 7/8/9/10: Games TBC
ECC – Dec 14/15/16/17: Games TBC
PREM – SAT DEC 23: v HARLEQUINS (15:00)
Prem – Dec 29/30/31 v London Irish
JANUARY
PREM – SUN JAN 7: v EXETER CHIEFS (15:00)
ECC – Jan 11/12/13/14: Games TBC
ECC – Jan 18/19/20/21: Games TBC
AW – Jan 26/27/28: Games TBC
FEBRUARY
AW – Feb 2/3/4: Games TBC
Prem – Feb 9/10/11: v Saracens
PREM – FRI FEB 16: v BATH RUGBY (19:45)
Prem – Feb 23/24/25 v Harlequins
MARCH
Prem – Mar 2/3/4: v Gloucester Rugby
AW – Mar 9/10/11: Semi-final
AW – Mar 16/17/18: Final
PREM – SAT MAR 24: v NORTHAMPTON SAINTS (15:00)
ECC – Mar 29/30/31/Apr1: Games TBC
APRIL
Prem – April 6/7/8: v Worcester Warriors
PREM – SUN APR 15: v SALE SHARKS (15:00)
ECC – Apr 19/20/21/22: Semi-finals
Prem – Apr 27/28/29: v Leicester Tigers
MAY
PREM – SAT MAY 5: v WASPS (kick-off time TBC)
ECC – May 10/11/12/13: Final
Prem – May 18/19/20: Semi-final
Prem – May 25/26/27: Final