Premiership Rugby Shield fixtures
The Premiership Rugby Shield is the new name for what was previously known as the A-League, the second-string competition played by all 12 Premiership clubs.
The clubs are split into two conferences on a northern and southern basis, as in previous years, with the six northern clubs playing each other home and away, and the six southern clubs doing likewise.
The top two teams in each group will then progress through to the semi-finals in the week commencing May 6, with the final to be played in the week commencing May 13.
After their opener at Worcester the Falcons travel to Wasps in week two, hosting Leicester in the third round and Northampton the following week.
The competition then takes a breather until December when a three-week block of action sees Newcastle away to Sale, home to Wasps and away to Leicester, the last three games coming in April when Newcastle are home to Sale, away to Northampton and home to Worcester.
Exact dates and times will be issued in due course, but the Falcons expect to stage the majority of their home games on Monday nights with a 7pm kick-off at Kingston Park Stadium.
**NEWCASTLE FALCONS’ PREMIERSHIP RUGBY SHIELD FIXTURES (home games in capitals)**
w/c Sep 3 v Worcester
w/c Sep 10 v Wasps
W/C SEP 24 v LEICESTER
W/C OCT 1 v NORTHAMPTON
w/c Dec 17 v Sale
W/C DEC 24 v WASPS
w/c Dec 31 v Leicester
W/C APR 1 v SALE
w/c Apr 8 v Northampton
W/C APR 22 v WORCESTER
