London Irish’s return to the Championship will begin away at Ealing Trailfinders.
The Exiles are targeting promotion back to the Premiership at the first time of asking under Declan Kidney and will begin their campaign against reigning British and Irish Cup holders Ealing at Vallis Way on September 1.
The first home game of the campaign is against Nottingham a week later at Madejski Stadium while other big games to look out for are the annual St. Patrick’s Party, which will be against Doncaster Knights on March 23, while Ealing at home rounds off the league season on April 27.
Unlike the last time Irish were in the Championship, there are no end of season play-offs to worry about with finishing top now guaranteeing promotion.
The fixtures for the newly rebranded Championship Cup have also been announced with Irish in a group alongside Hartpury College, Cornish Pirates and Bedford Blues.
Full London Irish fixture list (league fixtures unless stated):
September:
Sat 1: Ealing Trailfinders (a)
Sat 8: Nottingham (h)
Sun 23: Bedford Blues (h)
Sat 29: Coventry (a)
October:
Sat 6: London Scottish (a)
Sat 13: Yorkshire Carnegie (h)
Sat 20: Doncaster Knights (a)
Sat 27: Cornish Pirates (h)
November:
Sat 10: Hartpury College (a) (Cup)
Sun 18: Cornish Pirates (h) (Cup)
Sun 25: Bedford Blues (h) (Cup)
December:
Sat 1: Bedford Blues (a) (Cup)
Sun 9: Hartpury College (h) (Cup)
Sat 15: Cornish Pirates (a) (Cup)
Sat 29: Hartpury College (a)
January:
Sun 13: Richmond (h)
Sat 19: Nottingham (a)
Sun 27: Jersey Reds (h)
February:
Sat 9: Bedford Blues (a)
Sat 16: Coventry (h)
March:
Sat 2: London Scottish (h)
Sat 9: Yorkshire Carnegie (a)
Sat 23: Doncaster Knights (h)
Sat 30: Cornish Pirates (a)
April:
Sun 14: Hartpury College (h)
Sat 20: Richmond (a)
Sat 27: Ealing Trailfinders (h)
Exact dates for away fixtures still TBC, as is the trip to Jersey Reds which is still unscheduled.
Reading FC fixtures were also released this week. See their list here.
