Worcester Warriors will kick-off a new era and the 2010/2011 Championship challenge with a local derby home game with near neighbours Birmingham & Solihull.
Head Coach Richard Hill will take charge of his first league game at Sixways during the last weekend of August before taking his Warriors to Plymouth the following weekend.
Hill’s troops face another local derby as they welcome Moseley over the festive season while the new Worcester boss will face former club Bristol on the weekend of October 9.
Warriors will bring the curtain down on the domestic season before the play-offs begin with an away trip to Damson Park, the new home of the Bees, on the weekend of February 19.
Fans are advised that all dates are listed as Saturday but are subject to change and all will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Full details of ticket prices for the 2010/11 season and dates when games go on sale will be confirmed first on www.warriors.co.uk
To get your Season Ticket for the 2010/11 campaign call the Warriors Box Office on 01905 454183 TODAY!
Worcester Warriors – 2010/2011 fixture list
28 August – Worcester Warriors v Birmingham & Solihull
04 September – Plymouth v Worcester Warriors
11 September – Worcester Warriors v Rotherham
18 September – Esher v Worcester Warriors
25 September – Worcester Warriors v Doncaster
02 October – Moseley v Worcester Warriors
09 October – Worcester Warriors v Bristol
16 October – Bedford v Worcester Warriors
23 October – Worcester Warriors v Cornish Pirates
30 October – Worcester Warriors v Nottingham
06 November – London Welsh v Worcester Warriors
13 November – Worcester Warriors v Plymouth
20 November – Rotherham v Worcester Warriors
27 November – Worcester Warriors v Esher
04 December – Doncaster v Worcester Warriors
Sunday, 26 December – Worcester Warriors v Moseley
01 January – Bristol v Worcester Warriors
08 January – Worcester Warriors v Bedford
29 January – Cornish Pirates v Worcester Warriors
Sunday, 06 February – Nottingham v Worcester Warriors
12 February – Worcester Warriors v London Welsh
19 February – Birmingham & Solihull v Worcester Warriors
The season will follow the three stage system of the 2009-10 season – 22 Rounds (Stage 1), six Play-Off rounds (Stage 2) followed by semi-finals and a double-legged final (Stage 3).
Clubs finishing in the top eight will go into two promotion pools of four and based on their ranking will start with points as a reward for their record during Rounds 1-22. The 1st ranked team will have three points, the 2nd two, the 3rd one and the 4th none.
Clubs finishing in the bottom four will go into one relegation pool and will carry forward one point for every game won in Rounds 1-22.
RFU Tournament and Competitions Director Terry Burwell said: “The inaugural RFU Championship season produced some exciting rugby with more television exposure than ever before at this level thanks to the RFU's five-year agreement with Sky Sports, culminating in a thrilling climax in the pool and knockout stages.
“We have reviewed the season in conjunction with the Championship clubs and developed a structure which rewards teams for their record throughout 22 rounds of the regular season but retains the excitement of the Play-Offs.”
Geoff Irvine, Chairman of the Championship Clubs, added: “We are excited about the second season of the Championship and feel that the changes made reflect the desire of the clubs to have some incentive which can be carried forward to the Play-Offs.”
The transfer deadline for signing players ahead of the Play-Offs has been extended by two weeks until Friday, January 28, prior to Round 19.
In addition, clubs may not play or select as a replacement in a match more than six England Academy players and loan players, of which no more than three shall be loan players.
The British & Irish Cup pools and fixtures are being finalised and will be announced in due course.
The 2010-11 RFU Championship
12 clubs – Bedford Blues, Birmingham & Solihull, Bristol Rugby, Cornish Pirates, Doncaster Knights, Esher, London Welsh, Moseley, Nottingham Rugby, Plymouth Albion, Rotherham Titans, Worcester Warriors
League programme – Stage 1 (22 matches, starting weekend of August 28)
* all teams playing 22 matches (11 home & 11 away)
* 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw, 1 bonus point for either a) scoring 4 or more tries or b) losing by 7 points or less
* top 8 teams from league progress to promotion play-offs
* teams 9-12 from league progress to relegation play-offs
Promotion Play-Offs – Stage 2 (6 matches)
* promotion play-off matches March 12, 19, 26 to April 2, 9, 16
* 2 pools of 4 teams playing 6 matches (3 home & 3 away)
* teams finishing 1, 4, 5 & 8 from league play in Pool A and will be ranked 1 to 4
* teams finishing 2, 3, 6 & 7 from league play in Pool B and will be ranked 1 to 4
* the 1st ranked team in each pool will start the Play-Offs with three points, the 2nd two, the 3rd one and the 4th none
* 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw, 1 bonus point for either a) scoring 4 or more tries or b) losing by 7 points or le
* after 6 pool matches, top 2 teams from Pools A & B progress to semi final and then the winners to the final
Relegation Play-Offs (6 matches)
* relegation play-off matches scheduled for March 12, 19, 26 – April 2, 9, 16
* 1 pool of 4 teams playing 6 matches (3 home & 3 away)
* each team will carry forward one point for every game won in Stage 1.
* 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw, 1 bonus point for either a) scoring 4 or more tries or b) losing by 7 points or less
* after 6 pool matches played, lowest ranked team is relegated to National Division One (level three)
Knockout games – Stage 3 (3 matches)
* semi final draw – 1st Pool A v 2nd Pool B & 1st Pool B v 2nd Pool A
* semi finals April 30
* final May 14 & 21(TBC subject to broadcast rights holders Sky Sports).
* winner of Championship final promoted to Guinness Premiership subject to fulfilling entry criteria