Worcester Warriors will kick-off the club’s 2013 J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series campaign with a clash against Exeter Chiefs after the draw was made for the Group A fixtures at Kingsholm on Thursday, August 1.
The competition on the night, that will be live on the new BT Sport channel, will kick off with one of the most iconic fixtures in club rugby, a West Country derby between Bath Rugby and Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm. The derby game is followed by Chiefs against Warriors, the two sides that complete Group A.
The second leg (Group B) of the J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s Series with take place at Franklin's Gardens 24 hours later, the final leg (Group C) being hosted by Saracens at their new Allianz Park home.
“We've had three sensational seasons of the J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s and the fourth instalment is set to be a cracker,” said Phil Winstanley the Rugby Director at Premiership Rugby, who run the 7s.
“More than 20 Test players featured alongside some stars of the future last season so it is clear that our clubs are desperate to get the first piece of silverware of the season in their trophy cabinets.”
The J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s goes from strength to strength and Winstanley added: “We are delighted to see that the whole of the Series, including the Final, at Bath on 9 August, will be broadcast live on the new BT Sport channel.
“Their commitment shows how important rugby union is. We are about to enter a new golden era for professional rugby, culminating in Rugby Sevens make its return to the Olympic movement in 2016. Who's to say that a number of players in this year's J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s won’t be battling it out for medals in Rio in three years time.”
Simon Green from BT Sport said: “From 1 August, BT Sport will begin broadcasting from BT's new state of the art studio facility on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. And we are thrilled that we will be showing all the excitement of the rugby 7s, live, across our opening weekend.”
Hetty Sowerby, Head of Sponsorship from J.P. Morgan Asset Management UK said: “It’s a very exciting time to be involved in Rugby 7s as it continues to grow in popularity not just here in the UK but internationally as well. With the inclusion of the sport in Rio 2016 we hope that our tournament, now in its fourth year, continues to fuel the appetite and passion that we’ve seen develop for the game in the last couple of years.
“We’re looking forward to what should be a thrilling series with newly promoted and 2011 series champions Newcastle Falcons back to reclaim their title and reigning champions London Irish out to defend their crown. We also welcome the new series broadcaster BT Sport on board as they broadcast all the action live from what is shaping up to be another exciting summer of 7s rugby.”
Fixture List: Thursday 1 August – Group A: Kingsholm
19.15 – Bath Rugby v Gloucester Rugby
19.40 – Exeter Chiefs v Worcester Warriors
20.10 – Exeter Chiefs v Bath Rugby
20.35 – Gloucester Rugby v Worcester Warriors
21.05 – Bath Rugby v Worcester Warriors
21.30 – Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester Rugby