Premiership Rugby re-brands to 'Gallagher PREM' with first ever Thursday night match for 2025/26

Wednesday, 23 July 2025 at 10:56

byTom Sansom

Premiership Rugby has officially undergone a rebranding, with the top tier of English rugby now called Gallagher PREM. The 2025/26 season is set to commence this new chapter in the history of the competition, with a first ever Thursday night match opening the new season.

Sale Sharks will host Gloucester Rugby under the lights at Salford Community Stadium on Thursday, September 25, live on TNT Sports (7.45pm KO), setting the tone for a re-vamped and fresh season. Round 3 (Oct 10-12) sees the return of Derby Weekend, with fierce local rivalries reigniting over a single weekend once, with bragging rights on the line from the West Country to the North of England.

The traditional Festive Fixtures promise to deliver once again, as at the centre once again is the traditional Big Game 17. Harlequins host Bristol Bears at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, December 20, in front of a bumper Christmas crowd in Twickenham.

Image Credit: Gallagher PREM

Another first for the Gallagher PREM sees Round 12 (March 27-29) bring an unprecedented day of three back-to-back marquee fixtures at neutral stadiums.

Villa Park will host The Slater Cup for the first time, with Gloucester Rugby facing Leicester Tigers at the iconic Premier League venue on Saturday, March 28.
Bristol Bears’ Big Day Out 2026 returns to Principality Stadium, as they welcome Harlequins in a reverse of Big Game 17.
The Showdown 6 then takes centre stage at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Saracens meet long-time rivals Northampton Saints.

The all-important Run-In is set to deliver twists and turns right to the final whistle, with Bath Rugby and Leicester Tigers meeting in the final round of the regular season (Saturday, June 6) for a dramatic repeat of last season’s record-breaking Final.

The season then moves into the decisive Play-Offs (June 12-14) before the winner-takes-all Gallagher PREM Final 2025/26 draws the league to a close on Saturday, June 20 at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

Simon Massie-Taylor, Chief Executive of PREM Rugby, said:

“We are incredibly excited for the return of the Gallagher PREM and fans have plenty to look forward to with a number of appetising new additions to the fixture list for 2025/26.

“Kicking off the campaign with a Thursday night opener brings a fresh twist to our traditional curtain-raiser, and we’re looking forward to seeing Sale Sharks and Gloucester Rugby set the tone in style.

"Marquee fixtures remain a key pillar of our strategy to broaden rugby’s reach. We’re thrilled to see Villa Park host The Slater Cup for the first time and to witness the continued growth of Bristol Bears’ Big Day Out in its second year.

"Last season was a landmark one: viewership on TNT Sports rose by 28%, attendances continued their upward trend, and the league has never been more competitive as we saw a sixth different champion in six years, with Bath edging Leicester in front of a sold-out Allianz Stadium.

"And now with the official launch of the new look Gallagher PREM, the 2025/26 season marks the beginning of a groundbreaking and transformative new era for the sport.”