The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has today announced fixtures for the 2022/23 Allianz Premier 15s season.
Heading into its sixth campaign, the league competition will again be played over 18 regular rounds with home and away fixtures culminating in semi-final play-offs (10 June 2023) between the top four teams and a title final (24 June 2023).
The first round will be played on the weekend of Saturday 19 November/Sunday 20 November following the climax of the 2021 Rugby World Cup with round 18 scheduled for 3 June 2023.
The top four teams will play their semi-final over one leg, hosted at the respective grounds of the first and second ranked team after the conclusion of the regular season.
Holders Saracens begin their campaign at home to 2021 semi-finalists Loughborough Lightning while runners-up Exeter Chiefs host Gloucester-Hartpury on the opening weekend.
In their first league match under new head coach Amy Turner, Harlequins take on recently renamed University of Worcester Warriors, Sale Sharks welcome newly named DMP Sharks to the North West and Wasps travel to Bristol Bears.
Last season’s finalists lock horns for the first time in round seven in Devon and Alex Austerberry’s side host Susie Appleby’s Chiefs in round 15.
The first West Country derby of the campaign will be played in the second round between Gloucester-Hartpury and Bristol Bears.
The full fixture list is available here.
Meanwhile, The Allianz Cup returns for a successive season.
The first two rounds will be played on the weekends of 17 September and 24 September before a two-week break.
Rounds three, four and five will be played during the 2021 Rugby World Cup.
Played in a round-robin format, there are two pools of five clubs (four fixtures and one bye per club) with two home fixtures and two away fixtures per team.
The pools have been drawn and are seeded based on final league standings from 2021/22. Confirmed pools are listed below.
| Pool A | Pool B |
| Saracens | Exeter Chiefs |
| Bristol Bears | Harlequins |
| Wasps | Gloucester-Hartpury |
| Loughborough Lightning | University of Worcester Warriors |
| Sale Sharks | DMP Sharks |
Full fixtures are available here.
At the climax of the pool stages teams will qualify for two classification fixtures, based on the final pool standings. These matches will be played on the weekends of 22 April and 29 April.
Semi-finals and a final will be played between those finishing first and second in each pool to determine the champion, runners-up and positions three and four. Knockout out play-offs between those finishing third and fourth in each pool will decide positions five-eight. Ninth and 10th place will be confirmed via a two-legged play-off between teams finishing fifth in each pool.
Kick-off details for all this seasons fixtures will be announced periodically throughout the season and kept up to date on the fixtures and results page of the Allianz Premier 15s website here.
RFU Performance Director Conor O’Shea: “This season is huge for women’s rugby and we’re all looking forward to the sixth Allianz Premier 15s season.
“The Cup ensures all clubs and non-international and wider squad players are able to play competitive rugby and for silverware.
“The quality of the league is getting better year-on-year and this will be a brilliant way to continue the momentum we hope to build following the World Cup in New Zealand.
“This is the final campaign of the current cycle and likely to be as competitive as ever.”
RFU head of women’s game, Alex Teasdale said: “Elite women’s rugby is in a really strong place. After the most competitive season to date in 2022/23, we’re extremely excited about the new campaign which is the final iteration of the second cycle of the Allianz Premier 15s.
“Moving forward this is a really important campaign as we and clubs continue to develop and work towards our 10-year strategy and ultimate goal as a financially sustainable and leading domestic league in the world.
“We want to create a league which inspires players and fans and continues to drive competition and provide talent for the Red Roses. This season is imperative in continuing and growing that momentum.”
Gabriele Tischler, director of marketing at Allianz said: “As Official Insurance Partner of England Rugby, and title partner of Allianz Premier 15s and Inner Warrior, we’re committed to helping take the women’s game to the next level.
“We’re thrilled that another Allianz Premier 15s season is approaching and look forward to working with the RFU for another season. Supporting women’s rugby from the grassroots level upwards promotes excellence and is creating a really exciting future for the sport.”
With thanks to the RFU
