It's a repeat of the memorable season opener against Bath three seasons ago when, on their return to the Premiership, Bristol trailed for much of the game before Lee Robinson's late try sent the Memorial Stadium into raptures.

The season kicks off with a weekend of local derbies. As well as Bristol hosting Bath, there is the London 'double header' and Newcastle and Sale squaring off in the north.

Another Bristol Rugby home fixture catching the eye is the game against Gloucester which is the team's Christmas 'present' and promises to be a cracker.

There is an early midweek round of fixtures as the British Lions have asked for the release of Guinness Premiership players a week before the season was originally due to finish. In order to accommodate this, a round of fixtures has been brought forward and inserted into the calendar in September. 

Specific dates for matches will now be set by the clubs and the first set of live Sky matches will be announced in due course.

Bristol Rugby season ticket holders are reminded that they have until August 1st to renew their season tickets before seats go on general sale from August 4th the same date that match tickets will go on sale for the Bath game.

Provisional Guinness Premiership fixtures:

Sept 5/6/7, Bath (H)
Sept 12/13/14, Harlequins (A)
Sept 19/20/21, Sale (H)
Sept 26/27/28, Newcastle (A)
Oct 1, Saracens (H)
Nov 14/15/16, Northampton (H)
Nov 21/22/23, Gloucester (A)
Nov 28/29/30, London Irish (H)
Dec 19/20/21, Worcester (A)
Dec 26/27/28, Gloucester (H)
Jan 2/3/4, Northampton (A)
Jan 9/10/11, Saracens (A)
Feb 13/14/15, Newcastle (H)
Feb 20/21/22, Sale (A)
Feb 27/28/ Mar 1, Harlequins (H)
Mar 6/7/8, Bath (A)
Mar 13/14/15, Leicester (H)
Mar 20/21/22, Wasps (A)
Mar 27/28/29, Worcester (H)
Apr 3/4/5, Irish (A)
Apr 17/18/19, Wasps (H)
Apr 24/25/26, Leicester (A)