Premiership Rugby 7s

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs will face Gloucester in their opening fixture of this season's Premiership Rugby 7s competition.

Coaches Ricky Pellow and Keith Fleming will again lead the Devon club into action at Kingsholm on Thursday, July 31 when the Chiefs will tackle the Cherry & Whites, as well as rivals Bath Rugby and London Irish in Group B.

The Premiership Rugby 7s kicks off an exciting new era this month with the four Welsh Regions joining the competition.

The Welsh leg - at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday, July 26 - will feature six thrilling derby clashes which will excite crowds in the heart of the Welsh capital and seal a new partnership between Premiership Rugby and Regional Rugby Wales.

"The bond between the Premiership Rugby clubs and our friends in the Welsh Regions gets stronger every year," said Premiership Rugby Chief Executive Mark McCafferty. "I am delighted therefore that they will take part in the Premiership Rugby 7s. The tournament has grown each year and the participation of the Welsh Regions will take it to a new level."

Premiership Rugby can also confirm that all four group stages of the Premiership Rugby 7s and the Series Final will be covered live on BT Sport, with highlights on ITV Sport. The Wales leg will also be shown on S4C. In addition the best Aviva Premiership Rugby side in the 2014 Premiership Rugby 7s will go on to play in the World Club 7s on 16 and 17 August at Twickenham, joining Cardiff Blues and Gloucester Rugby, the 2013 winners.

The tournament kicks off in Wales this year, with Ospreys and Cardiff Blues facing off in the Group A curtain-raiser on July 26 – Newport Gwent Dragons and Scarlets complete the quartet, which will see the Regions compete against each other at 7s for the first time.

A star-studded Group C sees Harlequins, Northampton Saints, Saracens and London Wasps battle it out at Franklin's Gardens on Friday, August 1 with Group D completing the line-up 24 hours later when Leicester Tigers go up against top-flight new boys London Welsh, as well as Newcastle Falcons and Sale Sharks.

For tickets and more information visit: www.premiershiprugby.com/7s or follow @premrugby_7s

Premiership Rugby 7s Series 2014

Saturday 26 July, BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park – Group A
Kick off – 7.15pm

Fixtures
Ospreys v Cardiff Blues
Newport v Scarlets
Newport v Ospreys
Cardiff Blues v Scarlets
Ospreys v Scarlets
Newport v Cardiff Blues

Thursday 31 July, Kingsholm Stadium – Group B
Kick off – 7.15pm

Fixtures
Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester Rugby
Bath Rugby v London Irish
Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs
Gloucester Rugby v London Irish
Exeter Chiefs v London Irish
Bath Rugby v Gloucester Rugby

Friday 1 August, Franklin's Gardens – Group C
Kick off – 7.15pm


Fixtures
Harlequins v Northampton Saints
Saracens v London Wasps
Saracens v Harlequins
Northampton Saints v London Wasps
Harlequins v London Wasps
Northampton Saints v Saracens

Saturday 2 August, Kingston Park – Group D
Kick off – 7.15pm

Fixtures
Leicester Tigers v Newcastle Falcons
London Welsh v Sale Sharks
London Welsh v Leicester Tigers
Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks
Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks
London Welsh v Newcastle Falcons

Friday 8 August – Series Final
Twickenham Stoop – Kick off: 6pm

The top two teams from each Group qualify for the Final.