Chiefs to open new season with home Prem Cup derby

Exeter Chiefs will launch their 2026/27 PREM Rugby Cup campaign with a home tie against West Country rivals Bristol Bears on Saturday, 12 September (KO 15:00).

Having progressed all the way to the final of last season’s competition, losing out to Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Chiefs have a bye in round one before welcoming Bears to Sandy Park in round two.

For round three, Chiefs will host Johann van Graan’s Bath Rugby on Saturday, 7 November (KO 15:00) before travelling to Manchester to take on Sale Sharks six days later on Friday, 13 November (KO 19:45) and bringing the first half of the competition to a close against Gloucester Rugby in Devon on Saturday, 21 November (KO 16:30).

Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “We’ve got a really good start, with Bristol coming here to Sandy Park. That fixture will allow us to complete our pre-season prep rather nicely.

“We know that game will be very competitive and well supported, as Bears supporters travel really well. To have that alongside our friendlies against Scarlets and Cardiff Rugby gives us a nice run of Saturday games, good turnarounds and a good opportunity to be well prepared heading into the Gallagher PREM.”

The second block of cup action kicks off in the New Year with Chiefs travelling to Kingsholm to play Gloucester Rugby on Saturday, 30 January (KO 15:00) before hosting Sale Sharks the very next week on Saturday, 6 February (KO 15:00).

Rounds eight and nine feature back-to-back road trips for Rob Baxter’s men to Bath Rugby on Saturday, 13 February (KO 15:00) followed by Bristol the following Friday night on 19 February (KO 19:45).

Baxter added: “We’ll probably try this season to use a slightly younger squad to try to develop those players. We’re very aware we haven’t been able to do that as much as we’d like in the past couple of seasons. So, we’re very keen to use these games as a development phase for us.

“We’ve got a strong academy group who will face a tough pre-season and we’re going to expect a lot from them in the early season, in training in particular.”

The Chiefs men then sit out of action in round 10 with a bye-week as the final seedings will be decided ahead of the knockout rounds, which will take place in the proceeding two weekends.

Please note, dates and times may be subject to change depending on broadcast selections.

Tickets for the first of Chiefs’ home pool games against Bristol Bears will go on sale at 2pm today, Tuesday 14 July.