NEWCASTLE FALCONS will kick off the new Aviva Premiership Rugby season with a home game against Worcester Warriors on Friday, September 1.

Falcons' first away game takes them Sale Sharks, before Falcons head to the United States to take on Saracens in Philadelphia in a ground-breaking game on September 16.

Dean Richards' side host Harlequins on the Saturday before Christmas, and are due to end their campaign with a home game against Wasps on May 5.

Falcons have already confirmed a number of high-profile additions to their squad, with three-time French title winner Maxime Mermoz, Canada's record try-scorer DTH van der Merwe and returning fly-half Toby Flood all having signed ahead of the new campaign.

"We are looking to build on the considerable momentum we generated last season and believe we are in good shape to do that," said director of rugby Dean Richards.

"We are playing an ambitious, attacking style of rugby which people enjoy watching, and we have added further proven quality to a squad which already has plenty of talent.

"In terms of the fixtures it is always the case that you have to play everyone twice, but it is nice to start with a home match and it's great for us and our supporters to be able to start planning our Aviva Premiership season."


NEWCASTLE FALCONS' 2017-18 FIXTURES


SEPTEMBER


PREM - FRI SEP 1 WORCESTER WARRIORS (h)

Prem - Fri Sep 8 Sale Sharks (a)

PREM - SAT SEP 16 SARACENS (Philadelphia)

Prem - Sat Sep 23 Bath (a)

PREM - FRI SEP 29 LONDON IRISH (h)


OCTOBER

Prem - Sat Oct 7 Exeter Chiefs (a)

ECC - Oct 12/13/14/15: Games TBC

ECC - Oct 19/20/21/22: Games TBC

PREM - SUN OCT 29 LEICESTER TIGERS (h)


NOVEMBER

AW - Nov 3/4/5: Games TBC

AW - Nov 10/11/12: Games TBC

Prem - Sat Nov 18 Wasps (a)

PREM - FRI NOV 24 GLOUCESTER RUGBY (h)


DECEMBER

Prem - Fri Dec 1 Northampton Saints (a)

ECC - Dec 7/8/9/10: Games TBC

ECC - Dec 14/15/16/17: Games TBC

PREM - SAT DEC 23 HARLEQUINS (h)

Prem - Dec 29/30/31 v London Irish (a)


JANUARY

PREM - SUN JAN 7 EXETER CHIEFS (h)

ECC - Jan 11/12/13/14: Games TBC

ECC - Jan 18/19/20/21: Games TBC

AW - Jan 26/27/28: Games TBC


FEBRUARY

AW - Feb 2/3/4: Games TBC

Prem - Feb 9/10/11 Saracens (a)

PREM - FRI FEB 16 BATH RUGBY (h)

Prem - Feb 23/24/25 Harlequins (a)


MARCH

Prem - Mar 2/3/4 Gloucester Rugby (a)

AW - Mar 9/10/11: Semi-final

AW - Mar 16/17/18: Final

PREM - SAT MAR 24 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS (h)

ECC - Mar 29/30/31/Apr1: Games TBC


APRIL

Prem - April 6/7/8 Worcester Warriors (a)

PREM - SUN APR 15 SALE SHARKS (h)

ECC - Apr 19/20/21/22: Semi-finals

Prem - Apr 27/28/29 Leicester Tigers (a)


MAY

PREM - SAT MAY 5 WASPS (h)

ECC - May 10/11/12/13: Final

Prem - May 18/19/20: Semi-final

Prem - May 25/26/27: Final