Gallagher has officially launched its partnership with Premiership Rugby in the UK.
The partnership sees the competition renamed to Gallagher Premiership Rugby, with the new season set to kick-off on August 31.
As one of the most professional sports leagues in the world, the competition pits the 12 best rugby union teams in England against each other over 22 rounds of games before two rounds of playoff action to decide the champion.
“Gallagher is no stranger to the sport of rugby having been a supporter of club rugby at both a community and professional level for the last decade. We’re now taking that association to another level,” Pat Gallagher (pictured), chairman, president and CEO of Gallagher said.
“I’m immensely proud to have Gallagher begin this new partnership.”
Fixtures for the competition where also unveiled over the weekend with newly promoted Bristol Bears handed the honour of opening the league season against local rivals Bath in a Friday night fixture.
Defending champions Saracens will kick-off their season against Newcastle Falcons, who were defeated in the semi-finals of the competition last season.
“We are all excited about the upcoming season and the Gallagher Premiership Rugby fixtures coming out certainly adds to the anticipation,” Mark McCall, Saracens Director of Rugby told Premiership Rugby.
“Everyone understands the amount of work which needs to be put in over the coming months to ensure we are ready for the challenge ahead.”
Wallabies international Kurtley Beale’s former club Wasps, kick-off their campaign against Worcester Warriors whilst 10-time champions Leicester Tigers face-off against last season’s beaten finalists Exeter Chiefs in the opening round of fixtures.
Exeter and Saracens will replay last year’s final in both round 10 and in the penultimate round 21 as two of the stand-out fixtures over the season.
A full list of fixtures can be found here.