RUGBY UNION: WASPS will start their 2017/18 Aviva Premiership campaign at the Ricoh Arena with a home clash against Sale Sharks on Saturday, September 2.
Dai Young’s men will be hoping to go one better than last season after agonisingly missing out on winning the national tournament following a dramatic final at Twickenham against Exeter Chiefs.
Gareth Steenson broke the hearts of Wasps fans’ when his extra-time kick sunk Wasps to a runners-up finish at the end of May.
But with a new fixture list announced, director of rugby Dai Young is hopeful the club’s 150th anniversary season can be a successful one.
Wasps will travel to Worcester for round two of the series on Sunday, September 10, before facing old foes Harlequins a week later at home.
A home tie against Bath will kick-start October before further fixtures against Saracens and Northampton.
The two Aviva Premiership games in November see Wasps host Newcastle Falcons at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday, November 18, before travelling away to newly-promoted London Irish on Sunday, November 26.
Wasps return home to host Leicester Tigers on the opening weekend of December before rounds three and four of European action in mid-December.
Gloucester visit the Ricoh Arena before the turn of the new year while a trip to Bath on the final weekend of December rounds off action in 2017.
The new year kicks off with the reverse fixture against the reigning European champions as Saracens make the trip to the West Midlands.
Games against Harlequins and Gloucester away from home follow while Exeter Chiefs and London Irish make the trip to the Ricoh before the Anglo-Welsh semi final and final in March.
A trip down the M69 to take on Leicester follows before fixtures against Sale Sharks and Worcester.
The Aviva Premiership season will round off with a home tie against Northampton before an away trip to Newcastle on the first weekend in May.
Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “It was a good season last season, but there’s still more to come from this team.
“It’s a massive start for us with some real hard games in there.
“A lot of teams have recruited strongly again and it becomes more competitive each year.
“Every game is one we could win, but equally every game is one we could lose which makes it such an exciting competition.”
