Bedford rematch first for Champ winners Worcester

Champ Rugby winners Worcester Warriors will begin the defence of their title with a repeat of last season's play-off final against Bedford on the opening weekend of the new season.

Warriors capped a sensational return to professional rugby in 2025-26, with a 27-14 win at Blues at the end of May, having spent most of the previous three years battling back from a financial crisis that took the club to the brink of extinction.

The rematch will see Bedford return to Sixways on Saturday, 19 September, as Warriors start the new campaign with successive home games with newly-promoted Rotherham visiting a week later.

Matt Everard's side face their first West Midlands derby against Coventry on 21 November at Nick Newbold Stadium, with the return at Sixways in March 2027.

After the first game with Cov, Warriors renew their rivalry with last season's unbeaten table-toppers Ealing on 5 December.

Despite finishing with 24 wins out of 24 in the regular season - and 40 points clear of fourth-placed Worcester - Ealing were beaten at home by Warriors with the final play of the game in an epic play-off semi-final.

Warriors revisit the Trailfinders Sports Ground on 23 January, 2027.

Over the festive period, Warriors have a double-header with Cornish Pirates - hosting them on 26 December before making the trip to the south west in their first game of 2027 a week later.

They finish the season with home games against Caldy and Chinnor before the returns at Rotherham and then Bedford on the final weekend on 24 April.

Coventry, who finished the regular season in third place, six points clear of Worcester, were beaten in the semi-finals 58-24 by Bedford and meet them again in week 10 of the new campaign on 5 December.

Cov start 2026-27 at Rotherham before taking on the Pirates in their first home game on 26 September.

They play Hartpury home and away over the Christmas and New Year period, while Ealing visit over Easter on 27 March, 2027.

Two of their final three games are at home - against Richmond and Rotherham - with a trip to Cornwall in between.