🏉 Rugby union fans in London are spoilt for choice with the 2023/2024 men’s club season set to feature a host of teams from the capital in domestic (Premiership, Championship & National League) and European (Champions Cup) action.
PREMIERSHIP RUGBY IN LONDON
10 sides contest the new Gallagher Premiership season which runs from October 2023 to June 2024. Saracens are the defending champions after they flew the flag for rugby union in London winning the Premiership title for a sixth time with a 35-25 win over Sale Sharks at Twickenham Stadium last May.
Joining Saracens as one of two teams in the capital aiming for Premiership glory this season are 2021 champions Harlequins.
READ ON for season so far news, rugby union in London matches coming up and how you can be there!
SEASON SO FAR
It’s all to play for at the top of the Gallagher Premiership after fourteen rounds of matches. Leaders Northampton Saints are top on 49 points with a clutch of teams (including Bath Rugby, Saracens, Exeter Chiefs and Harlequins) in hot pursuit.
Saracens rich run of form before the international break continued in fine style at The Showdown 4 against Harlequins. Sarries were in irresistible form at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, demolishing their London 52-7 rivals in front of a crowd of 61,000 fans. It was a memorable afternoon for captain Owen Farrell enjoying his 250th game for the north London side. However, the north London side came back down to earth last time out losing 41-30 to leaders Northampton Saints. Saracens are third place in the table.
On the European front, Saracens booked their place in the last-16 of the competition with a superb come-from-behind 39-24 victory over Lyon in their final group game. However, a trip to France on Saturday 6 April to play Bordeaux Bègles proved a step too far. Sarries lost 45-12 in France and are out of the Champions Cup.
Harlequins are up to fourth place in the Premiership on 42 points. A mesmerising game against Bath Rugby saw Quins race into a 40-3 only to be pegged back by the visitors who nearly snatched victory at the death. The hosts finally prevailed 40-36. And it’s so far so good in Europe for the south-west London side. England stars Danny Care and Marcus Smith have proved a formidable pairing at half-back for The Stoop side on their way to the Champions Cup knockout stages. Glasgow Warriors were dispatched at The Stoop in the last-16. Next up for Quins, it’s the quarter-finals. They travel to France on Saturday 13 April to face a Bordeaux Bègles side fresh from their thumping of Saracens.
NEXT MATCH IN LONDON
The Premiership returns after the European break on Saturday 20 April. High-flying Saracens and struggling Gloucester take centre stage as they go head-to-head in north London. Can Sarries see off their West Country opponents and close the gap on the top two? All roads lead to StoneX Stadium to find out!
🎟️ TICKET NEWS LATEST ➡️ Harlequins ~ Saracens
PREMIERSHIP MATCHES COMING UP IN THE CAPITAL:
2024. March, April & May.
Round 15. Saturday 20 April: Saracens v Gloucester Rugby KO 3pm ~ Round 16. 27 April: Harlequins v Northampton Saints KO 3.05pm ~ Round 18. Saturday 18 May: Harlequins v Bristol Bears KO 3pm. Saracens v Sale Sharks KO 3pm.
CHAMPIONSHIP RUGBY IN LONDON
Ealing Trailfinders and London Scottish ensure a strong London presence in the second tier of men’s English rugby. The Championship season takes place over 22 rounds, beginning on the weekend of 21/22 October with the final round scheduled for the weekend of 24/25 May 2024. The league consists of 12 teams.
Ealing Trailfinders are top of the table on 67 points, nine points ahead of nearest rivals Coventry in second. The west London side are in fine form having recently dished out a 40-12 statement defeat on high-flying Cornish Pirates.
London Scottish have endured a chastening season. However, they beat Trailfinders 19-17 in their derby match at the end of December and have since climbed off the foot of the table.
🎟️ TICKET NEWS LATEST ➡️ Ealing Trailfinders ~ London Scottish
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES COMING UP IN LONDON: 2023/2024 fixture list here.
NATIONAL LEAGUE 1
Rosslyn Park, Richmond Rugby and Blackheath are London’s representatives in National League 1 for the 2023/2024 season. The season runs from mid-October through until the end of April. The current campaign features 14 teams.
After twenty-four rounds of action Rosslyn Park are the leading side from the capital in third place on 77 points. Meanwhile Richmond and Blackheath are in seventh and eighth place on 62 and 60 points. Blackheath scored a memorable 22-17 win over second-placed Chinnor recently. It’s all to play for in the battle to finish as London’s top club in the division.
🎟️ TICKET NEWS LATEST ➡️ Blackheath ~ Richmond Rugby ~ Rosslyn Park
NATIONAL LEAGUE 1 MATCHES COMING UP IN THE CAPITAL: 2023/2024 fixture list here.
👀 For more great spectator sport visit our ‘What’s On‘ page. And for regular reminders to ensure you don’t miss a moment of the action subscribe now to our free newsletter!