BATH Rugby will begin the new Aviva Premiership season with a trip to Northampton Saints on the first weekend in September.

The fixtures for the 2016-17 campaign were released this morning, with Bath travelling to Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday, September 3.

Bath’s opening home match of the new term takes place seven days later when Newcastle Falcons visit The Rec on Saturday, September 10.

The club will also play one of their home league matches at Twickenham next term, with the clash against fierce rivals Leicester Tigers chosen to take place at HQ on Saturday, April 8.

Bath are due to finish the regular Premiership season away at Sale Sharks on Saturday, May 6. Their final home fixture is the West Country derby against Gloucester the previous weekend.

They will travel for the reverse fixture at Kingsholm on Saturday, October 1, while the two league derbies against newly-promoted Bristol take place on Friday, November 18 at The Rec and the weekend of February 24 at Ashton Gate.

Bath's festive fixtures will see them travel to Wasps on either December 23 or 24 before then playing host to Exeter Chiefs on either December 30 or 31 or January 1.