LONDON Irish will kick-start their Greene King IPA Championship against their most likely rivals for the title when they travel to Ealing Trailfinders on Saturday, September 1.

It is the toughest possible start for Declan Kidney’s men, who then host Nottingham in their opening home game a week later before welcoming Bedford Blues to Madejski Stadium on Sunday, September 23.

Exiles travel to newly-promoted Coventry six days later before another away trip to London Scottish, a home game with Yorkshire Carnegie and a long trek to Doncaster Knights.

Irish host Cornish Pirates on Saturday, October 27 before they take a break from league activities to play in the Championship Cup.

Kidney’s side have been drawn in a pool with Hartpury, Cornish Pirates and Bedford Blues, with home-and-away fixtures against all three sides taking place across a six-week stinint designed to allow developing players game time.

The quarter finals take place on the weekend of February 1-3, with the semi finals and final scheduled for February 22-24 and May 3-5 respectively.

When the league resumes, Irish host Hartpury on Saturday, December 29, while another fixture of note is the annual St Patrick’s Party, with Doncaster the visitors on Saturday, March 23.

The season concludes with a run-in which includes a trip to Cornish Pirates, a home game against Hartpury College, and an Easter weekend fixture at Richmond, before finishing the season at home to Ealing on Saturday 27 April.

The date for the away fixture against Jersey Reds is still to be confirmed.

Fixtures:

September

1 Ealing Trailfinders (a)

8 Nottingham (h)

23 Bedford Blues (h)

29 Coventry (a)

October

6 London Scottish (a)

13 Yorkshire Carnegie (h)

20 Doncaster Knights (a)

27 Cornish Pirates (h)

November

10 Hartpury College (a) (CC)

17 Cornish Pirates (h) (CC)

25 Bedford Blues (h) (CC)

December

1 Bedford Blues (a) (CC)

9 Hartpury College (h) (CC)

15 Cornish Pirates (a) (CC)

29 Hartpury College (a)

January

13 Richmond (h)

19 Nottingham (a)

27 Jersey Reds (h)

February

1 - 3 CC Quarter final (venue tbc)

9 Bedford Blues (a)

16 Coventry (h)

22 - 24 CC Semi final (tbc)

March

2 London Scottish (h)

9 Yorkshire Carnegie (a)

23 Doncaster Knights (h – St Patrick’s Party)

30 Cornish Pirates (a)

April

14 Hartpury College (h)

20 Richmond (a)

27 Ealing Trailfinders (h)

May

3 - 5 CC Final (tbc)

CC = Championship Cup