Northampton Wanderers will open up the defence of their Premiership Rugby Shield title away at Leicester Tigers, after the competition’s 2018-19 fixtures were confirmed on Monday.
The Premiership Rugby Shield, formerly the ‘A League’, has been renamed for the upcoming season and will kick off during the first week of September.
CLICK HERE to view the Wanderers' 2018-19 Premiership Rugby Shield fixtures in full.
"We've always taken this competition seriously and we want to win the Shield again."
Mark Hopley
This year’s competition consists of two conferences of six teams, with Northampton drawn in the North Pool alongside Tigers, Sale Jets, Wasps, Newcastle Falcons, and Worcester Cavaliers.
All sides in the Pool will play each other home and away throughout the season, before the semi-finals and final of the competition are contested in May 2019.
Wanderers have won the last two editions of the competition, beating Gloucester United and Exeter Braves in consecutive finals at Franklin’s Gardens in 2017 and 2018.
And academy head coach Mark Hopley is confident Northampton’s strong heritage in the competition can continue this term.
“You never know how you will get on until you get playing in the competition,” he said. “But traditionally we have been a strong side at getting players through to the first team off the back of these matches.
“This competition gives our younger players the experience to be playing at a high standard in a major championship. We have always taken this competition seriously and we want to win the Shield again.
“With a younger side than last year, the Shield is a perfect place for them to come in. They are going to learn from the matches. We hope it will allow us to get them into the first team in the long term.”
Northampton Saints season tickets are still on sale for the 2018/19 season, with free entry for all home Wanderers fixtures once again included. Don't miss out and get yours now by CLICKING HERE.
🏆🏆 The A-League has a new name as the Wandies look to go back-to-back-to-back
— Northampton Saints 😇 (@SaintsRugby) July 9, 2018
They start the defence of their @premrugby Shield title with an away #DerbyDay at Tigers… 👀
See the full fixture list at 👉🏼https://t.co/TveGOuF4pj pic.twitter.com/MLgUhqLo4W
