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Tigers kick off defence at Sale
RUGBY UNION: Premiership champions Leicester will begin their defence away to Sale on the first weekend in September.
The traditional curtain-raising London double-header at Twickenham will see Saracens play last-year’s runners-up London Irish and Wasps face Harlequins.
Gloucester host a west country derby against Bath while newly-promoted Leeds Carnegie meet Newcastle.
Northampton will play Worcester, as they did in last year’s opening round.