Gloucester have a chance to avenge last season's play-off semi-final loss to Leicester when they meet on the opening weekend of the 2008-09 season.
The first round of Guinness Premiership fixtures also include a West Country derby with Bristol facing Bath.
Promoted Northampton play Worcester while the London double-header sees London Irish take on champions Wasps and Saracens face Harlequins.
The opening round of fixtures takes place on the weekend of 6/7 September.
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The final round of the regular season will take place on Saturday 25 April, with the Guinness Premiership final brought forward by a fortnight to 16 May to avoid a clash with the opening fixture of the Lions tour in South Africa on 30 May.
"I'm delighted that this issue has been resolved well ahead of the next season thanks to many people's efforts over the last few weeks," said Lions tour manager Gerald Davies.
To accommodate the switch, a midweek round of Premiership fixtures will be played on Tuesday, 30 September and Wednesday, 1 October.
Opening round of fixtures:
Sat 6 September:
London Irish v London Wasps 1430 (Twickenham)
Gloucester v Leicester Tigers 1500
Northampton Saints v Worcester Warriors 1500
Saracens v Harlequins 1700 (Twickenham)
Sun 7 September:
Bristol v Bath 1500
Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks 1500
Final round of fixtures, Saturday 25 April 2009:
Bath v Saracens
Harlequins v Newcastle Falcons
Leicester Tigers v Bristol
Wasps v Gloucester
Sale Sharks v Northampton
Worcester Warriors v London Irish
For the full list of Guinness Premiership fixtures, follow this link: http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/201_109.php
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