Falcons face Sale in Premiership season opener
Newcastle Falcons will face Sale Sharks on the opening day of the new Aviva Premiership season after the fixtures for the 2016/17 campaign were announced.
The Falcons will host Sale at Kingston Park on September 2, before an away trip to Bath on September 10. Newcastle then host Leicester Tigers in Round Three on September 18.
The club's Director of Rugby, Dean Richards, said:
Successive away trips to Gloucester and Worcester are followed by the visit of Bristol on Sunday October 8.
During November the Falcons are home to Exeter, away at Northampton and at home against Harlequins, with the festive programme delivering a trip to Saracens before the visit of Jimmy Gopperth's Wasps.
Northern rivalries resume at Sale on February 10, Newcastle ending the regular season away at Bristol's Ashton Gate on May 6.
Newcastle Falcons' 2016/17 Aviva Premiership fixtures
Sept 2 - Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks (8pm)
Sept 10 - Bath Rugby v Newcastle Falcons (3pm)
Sept 18 - Newcastle Falcons v Leicester Tigers (3pm)
Sept 24 - Gloucester Rugby v Newcastle Falcons (3pm)
Oct 2 - Worcester Warriors v Newcastle Falcons (3pm)
Oct 8 - Newcastle Falcons v Bristol Rugby (3pm)
Oct 30 - Wasps v Newcastle Falcons (2.30pm)
Nov 18 - Newcastle Falcons v Exeter Chiefs (8pm)
Nov 26 - Northampton Saints v Newcastle Falcons
Dec 4 - Newcastle Falcons v Harlequins (3pm)
Dec 23/24/26 - Saracens v Newcastle Falcons
Dec 30/31/Jan 1 - Newcastle Falcons v Wasps
Jan 8 - Newcastle Falcons v Bath Rugby (3pm)
Feb 10 - Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons (8.15pm)
Feb 19 - Newcastle Falcons v Northampton Saints (3pm)
Feb 25 - Exeter Chiefs v Newcastle Falcons
Mar 5 - Newcastle Falcons v Saracens (3pm)
Mar 25 - Harlequins v Newcastle Falcons
Apr 7 - Newcastle Falcons v Gloucester Rugby (8pm)
Apr 15 - Leicester Tigers v Newcastle Falcons
Apr 28 - Newcastle Falcons v Worcester Warriors
May 6 - Bristol Rugby v Newcastle Falcons (time TBC)
May 19-21 Premiership semi-finals
May 27 Premiership final (Twickenham)