Tough GP start at Chiefs for Glaws

Bryan Redpath describes it as "interesting", but many people might use other expressions for Gloucester's first game of the new season, a trip to play newly-promoted Exeter Chiefs. Like "hiding to nothing", or even "frightening", for instance.

It's the first ever Guinness Premiership game for the Devon side, and as such they and their fans will be motivated, not to say totally psyched up, for such a big occasion.
Basically, Glaws will be on a hiding to nothing.
Exeter, thanks in part to the form of ex-Glaws back Mark Foster, are in the Prem on merit. But they won't win the title and over the season as a whole, they will no doubt be happy to survive and delighted to hold their own.
But this is their first game, and they will be busting to get off to a good start on the first weekend of September.
But, hard thought it will be, the game is perhaps better than having to go to Leicester on day one, and Redpath told the Citizen: "The season opener is an interesting one.
"Exeter aren't just the promoted side, it's their first ever season in the Premiership. It's sure to be an absolutely massive occasion for them as they look to prove that they belong at this level.
"It'll be a party atmosphere, but we have to be professional and go down there and play our game. We want to get off to a good start every bit as much as they do."
It's going to be a real test of Gloucester's professionalism and resolve -the performance and the result could set the tone for the whole of the remainder of the season.
A week after the trip to Devon, Glaws are at home to Leeds, with London Irish away and wasps at home finishing off a busy opening month of the season.
The derbies against Bath are on the first weekend of October at the Rec and the start of March at Kingsholm.
The Glaws Premiership fixtures (exact dates to be agreed later) are:

Sept 3/4/5         Exeter (a)
Sept 10/11/12    Leeds (h)
Sept 17/18/19    London Irish (a)
Sept 24/25/26    London Wasps (h)
Oct 1/2/3           Bath (a)
Oct 22/23/24     Harlequins (h)
Oct 29/30/31     Leicester (h)
Nov 19/20/21     Newcastle (a)
Nov 26/27/28     Saracens (h)
Dec 3/4/5          Sale (a)
Dec 26              Northampton (h)
Jan1/2              Leeds (a)
Jan 8/9             Exeter (h)
Feb 11/12/13     Wasps (a)
Feb 18/19/20     London Irish (h)
Feb 25/26/27     Northampton (a)
Mar 4/5/6          Bath (h)
Mar 25/26/27     Harlequins (a)
Apr 1/2/3           Newcastle (h)
Apr 15/16/17     Leicester (a)
Apr 22/23/24     Saracens (a)
May 6/7/8          Sale (h)