The fixtures for the 2026-27 JAECOO Next Gen Cup have been confirmed, marking the beginning of a new season of elite women’s club rugby in England.
Formerly known as the Premiership Women’s Rugby Cup, the competition enters a new era following Premiership Women’s Rugby’s title partnership with automotive manufacturer JAECOO. The tournament will once again provide the first competitive action of the domestic season, with England’s nine professional clubs competing for the opening trophy of the 2026-27 campaign.
Supporters can expect five weeks of pool-stage rugby before the competition concludes with the semi-finals and final in early November.
Nine Clubs Chasing the First Trophy of the Season
All nine JAECOO Premiership Women’s Rugby (JAECOO PWR) clubs will compete in this year’s tournament:
- Bristol Bears
- Exeter Chiefs
- Gloucester Hartpury
- Harlequins
- Leicester Tigers
- Loughborough Lightning
- Sale Sharks
- Saracens
- Trailfinders Women
Defending champions Saracens begin their title defence looking to retain the trophy they lifted at the end of the 2025-26 competition.
Pool Draw
The pools were determined using the final standings from the 2025-26 competition, with the top eight teams allocated through an alternate seeding system before the ninth club was drawn at random to create the five-team Pool A.
Complete Fixture List
Saturday, September 19
| Time | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00pm | Bristol Bears vs Trailfinders Women | North Bristol RFC |
| 1:30pm | Harlequins vs Gloucester Hartpury | Twickenham Stoop |
| 2:00pm | Leicester Tigers vs Saracens | Mattioli Woods Welford Road |
| 2:00pm | Sale Sharks vs Loughborough Lightning | Morson Stadium |
Sunday, September 27
| Time | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00pm | Exeter Chiefs vs Leicester Tigers | Sandy Park |
| 2:00pm | Saracens vs Sale Sharks | StoneX Stadium |
Friday, October 2
| Time | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30pm | Loughborough Lightning vs Saracens | Goldington Road |
Saturday, October 3
| Time | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00pm | Bristol Bears vs Gloucester Hartpury | North Bristol RFC |
| 2:00pm | Sale Sharks vs Exeter Chiefs | Morson Stadium |
| 3:00pm | Trailfinders Women vs Harlequins | Trailfinders Sports Club |
Saturday, October 10
| Time | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00pm | Exeter Chiefs vs Loughborough Lightning | Sandy Park |
| 3:00pm | Leicester Tigers vs Sale Sharks | Burton RFC |
Saturday, October 17
| Time | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2:00pm | Loughborough Lightning vs Leicester Tigers | Loughborough University |
| 2:00pm | Saracens vs Exeter Chiefs | StoneX Stadium |
| 2:00pm | Harlequins vs Bristol Bears | Twickenham Stoop |
Sunday, October 18
| Time | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2:00pm | Gloucester Hartpury vs Trailfinders Women | 4ED Hartpury Stadium with Vodafone |
Semi-Finals
Weekend of October 31 – November 1
- Pool A Winner vs Pool B Runner-up
- Pool B Winner vs Pool A Runner-up
Final
Weekend of November 7–8
The two semi-final winners will meet in the 2026-27 JAECOO Next Gen Cup Final.
Competition Format
The tournament begins with a pool stage before progressing to the knockout rounds.
Pool A contains five clubs, meaning each team plays four matches and receives one bye weekend. Pool B contains four clubs, with each team playing three matches and receiving two bye weekends.
Teams play every other side in their pool once, either home or away. The top two teams from each pool advance to the crossover semi-finals:
- Pool A Winner vs Pool B Runner-up
- Pool B Winner vs Pool A Runner-up
The higher-seeded club, based on the final pool standings, will host each knockout fixture, including the final where applicable under the competition regulations. Teams that do not qualify for the semi-finals are free to arrange additional fixtures during the knockout period.
Why USA Rugby Fans Should Follow
The JAECOO Next Gen Cup continues to grow in importance for American rugby supporters as more USA Women’s Eagles establish themselves in England’s professional game.
One confirmed USA international set to feature is Sale Sharks captain Georgie Perris-Redding, who recently extended her contract through 2027. As additional club squads are confirmed ahead of the new season, Rugby Fan Central will continue following the growing American presence across the JAECOO PWR.
The tournament also begins just one day before the USA Women’s Eagles open their WXV Global Series campaign on September 20, meaning international selection could influence player availability during the opening weekend.
How to Watch
Premiership Women’s Rugby has confirmed that it will broadcast the 2026-27 JAECOO Next Gen Cup Final, with full broadcast details to be announced closer to the event.
Broadcast information for pool-stage fixtures has not yet been confirmed. Rugby Fan Central will update readers as soon as additional viewing information is released.
The Final Whistle
The release of the 2026-27 JAECOO Next Gen Cup fixtures signals the start of another exciting season for England’s premier women’s clubs.
With nine teams, a competitive pool stage and knockout rugby to decide the first domestic champion of the new campaign, the tournament promises an entertaining start to the English women’s rugby season.
For USA rugby supporters, it also provides an opportunity to follow American internationals competing in one of the world’s strongest domestic competitions before attention turns to the Eagles’ WXV Global Series campaign.
Rugby Fan Central will provide comprehensive coverage throughout the competition, including match previews, results and analysis as the race for the 2026-27 JAECOO Next Gen Cup unfolds.
