WORCESTER Warriors get off to a high-profile start on their return to the Aviva Premiership with a televised match at home to 2013-14 champions Northampton Saints at Sixways on Friday, October 16 (7.45pm).

Dean Ryan's men, who were promoted at the first attempt through last season's Greene King IPA Championship play-offs over two legs against Bristol, then have back-to-back away games at Sale Sharks and local rivals Gloucester.

Warriors' opener has been selected for live television coverage by BT Sport.

Due to the Rugby World Cup, the traditional season-opener, the London Double Header, has been moved to Saturday, November 28, when defending champions Saracens host Warriors and London Irish entertain Wasps in back-to-back fixtures at Twickenham.

The opening game will be an even more mouth-watering prospect with former Northampton duo GJ van Velze and Phil Dowson likely to line up for the hosts.

Newcastle Falcons visit Sixways on the first weekend in November before December looks like a testing month for Warriors.

There are big matches against Leicester Tigers and Bath before Worcester open 2016 with a home clash against Harlequins.

Warriors then have their first trip to Coventry's Ricoh Arena on Sunday, January 10, for a first West Midlands derby with Wasps before Exeter Chiefs travel to Sixways.

There will be another Sunday encounter for Warriors with a trip to London Irish before return matches against Bath, Sale and Northampton complete the February line-up.

Warriors travel to Newcastle on the opening Friday of March before hosting Gloucester one weekend later.

A London-themed March sees a trip to Harlequins before a visit of London Irish as Warriors prepare for a tough season climax.

Warriors host Wasps in between tricky away matches at Exeter and Leicester before the season ends at Sixways against Saracens on Saturday, May 7

Worcester's chief executive Jim O'Toole said: "We are all very excited about our return to the Aviva Premiership and to open the season at home in front of the BT Sport cameras against a side of the calibre of Northampton Saints is what winning promotion back to this league is all about.

"Every game will be tough and this season we will be relying on our supporters to be our 16th man more than ever as we look to establish ourselves as a Premiership club."

FIXTURES

Friday 16 October: Warriors vs Northampton Saints -7.45pm - Aviva Premiership R1

Saturday 24 October: Sale Sharks vs Warriors 2.30pm - Aviva Premiership R2

Saturday 31 October: Gloucester Rugby vs Warriors - 2pm - Aviva Premiership R3

Saturday 7 November: Warriors vs Newcastle Falcons - 3pm - Aviva Premiership R4

Saturday 14 November: European Rugby 1

Saturday 21 November: European Rugby 2

Saturday 28 November: Saracens vs Warriors 3.15pm - Aviva Premiership R5

Saturday 5 December: Warriors vs Leicester Tigers - 3pm - Aviva Premiership R6

Saturday 12 December: European Rugby 3

Saturday 19 December: European Rugby 4

Saturday 26 December: Bath Rugby vs Warriors - 3.15pm - Aviva Premiership R7

Saturday 2 January: Warriors vs Harlequins - 3pm - Aviva Premiership R8

Sunday 10 January: Wasps vs Warriors - 2pm - Aviva Premiership R9

Saturday 16 January: European Rugby 5

Saturday 23 January: European Rugby 6

Saturday 30 January: Warriors vs Exeter Chiefs - 3pm - Aviva Premiership R10

Sunday 7 February: London Irish vs Warriors - 1pm - Aviva Premiership R11

Saturday 13 February: Warriors vs Bath Rugby - 3pm - Aviva Premiership R12

Saturday 20 February: Warriors vs Sale Sharks - 3pm - Aviva Premiership R13

Saturday 27 February: Northampton Saints vs Warriors - 3pm - Aviva Premiership R14

Friday 4 March: Newcastle Falcons vs Warriors - 8pm - Aviva Premiership R15

Saturday 12 March: Warriors vs Gloucester Rugby - 3pm - Aviva Premiership R16

Saturday 19 March: Harlequins vs Warriors - 3pm - Aviva Premiership R17

Saturday 26 March: Warriors vs London Irish - 3pm - Aviva Premiership R18

Saturday 2 April: Exeter Chiefs vs Warriors - 3pm - Aviva Premiership R19

Saturday 9 April European Rugby Quarter-Finals

Saturday 16 April: Warriors vs Wasps - 3pm - Aviva Premiership R20

Saturday 23 April: European Rugby Semi-Finals

Saturday 30 April: Leicester Tigers vs Warriors - 3pm - Aviva Premiership R21

Saturday 7 May: Warriors vs Saracens - TBC - Aviva Premiership R22

Saturday 14 May: European Rugby Finals

Saturday 21 May: Aviva Premiership Semi-Finals

Saturday 28 May: Aviva Premiership Final