NEWCASTLE Falcons will kick-off next season with a trip to newly-promoted Worcester, after the fixture list for the 2004/05 Zurich Premiership campaign was unveiled yesterday.

Rob Andrew's side will follow that up with another tricky away game at Bath, before entertaining NEC Harlequins in their first home game at Kingston Park on September 19.

September ends with a trip to Gloucester the following week, while October sees the Falcons at home to Leicester Tigers and Saracens and away to London Wasps.

The regular season will end with a home game against London Irish on the weekend of May 1.

"Looking at the fixture list just shows that there are no easy games in the Zurich Premiership these days," said director of rugby Andrew, who is poised to unveil another new signing later today.

"We welcome Worcester to the top-flight and we look forward to opening the season at Sixways, although it won't be our first visit there as we played them in the Powergen Cup a few years back.

"We have brought new signings into the club and are looking forward to an exciting campaign."

The Zurich Premiership campaign will be shortened by two weeks next season to accommodate the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour.

The Lions leave for New Zealand on May 24 next year, which was the intended date for the Premiership final and the Wildcard final. However, Premier Rugby have agreed to bring the final day of the season forward to May 14.

Falcons fixtures:

Date Opponent

04/09/04 Worcester Warriors (a)

11/09 Bath (a)

19/09 NEC Harlequins (h)

25/09 Gloucester (a)

03/10 Leicester Tigers (h)

09/10 London Wasps (a)

17/10 Saracens (h)

23/10 R1 European Cup

30/10 R2 European Cup

06/11 Sale Sharks (a)

14/11 Leeds Tykes (h)

20/11 London Irish (a)

28/11 Northampton Saints (h)

04/12 R3 European Cup

11/12 R4 European Cup

18/12 R6 Powergen Cup

26/12 Leeds Tykes (a)

01/01/05 or

02/01/05 Sale Sharks (h)

08/01 R5 European Cup

15/01 R6 European Cup

22/01 QF Powergen Cup

29/01 Saracens (a)

06/02 London Wasps (h)

09/02 Leicester Tigers (a)

27/02 Gloucester (h)

05/03 SF Powergen Cup

12/03 NEC Harlequins (a)

27/03 Bath (h)

02/04 QF European Cup

10/04 Worcester Warriors (h)

10/04 Final Powergen Cup

16/04 Northampton Saints (a)

23/04 SF European Cup

01/05 London Irish (h)

07/05 Wild Card SF and Premiership SF

14/05 Premiership and Wild card final

21/05 European Cup final