The club game is more unpredictable than ever with all the old assumptions dumped along with any side that fails to find consistency. Tougher, faster and less predictable, I cannot wait for the return of the club game.

Stuart Barnes
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Sky Sports has confirmed the first batch of live Guinness Premiership matches for the 2008-2009 season.

Click here to see live fixtures in full

To date, 14 matches have been scheduled in the first 11 rounds, with each of the 12 Guinness Premiership teams featuring at least once.

Sky Sports will open the season with a double-header starting at Franklin's Gardens when Northampton Saints take on Worcester Warriors, followed by Gloucester Rugby against Leicester Tigers at Kingsholm.

The live Guinness Premiership fixtures include:

Northampton Saints vs Worcester Warriors - Sunday 7 September: Newly promoted Saints kick-off the Guinness Premiership season determined to make a triumphant return to the top flight.

Bath Rugby vs Gloucester Rugby - Saturday 13 September: Round two pits these West Country rivals against each other for the first time this season, as the Cherry and Whites journey to the Rec.

Leicester Tigers vs London Wasps - Friday 26 September: In a rematch of last season's final, Tigers under the new guidance of Heyneke Meyer, and Wasps in a new era without Dallaglio, come face-to-face.

Announcing the fixtures, Martin Turner, executive producer for rugby union at Sky Sports, said: "There are some fantastic match-ups this year.

"Every team being shown gives something for everyone in our most exciting season yet, especially as the home players will battle it out to impress with the Lions tour just around the corner.

"It's also great to welcome back Northampton Saints - full houses at Franklin's Gardens always provide a brilliant atmosphere.

"Last year's Guinness Premiership was by far and away the greatest we have had and the world record crowd at Twickenham for the Guinness Premiership Final showed just how far professional club rugby in England has come."

Power

Stuart Barnes, rugby union commentator at Sky Sports said: "The East versus West Midlands televised clash between Northampton Saints and Worcester Warriors sums up why I think this will be the best Guinness Premiership season so far.

"The established traditional team Northampton are on the rise, with the new age Worcester outfit looking to ensure that the old and new power struggle is turned on their head as Chris Latham joins them to add class, grit and character in abundance.

"The club game is more unpredictable than ever with all the old assumptions dumped along with any side that fails to find consistency. Tougher, faster and less predictable, I cannot wait for the return of the club game."

Every Guinness Premiership match throughout the season will be broadcast exclusively live and in high-definition with Sky HD viewers offered a cinema-like experience with sharper, clearer, more vibrant pictures.

The Guinness Premiership is part of a non-stop season of live rugby union on Sky Sports, from international, European and domestic levels.

This year, Sky Sports will broadcast exclusively live coverage of the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, along with England's Autumn internationals, the Heineken Cup, Tri Nations, Super 14s, and the Help for Heroes Challenge match at Twickenham.

Live broadcasts are supported by The Rugby Club, now in its 12th year. The weekly magazine show features in-depth previews, analysis and reaction throughout the season, with presenter Simon Lazenby joined in the studio by Dewi Morris, Stuart Barnes, Will Greenwood and Ieuan Evans.

Each of these analysts will be in the studio during live games, with Miles Harrison behind the mic for many of the big games, and Graham Simmons and Melissa Platt pitchside for interviews with players and coaches.

Sky Sports' live Guinness Premiership fixtures