Defending champions Harlequins return to Twickenham to kick off the 2012-13 season against London Wasps © Getty Images

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Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: England | Harlequins | Wasps

Reigning Aviva Premiership champions Harlequins return to Twickenham to being their title defence when they kick off the 2012-13 season against London Wasps, in front of the ESPN cameras on September 1.

The fixture is part of the now-traditional London double header at rugby headquarters and is followed by the match between 2011 Premiership champions Saracens and London Irish.

A day later League newcomers London Welsh will face an immediate test of their Premiership credentials on and off the pitch when they welcome last season's runners-up Leicester Tigers are to the Kassam Stadium in Oxford.

In other fixtures on the opening weekend, Exeter play host to Sale Sharks, Gloucester welcome Northampton to Kingsholm, while Worcester are at home to Bath.

Round 1:
August 31, 2012 - September 1
Exeter Chiefs v Sale Sharks
Gloucester Rugby v Northampton Saints
Worcester Warriors v Bath Rugby
September 1, 2012 - Twickenham
London Wasps v Harlequins, (14.00, ESPN)
Saracens v London Irish, (16.00, ESPN)
September 2, 2012
London Welsh v Leicester Tigers, (14.00, Sky Sports)

Round 2:
September 7-9, 2012
Bath Rugby v London Wasps
Harlequins v London Welsh
Leicester Tigers v Worcester Warriors
London Irish v Gloucester Rugby
Northampton Saints v Exeter Chiefs
Sale Sharks v Saracens

Round 3:
September 14-16, 2012
Bath Rugby v Northampton Saints
London Welsh v Exeter Chiefs
Harlequins v Sale Sharks
London Wasps v London Irish
Saracens v Leicester Tigers
Worcester Warriors v Gloucester Rugby

Round 4:
September 21-23, 2012
Exeter Chiefs v Saracens
Leicester Tigers v Harlequins
London Irish v Bath Rugby
Gloucester Rugby v London Wasps
Northampton Saints v Worcester Warriors
Sale Sharks v London Welsh

Round 5:
September 28-30, 2012
Bath Rugby v Sale Sharks
London Welsh v Gloucester Rugby
Harlequins v Saracens
Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs
Northampton Saints v London Wasps
Worcester Warriors v London Irish

Round 6:
October 5-7, 2012
Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins
London Irish v Northampton Saints
London Wasps v Worcester Warriors
Gloucester Rugby v Bath Rugby
Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers
Saracens v London Welsh

Round 7:
October 26-28, 2012
Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs
London Irish v Harlequins
London Wasps v London Welsh
Gloucester Rugby v Leicester Tigers
Northampton Saints v Saracens
Worcester Warriors v Sale Sharks

Round 8:
November 2-4, 2012
Exeter Chiefs v Worcester Warriors
London Welsh v Bath Rugby
Harlequins v Gloucester Rugby
Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints
Sale Sharks v London Irish
Saracens v London Wasps

Round 9:
November 23-25, 2012
Bath Rugby v Harlequins
London Irish v Exeter Chiefs
London Wasps v Leicester Tigers
Gloucester Rugby v Sale Sharks
Northampton Saints v London Welsh
Worcester Warriors v Saracens

Round 10:
November 30/December 1-2, 2012
Exeter Chiefs v London Wasps
London Welsh v London Irish
Harlequins v Worcester Warriors
Leicester Tigers v Bath Rugby
Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints
Saracens v Gloucester Rugby

Round 11:
December 21-23, 2012
Bath Rugby v Saracens
London Irish v Leicester Tigers
London Wasps v Sale Sharks
Gloucester Rugby v Exeter Chiefs
Northampton Saints v Harlequins
Worcester Warriors v London Welsh

Round 12:
December 28-30, 2012
Exeter Chiefs v Bath Rugby
London Welsh v London Wasps
Harlequins v London Irish
Leicester Tigers v Gloucester Rugby
Sale Sharks v Worcester Warriors
Saracens v Northampton Saints

Round 13:
January 4-6, 2013
Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints
London Welsh v Harlequins
London Wasps v Bath Rugby
Gloucester Rugby v London Irish
Saracens v Sale Sharks
Worcester Warriors v Leicester Tigers

Round 14:
February 8-10, 2013
Bath Rugby v Worcester Warriors
Harlequins v London Wasps
Leicester Tigers v London Welsh
London Irish v Saracens
Northampton Saints v Gloucester Rugby
Sale Sharks v Exeter Chiefs

Round 15:
February 15-17, 2013
Bath Rugby v London Irish
London Welsh v Sale Sharks
Harlequins v Leicester Tigers
London Wasps v Gloucester Rugby
Saracens v Exeter Chiefs
Worcester Warriors v Northampton Saints

Round 16:
February 22-24, 2013
Exeter Chiefs v London Welsh
Leicester Tigers v Saracens
London Irish v London Wasps
Gloucester Rugby v Worcester Warriors
Northampton Saints v Bath Rugby
Sale Sharks v Harlequins

Round 17:
March 1/2/3, 2013:
Bath Rugby v Gloucester Rugby
London Welsh v Saracens
Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs
Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks
Northampton Saints v London Irish
Worcester Warriors v London Wasps

Round 18:
March 22-24, 2013
Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers
London Irish v Worcester Warriors
London Wasps v Northampton Saints
Gloucester Rugby v London Welsh
Sale Sharks v Bath Rugby
Saracens v Harlequins

Round 19:
March 29-31, 2013
Bath Rugby v London Welsh
London Irish v Sale Sharks
London Wasps v Saracens
Gloucester Rugby v Harlequins
Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers
Worcester Warriors v Exeter Chiefs

Round 20:
April 12-14, 2013
Exeter Chiefs v London Irish
London Welsh v Northampton Saints
Harlequins v Bath Rugby
Leicester Tigers v London Wasps
Sale Sharks v Gloucester Rugby
Saracens v Worcester Warriors

Round 21:
April 19-21, 2013
Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers
London Irish v London Welsh
London Wasps v Exeter Chiefs
Gloucester Rugby v Saracens
Northampton Saints v Sale Sharks
Worcester Warriors v Harlequins

Round 22:
May 3-5, 2013
Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester Rugby
London Welsh v Worcester Warriors
Harlequins v Northampton Saints
Leicester Tigers v London Irish
Sale Sharks v London Wasps
Saracens v Bath Rugby

Semi-finals:
May 11-12, 2013

Final
Saturday May 25, 2013