England’s top line is on break during November. Here’s when 10 Gallagher PREM clubs return to the field.
England’s top line is about to take a break as attention turns to Nations Championshipbut when Gallagher PREM return after the November internationals?
Below we explain when English club rugby resumes, what’s happening on the domestic front in the meantime and what’s happening in the URC and Top 14 in November.
When is Gallagher PREM coming back?
After completing the fifth round of the competition this weekend, Gallagher PREM is going on hiatus until the end of November. This is to make way for the Nations Championship, where most of the world’s best players will represent their international teams over the next four weekends.
Gallagher PREM returns on Friday 4th December 2026. when Bath host to local rivals Bristol Bears in Rec. Other sixth round matches that weekend include Gloucester c Newcastle Red Bulls, Harlequins c Leicester Tigers, Saracens c Northampton Saints and Sale Sharks c Exeter Chiefs.
What will PREM rugby clubs do in the meantime?
Players who aren’t selected for the 12 Nations Championship squads won’t just be putting their feet up during November – unless otherwise instructed by their club’s coaching staff, of course.
Three rounds of the PREM Rugby Cup will take place over the course of the month, giving directors of rugby the chance to get younger members of the squad into the first team while the big names are away on international duty.
Second Division Elior Champ Rugby will also continue throughout November, so domestic rugby will also be available.
Many of Leinster and Munster’s stars will concentrate on the greens of Ireland in November (Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Are other big European leagues on break?
The Rugby United Championship adopts the same format as England’s PREM – after the fifth round of fixtures on Saturday 31 October, there will not be another URC match until Friday 4 December, when Ospreys host Leinster and Dragons travel to Edinburgh. Other dates that weekend include Lions c Bulls, Sharks c Stormers, Cardiff c Ulster, Scarlets c Connacht, Glasgow Warriors c Benetton and Zebras Parma c Munster.
The French top 14 teams have some free time, but not as much as their counterparts PREM and URC. During the weekend of November 7-8, a full round of matches will be held. The tournament then takes two weekends off, before resuming on Saturday 28 November. This means that the tenth round of matches will clash with the Nations Championship Finals weekend.
Has the English Premiership always taken a break during the November international window?
England teams have traditionally played Premiership Rugby Cup (and before that the Anglo-Welsh Cup) matches in November, when their star players would be visiting and representing their countries. However, PREM historically would not take as many as four weekends off – more often it would sit for two or three weekends.
But the reduction of the league to 10 teams after Wasps, Worcester Warriors and London Irish went into administration created extra wiggle room in the calendar. This also allows PREM to go on hiatus for the duration Six Nations.
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