Gallagher Premiership: Get set for a magic midweek of live rugby on BT Sport

After an absorbing return, Premiership Rugby’s rip-roaring end to the 2019/20 season continues with an unmissable midweek of fixtures – all live on BT Sport.

On Tuesday night Exeter Chiefs extended their lead at the top with a 25-22 victory away to second-place Bristol Bears, with Sale Sharks leapfrogging Wasps into third after winning 20-11 at the Ricoh Arena.

The race for the top four will certainly go down to the wire, with Bath and Northampton both in striking distance ahead of their Wednesday night matches.

But there's plenty more still to play for right across the table and here we bring you up to speed with all the fixtures, coverage times and how to watch on BT Sport.

Leicester Tigers v London Irish

Wednesday 26 August, 6pm

Live Stream – BTSport.com & BT Sport app

TV - BT Sport Extra 2 HD

With only relegated Saracens keeping them off the foot of the table, Leicester have endured another troubled season. The appointment of Eddie Jones’ former right-hand man at England and Japan, Steve Borthwick, has lifted spirits at Welford Road, but the 10-time champions have won only four times all season and haven’t fared much better since the restart - losing to Exeter and Bath.

London Irish have struggled since their return to the Premiership and have also lost both of their games since the restart. Defeats to Bath and Northampton have reinforced concerns about the Exiles’ worrying defensive record and limpness up front. They’ve now lost four in a row, scoring just 46 points in those losses with 136 in reply.

Leicester and London Irish will be desperate to get up-and-running, but with little at stake, both will be looking to develop an identity ahead of next season.

Saracens v Gloucester

Wednesday 26 August, 6pm

Live Stream – BTSport.com & BT Sport app

TV - BT Sport Extra 3 HD

Saracens bounced back from defeat to Bristol with a commanding win over rivals Harlequins to dispel any arguments that they were taking their foot off the pedal with nothing to play for in the Premiership.

In fact, England captain Owen Farrell, who celebrated his 200th Saracens appearance on Saturday, insisted that they won't relent ahead of a mammoth Champions Cup clash with Leinster.

“We are trying to get the best out of ourselves now, so that we put ourselves in the best possible position, come that [Leinster] game,” he said.

Eighth-placed Gloucester, under new head coach George Skivington, thumped Worcester before narrowly losing to a Semi Radradra-inspired Bristol. In Louis Rees-Zammit and others, they have some of the league’s most talented youngsters, but they’ll have to be at their best to beat a resurgent Saracens. 

Worcester Warriors v Harlequins

Wednesday 26 August, 6pm

Live Stream – BTSport.com & BT Sport app

TV - BT Sport Extra 4 HD

A spirited display from a youthful Worcester side wasn’t enough avoid a second defeat since the resumption against Wasps on Saturday. With eight Premiership debutants in their matchday squad at the Ricoh, Worcester looked dangerous in patches but were ultimately undone by a confident Wasps outfit.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for Alan Solomons who watched his side lose heavily to Gloucester after Melani Nanai was sent off the week before. They'll want to bounce back with home advantage. 

Harlequins are now nine points off fourth-placed Sale in the table after losing to Saracens and require a late charge up the table to reach the play-offs. USA international Paul Lasike was a bright spark for Quins in defeat, with the centre scoring twice to give Paul Gustard’s side some respectability against Sarries’ star-studded line-up.

Time is of the essence for Quins who desperately need wins to reach the top four, starting with Worcester at Sixways.

Northampton Saints v Bath

Wednesday 26 August, 7.30pm

Live Stream – BTSport.com & BT Sport app

TV - BT Sport 2 HD & Ultimate

Northampton welcome Bath to Franklin’s Gardens for an intriguing match-up between two top four contenders. Saints boosted their hopes of reaching the play-offs with a dominant second-half display against London Irish.

Tom Collins scored twice to put the visitors out of sight at Twickenham Stoop after a scrappy first half finished 3-3. Director of rugby Chris Boyd, who insists there are eight genuine challengers for the top four spots, praised his team’s efforts against the Exiles but will be wary of a free-scoring Bath side who are two from two since the break.

The visitors find themselves one point adrift off fourth-placed Sale after wins over London Irish and Leicester. They scored 72 points in those two games and are full of confidence after back-to-back bonus point victories.

Ruaridh McConnochie’s eye-catching score against Leicester proved he still has the ability that resulted in an England call up and the excellent Anthony Watson continues to dazzle for Stuart Hooper’s outfit.

With both sides locked on 40 points on the periphery of the top four, Wednesday’s encounter is set to have lasting implications in the race of the play-offs.