A 19-17 defeat at Newcastle was certainly not the start that Sale Sharks wanted, but their home record was exemplary last season and they'll be hoping to repeat that again this time around.

Harlequins were given a fright by newly-promoted Bristol but edged to a 21-19 victory to make a winning start to 2016-17.

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

Both Worcester and Gloucester were beaten in their respective opening games of the campaign.

The Warriors put up a creditable showing against champions Saracens at Twickenham, but a 12-minute spell after half-time in which they conceded four tries proved costly and they fell to a 35-3 defeat.

Gloucester had victory in their grasp when they led Leicester 31-7 at Kingsholm, but conceded 31 unanswered points to lose 38-31.

Image source, AFP

While the eyes of the sporting world will turn to boxing's world title fight between Gennady Golovkin and Kell Brook in London on Saturday evening, we're about to begin round two of English rugby union's marathon slugfest.

We have live text and radio commentary from tonight's two Premiership matches to come - Worcester Warriors v Gloucester (19:45 BST) and Sale Sharks v Harlequins (20:15 BST).

Image source, Getty Images

The 2016-17 Premiership season got off to an eventful start last weekend.

There was an incredible comeback, a host of new faces to learn, joy for the champions and disappointment for last season's runners-up.

All we were missing was a partridge in a pear tree.