The final of next season's Guinness Premiership has been moved to avoid a potential clash with the opening fixtures of the Lions tour of South Africa.

The final round of the regular season will take place on Saturday April 25, and the Premiership final has moved to May 16, to avoid a clash with the Lions tour which begins on May 30.

Gerald Davies, the Lions tour manager, admitted it had been a relief that the final would no longer pose a threat to the start of the tour.

"I'm delighted that this issue has been resolved well ahead of the next season thanks to many people's efforts over the last few weeks," he said.

"I'd like to express my particular thanks on behalf of the Lions to the English clubs for their gesture in agreeing to stage the Guinness Premiership Final on May 16 and to the RFU for helping to facilitate this. It will allow selected players to join up with the Lions in good time for the opening match of the tour.

"It has not been easy to resolve but with the help of all parties we have done so. We can now look forward to another fantastic season ahead for the Guinness Premiership and to the added battle for selection to the Lions' tour."

The news was announced on the day the fixtures for the new season were released, with Gloucester and Leicester's match at Kingsholm the highlight of the opening weekend.

The first matches of the new Premiership season will be played on the weekend of September 5-7 and also feature a west country derby clash between Bristol and European Challenge Cup winners Bath.

London Irish, the Heineken Cup semi-finalists, tackle Guinness Premiership champions Wasps and Saracens, also Heineken Cup semi-finalists, face Harlequins in the fifth London double header at Twickenham.

Newly-promoted Northampton Saints kick off with a home match against European Challenge Cup finalists Worcester and, in the remaining round one match, Newcastle start their first season under Steve Bates with a home match against Sale Sharks.

Opening round of fixtures, September 5-7 2008
Bristol v Bath
Gloucester v Leicester Tigers
Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks
Northampton Saints v Worcester Warriors
London Irish v Wasps (1430) *
Saracens v Harlequins (1700) *

* London double-header at Twickenham

Final round of fixtures, Saturday, April 25 2009
Bath v Saracens
Harlequins v Newcastle Falcons
Leicester Tigers v Bristol
Wasps v Gloucester
Sale Sharks v Northampton
Worcester Warriors v London Irish