LONDON Welsh will play Bedford Blues three times in the regular Greene King IPA Championship season as part of plans to raise the league’s profile.

All clubs have been allotted one extra match at a neutral venue on the opening weekend of the season, which will see three double-headers.

The Exiles face Bedford on the artificial pitch at Saracens’ Allianz Park on Saturday, September 14 after Ealing play London Scottish two hours previously.

Welsh will play regular home and away matches against Bedford later in the season.

The Exiles will also play in the British & Irish Cup and have been drawn alongside London Scottish, Edinburgh Academicals and a Welsh play-off winner.

LONDON WELSH FIXTURES

(Home games at Kassam Stadium and all matches in Greene King IPA Championship unless stated)

SEPTEMBER
14 Bedford Blues (Allianz Park)
22 Nottingham (a)
28 Plymouth Albion (H)
OCTOBER
5 Rotherham Titans (a)
12 London Scottish (H) (Bri-tish & Irish Cup)
19 tbc (a) (B&I Cup)
26 Cornish Pirates (H)
NOVEMBER
3 Leeds Carnegie (a)
10 Bristol (H)
17 Ealing Trailfinders (H)
23 Moseley (a)
30 Bedford Blues (a)
DECEMBER
7 Edinburgh Academicals (H) (B&I Cup)
14 Edinburgh Academicals (a) (B&I Cup)
21 London Scottish (H)
JANUARY
4 Jersey (a)
11 tbc (H) (B&I Cup)
18 London Scottish (a) (B&I Cup)
26 Leeds Carnegie (H)
FEBRUARY
1 Plymouth Albion (a)
8 Rotherham Titans (H)
16 Cornish Pirates (a)
MARCH
1 Ealing Trailfinders (a)
9 Moseley (H)
23 Bedford Blues (H)
30 London Scottish (a)
APRIL
5 B&I Cup quarter-finals
12 Jersey (H)
18 Bristol (a)
26 Nottingham (H).
MAY
3 B&I Cup semi-final
10 Championship play-off semi-final first leg
17 Championship play-off semi-final second leg
23 B&I Cup final
29 Championship play-off final first leg
JUNE
4 Championship play-off final second leg