Opening Round runs Thursday to Sunday

OR-03Catalogue name: Opening Round spans four days

What it means

An Opening RoundA short extra round before Round 1, played by some clubs only. The 2027 model has none.Read more in the glossary spans four days, like a normal round.

Why it exists

Keeps an Opening Round's TV and travel pattern the same as any other round. The 2027 model has no Opening Round.

For example

An Opening Round would start on a Thursday nightThe week's first game. The 2027 model has 24 of them, plus one Wednesday night on the 17 March calendar.Read more in the glossary and finish on the Sunday.

How strictly it applies

Must-follow The fixture must obey this rule. A separate checker tests the finished fixture afterwards.

Must-follow in seasons with an Opening Round. Shown as "doesn't apply here" for 2027.

Not applicable to the 2027 model: no Opening Round has been announced.

Where to see it

How the fixture is made shows how this plays out across the season.

How it played out across versions

One cell per release, oldest first. Each shows the verdict that release recorded for this rule; a release with no row for the rule says so.

13 Sep13 Sep 2026Preview 13 September2027 · Generated
Doesn't apply, doesn't apply here
13 Sep13 Sep 2026Preview 14 September (seed 42)2027 · Generated
Doesn't apply, doesn't apply here
14 Sep14 Sep 2026Repeat-qualified (seed 42)2027 · Generated
Doesn't apply, doesn't apply here
14 Sep14 Sep 2026Corrected (seed 43)2027 · Generated
Doesn't apply, doesn't apply here
14 Sep14 Sep 2026Rules release (seed 43)2027 · Generated
Doesn't apply, doesn't apply here
15 Sep15 Sep 2026B009 nominal (seed 43)2027 · Generated
Doesn't apply, doesn't apply here
18 Sep18 Sep 2026B010 nominal (weight 0.10)2027 · Generated
Doesn't apply, doesn't apply here
19 Sep19 Sep 2026B011 nominal2027 · Generated
Doesn't apply, doesn't apply here
30 Sep30 Sep 2026B012 Wednesday opening2027 · Generated
Doesn't apply, doesn't apply here
20252025 season as played2025 · As played
Off, switched off by these settings
no checker yet

For analysts: catalogue text and codes

Rule id: OR-03
Catalogue text: Opening Round spans 4 days (Thursday to Sunday).
Catalogue type: Hard
Catalogue family: Opening Round and Bye Constraints
Class: hard · The fixture must never break it.
Step: S2 · Step 2: rounds
Recorded status: not_recorded · reason event_not_present · source row not_applicable
Catalogue reason: Keeps an Opening Round's broadcast and travel pattern the same as any other round. Not applicable to the 2027 model.