It's a big week for new seasons in London, with both club rugby union and Women's Super League football getting under way. There's a huge range of events and fixtures to choose from, including snooker, ice hockey, squash, rugby, cricket, and 29 (!) football matches. There's even a free match you can go to. Plus, the ballot opens this week for tickets to next summer's Ashes. Read on for the details.

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The new season kicks off this week, with the Prem Rugby Cup and National League 1 both under way.

Harlequins vs Leicester Tigers, Prem Rugby Cup, Saturday 5th September, 3pm
📍 Twickenham Stoop | Tickets from £20

Saracens vs Northampton Saints, Prem Rugby Cup, Saturday 5th September, 3pm
📍 StoneX Stadium | Tickets £20

Rosslyn Park vs Plymouth Albion, National League 1, Saturday 5th September, 3pm
📍 The Rock | Tickets £16

Wednesday 2nd to Sunday 6th September
📍 Alexandra Palace | Tickets from £50

A PSA Gold-level event bringing some of the world's best squash players to north London. Semi-finals day (Saturday) has sold out, but the rest of the sessions still have some availability, including finals day (Sunday).

Romford Buccaneers vs Milton Keynes Thunder, pre-season friendly, Saturday 5th September, 5.15pm
📍 Sapphire Ice & Leisure | Tickets £10

Romford Raiders vs Peterborough Phantoms, pre-season friendly, Sunday 6th September, 5.15pm
📍 Sapphire Ice & Leisure | Tickets £20

Monday 7th to Sunday 13th September
📍 Brentwood Centre | Tickets from £18

Part of snooker's Home Nations Series, with around 70 players including the world's top 16 competing for the Steve Davis Trophy. There's an early session (10am or 1pm depending on the day) and a late session (7pm) each day.

There's a massive 18 London games to choose from this week, right down to the National League. The Premier League fixtures are open to members only, but there's also four London Carabao Cup ties on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, with home games for Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Millwall (vs Newcastle) and Leyton Orient. From what I can see, tickets go on sale to members at 10am today (Tuesday), with anything remaining going on general sale at 2pm Thursday, so keep an eye out if you're keen to go.

My top picks for men's football this week:

QPR vs Middlesbrough, Championship, Saturday 5th September, 3pm
📍 Loftus Road | Tickets from £24

Boreham Wood vs Carlisle United, National League, Saturday 5th September, 5.30pm
📍 Meadow Park | Tickets £20

Bromley vs AFC Wimbledon, London derby, League One, Monday 7th September, 8pm
📍 Hayes Lane | Tickets from £25

Millwall vs Newcastle United (if tickets become available for general sale), Carabao Cup, Tuesday 8th September, 8pm
📍 The Den | Tickets £31

There are 14 more London fixtures this week. See the full list on the Matchside website.

Surrey vs Yorkshire, Wednesday 2nd to Saturday 5th September
📍 The Oval | Tickets from £15

Middlesex vs Lancashire, Wednesday 2nd to Saturday 5th September
📍 Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood | Tickets £20

London Broncos vs Swinton Lions, RFL Championship, Saturday 5th September, 2pm
📍 Richmond Athletic Ground | Tickets – free to attend but need to grab a ticket online

The WSL kicks off this week! Top picks:

Chelsea Women vs Aston Villa Women, WSL, Saturday 5th September, 12.35pm
📍 Stamford Bridge | Tickets from £16

Tottenham Hotspur Women vs West Ham Utd Women, London derby, WSL, Sunday 6th September, 12pm
📍 Brisbane Road | Tickets £10

There are 9 more women's fixtures this week across the WSL, WSL2 and FAWNL Cup. See the full list on the Matchside website.

The ballot for England's home international summer in 2027, including both the Men's and Women's Ashes, runs from 2nd to 29th September, with results announced in October.

It's also worth signing up to We Are England Cricket Supporters and opting into marketing now if you haven't already. It's free to create an account, gives you a shot at priority ticket access, and means you'll get notified by email when things open up.

I'll send a separate email in the next couple of days with more detail on the ballot and other ways to get tickets, so keep an eye out for that one if you're a cricket fan.

I took myself on a solo date (twice) to Lord's this weekend to watch the England vs Pakistan Test match. On Thursday (day 1) I saw England bat through the day and set a decent total on a tricky pitch, and then on Sunday (day 4) they skittled out the Pakistan batting line-up to seal an unassailable 2-0 series lead. I hope a few of you made it along as well! Photo evidence below.

Thanks for reading! If you go to something, let me know, I read every reply.

Louis