Wales will host the opening night of the new Guinness PRO14 season on August 31 when the first of 152 international club rugby games take place in Cardiff and Swansea. The Welsh capital will play host to a clash of European Champions as Cardiff Blues (Challenge Cup winners) welcome defending Guinness PRO14 title holders and Champions Cup winners, Leinster Rugby, to the Cardiff Arms Park as Premier Sports and eir sport screen Championship action live for the very first time on their channels (Premier Sports 2 & eir sport 1 & TG4). The second game on Friday, August 31 will see Ospreys open the campaign with a visit of Richard Cockerill’s Edinburgh, who reached the Guinness PRO14 Final Series for the very first time just two months ago (Premier Sports 1 & eir sport 2) Round One sees a full set of terrific match-ups with two clashes of former champions when Connacht Rugby host Glasgow Warriors (live on TG4 & eir sport 1 & Premier Sport 1) while Scarlets, 2017 title winners and last season’s beaten finalists, travel to Kingspan Stadium to face the 2006 Celtic League winners, Ulster Rugby (live on Premier Sports 1, S4C and eir sport 2). Munster Rugby will take on the Toyota Cheetahs (live on eir sport 1, Premier Sports 2 & Super Sport) while the Cheetahs’ South African compatriots, the Southern Kings start their season in Parma, Italy when they tackle Zebre Rugby Club (live on Free Sports, SuperSport & eir sport 1). Finally, Dragons fans will have high hopes to see what the region can achieve in season two of Bernard Jackman’s tenure as they face a challenging opener against Benetton Rugby (live on Premier Sports 1 and eir sport 2) who are aiming to build on last season’s record number of wins to make a real push for the Guinness PRO14 Final Series. For the first time ever the Championship has also been able to announce Kick-Off times and dates for the first 17 rounds of the Guinness PRO14 which is a big win for clubs and their supporters. This year’s opening round marks a brand new era for the Championship where every single game will be broadcast live across the UK by Premier Sports & Free Sports – a true first for the Guinness PRO14. In Ireland, eir sport will bring coverage of the Championship to new levels while Super Sport will continue to give South African fans a real taste of the Guinness PRO14 every weekend. Additionally, PRO14 Rugby is proud that games will still be broadcast live on native language channels TG4 (Republic of Ireland) and S4C (Wales) to ensure Free-To-Air access among two stations that have supported the Championship from the outset. Please note: The broadcast partner for Italy will be announced in due course. With 14 teams from five countries competing in the Guinness PRO14 across two hemispheres the process to formulate the fixture list comes with an extensive list of criteria to fulfill in terms of player welfare, respect to traditional match-days of various clubs and the needs of broadcasters. Entering his 15th season as Tournament Director, David Jordan, said: “For the first-time ever we have produced fixtures with Kick-Off times and dates right up to Round 17 which we have never been able to do before. When you consider the planning required around incoming and outbound South African tours, it’s fantastic to have so much of the season mapped out ahead of us at this point. “Rarely, has there been so much anticipation and excitement ahead of a new season now that we every game live across the UK on Premier Sports fully supported by eir sport & TG4 in Ireland, Super Sport in South Africa and S4C in Wales. Our new broadcast arrangements will drive up the broadcast standards and supporters should rightly get excited by what is to come. “I would like to thank all of our broadcast partners for their input into the process and the patience and flexibility of our teams throughout. Naturally, the logistics involved in scheduling an international club rugby tournament present many challenges but our clubs and broadcasters recognize that the Guinness PRO14 is incredibly unique which is why they are so proud to be a part of the Championship. “We are confident that we have respected the wide-ranging criteria required to produce the fixture list, whether that is accommodating traditional Friday or Saturday match-days for various clubs or working around clubs who share venues with football teams. Naturally, there is an abundance of international travel involved, too, and that is all part of the appeal of the Guinness PRO14 and now with the South African teams involved our clubs have embraced the opportunity to go on tour – a cherished aspect of the game that has faded away in recent times. “I wish all of our teams the very best of luck this season as we look forward to another terrific campaign of Guinness PRO14 action.” Guinness PRO14 Fixtures for the 2018⁄19 Championship Season (All fixtures are subject to change) Fixtures available here: https://www.pro14rugby.org/match-centre/fixtures/ ROUND 1 Friday, August 31 (all kick-off times are local) 19:35 Cardiff Blues v Leinster Rugby, Cardiff Arms Park Live on Premier Sports & eir sport 1 19:35 Ospreys Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby, Liberty Stadium Live on Premier Sports & eir sport 2 Saturday, September 1 15:00 Connacht Rugby v Glasgow Warriors, The Sportsground Live on TG4, eir sport 1 & Premier Sports 17:15 Ulster Rugby v Scarlets, Kingspan Stadium Live on Premier Sports, S4C & eir sport 2 17:15 Munster Rugby v Toyota Cheetahs (venue TBC) Live on eir sport 2, Premier Sports & Super Sport 19:35 Dragons v Benetton Rugby, Rodney Parade Live on Premier Sports & eir sport 2 20:35 Zebre Rugby Club v Southern Kings, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Live on Free Sports, Super Sport & eir sport 1 Broadcast channels from Round 2 will be confirmed in due course ROUND 2 Friday, September 7 (all kick-off times are local) 19:35 Glasgow Warriors v Munster Rugby, Scotstoun Stadium Live on Premier Sports & eir sport 19:35 Ulster Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby, Kingspan Stadium Live on Premier Sports & eir sport Saturday, September 8 (all kick-off times are local) 15:00 Dragons v Southern Kings, Rodney Parade Live on Premier Sports, Super Sport & eir sport 17:15 Connacht Rugby v Zebre Rugby Club, The Sportsground Live on TG4 & Premier Sports 17:30 Ospreys Rugby v Toyota Cheetahs, Liberty Stadium Live on S4C, Premier Sports, Super Sport & eir sport 19:35 Scarlets v Leinster Rugby, Parc y Scarlets Live on Premier Sports, eir sport & TG4 20:35 Benetton Rugby v Cardiff Blues, Stadio Monigo Live on Free Sports ROUND 3 Friday, September 14 (all kick-off times are local) 19:35 Edinburgh Rugby v Connacht Rugby, BT Murrayfield Live on Premier Sports & eir sport 19:35 Munster Rugby v Ospreys Rugby, Irish Independent Park Live on eir sport, Premier Sports & TG4 Saturday, September 15 (all kick-off times are local) 17:15 Scarlets v Benetton Rugby, Parc y Scarlets Live on S4C, Premier Sports & eir sport 17:15 Leinster Rugby v Dragons, RDS Arena Live on eir sport, Premier Sports & TG4 19:30 Toyota Cheetahs v Glasgow Warriors, Toyota Stadium Live on Super Sport, Free Sports & eir sport 20:35 Zebre Rugby Club v Cardiff Blues, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Live on Premier Sports & eir sport Sunday, September 16 (all kick-off times are local) 14:15 Southern Kings v Ulster Rugby (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium) Live on Super Sport, Premier Sports & eir sport ROUND 4 Friday, September 21 (all kick-off times are local) 19:15 Toyota Cheetahs v Ulster Rugby, Toyota Stadium Live on Super Sport & Premier Sports 19:35 Cardiff Blues v Munster Rugby, Cardiff Arms Park Live on Premier Sports, eir sport & TG4 Saturday, September 22 (all kick-off times are local) 15:00 Southern Kings v Glasgow Warriors, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Live on Super Sport, Premier Sports, Free Sports & eir sport 17:15 Connacht Rugby v Scarlets, The Sportsground Live on TG4 & Premier Sports 17:15 Dragons v Zebre Rugby Club, Rodney Parade Live on S4C, Premier Sports & eir sport 19:35 Leinster Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby, RDS Arena Live on eir sport & Premier Sports 19:35 Ospreys Rugby v Benetton Rugby, Liberty Stadium Premier Sports & eir sport ROUND 5 Friday, September 28 (all kick-off times are local) 19:35 Cardiff Blues v Toyota Cheetahs, Cardiff Arms Park Live on Super Sport & Premier Sports & eir sport 19:35 Edinburgh Rugby v Benetton Rugby, BT Murrayfield Live on Premier Sports & eir sport Saturday, September 29 (all kick-off times are local) 16:00 Zebre Rugby Club v Ospreys Rugby, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Live on Premier Sports & eir sport 17:15 Connacht Rugby v Leinster Rugby Live TG4, eir sport & Premier Sports 18:30 Scarlets v Southern Kings Live on S4C, Super Sport, Premier Sport and eir sport 19:35 Glasgow Warriors v Dragons Live on Free Sports 19:35 Munster Rugby v Ulster Rugby Live on eir sport and Premier Sports ROUND 6 Friday, October 5 (all kick-off times are local) 19:35 Edinburgh Rugby v Toyota Cheetahs, BT Murrayfield Live on Free Sports & Super Sport 19:35 Glasgow Warriors v Zebre Rugby, Scotstoun Stadium Live on Premier Sports 19:35 Ulster Rugby v Connacht Rugby, Kingspan Stadium Live on Premier Sports & eir sport Saturday, October 6 (all kick-off times are local) 15:00 Scarlets v Ospreys Rugby, Parc y Scarlets Live on Premier Sports & eir sport 17:15 Dragons v Cardiff Blues, Rodney Parade Live on Premier Sports and eir sport 18:00 Leinster Rugby v Munster Rugby, Aviva Stadium Live on eir sport and Premier Sports 20:00 Benetton Rugby v Southern Kings, Stadio Monigo Live on Free Sports & Super Sport ROUND 7 Friday, October 26 (all kick-off times are local) 19:00 Southern Kings v Scarlets, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Live on Super Sport, Premier Sports & eir sport 19:55 Ulster Rugby v Dragons, Kingspan Stadium Live on Premier Sports & eir sport 20:00 Zebre v Edinburgh Rugby, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Live on Free Sports Saturday, October 27 (all kick-off times are local) 16:00 Benetton Rugby v Leinster Rugby, Stadio Monigo Live on eir sport & Premier Sports 17:15 Munster Rugby v Glasgow Warriors, Thomond Park Live on eir sport & Premier Sports 19:15 Toyota Cheetahs v Cardiff Blues, Toyota Stadium Live on Super Sport, S4C & Premier October 26/27/28 TBC Ospreys v Connacht, Liberty Stadium Live on Premier Sports & TG4 ROUND 8 Friday, November 2 (all kick-off times are local) 19:35 Edinburgh Rugby v Scarlets, BT Murrayfield Live on Premier Sports & eir sport 19:35 Ospreys Rugby v Glasgow Warriors, Liberty Stadium Live on Premier Sports & eir sport Saturday, November 3 (all kick-off times are local) 16:00 Benetton Rugby v Ulster Rugby, Stadio Monigo Live on Premier Sports 17:15 Connacht Rugby v Dragons, Sportsground Live on TG4, S4C & Premier Sports Sunday, November 4 (all kick-off times are local) 14:45 Cardiff Blues v Zebre, Cardiff Arms Park Live on Free Sports, Premier Sports & eir sport 14:45 Southern Kings v Leinster Rugby, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Live on Super Sport, Premier Sports & eir sport 16:45 Toyota Cheetahs v Munster Rugby, Toyota Stadium Live on Super Sport, eir sport & Premier Sports ROUND 9 Friday, November 23 (all kick-off times are local) 19:35 Glasgow Warriors v Cardiff Blues, Scotstoun Live on Premier Sports & eir sport 19:35 Leinster Rugby v Ospreys Rugby, RDS Arena Live on eir sport, Free Sports, TG4 19:35 Scarlets v Ulster Rugby, Parc y Scarlets Live on Premier Sports & eir sport Saturday, November 24 (all kick-off times are local) 14:30 Toyota Cheetahs v Benetton Rugby, Toyota Stadium Live on Super Sport, Premier Sports & eir sport Sunday, November 25 (all kick-off times are local) 15:00 Southern Kings v Connacht Rugby, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Live on Super Sport, eir sport and Premier Sports 16:30 Zebre v Munster Rugby, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Live on eir sport & Premier Sport 17:30 Dragons v Edinburgh Rugby, Rodney Parade Live on S4C and Premier Sports ROUND 10 Friday, November 30 (all kick-off times are local) 19:35 Ospreys Rugby v Zebre, Liberty Stadium Live on Premier Sports and eir sport 19:35 Munster Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby, Irish Independent Park Live on eir sport and Premier Sports Saturday, December 1 (all kick-off times are local) 15:00 Ulster Rugby v Cardiff Blues, Kingspan Stadium Live on Premier Sports & eir sport 17:00 Toyota Cheetahs v Connacht Rugby, Toyota Stadium Live on Super Sport, Free Sports & eir sport 17:15 Glasgow Warriors v Scarlets, Scotstoun Stadium Live on Premier Sports, S4C & eir sport 17:15 Dragons v Leinster Rugby, Rodney Parade Live on Premier Sports, eir sport & TG4 19:15 Southern Kings v Benetton Rugby, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Live on Super Sport & Free Sports ROUND 11 Friday, December 21 (all kick-off times are local) 19:35 Ulster Rugby v Munster Rugby, Kingspan Stadium Live on Premier Sports & eir sport Saturday, December 22 (all kick-off times are local) 15:00 Ospreys Rugby v Scarlets, Liberty Stadium Live on Premier Sports 17:15 Cardiff Blues v Dragons, Cardiff Arms Park Live on S4C, Premier Sports & eir sport 17:15 Edinburgh Rugby v Glasgow Warriors, BT Murrayfield Stadium Live on Premier Sports & eir sport 19:45 Leinster Rugby v Connacht Rugby, RDS Arena Live on eir sport and Premier Sport TBC Zebre v Benetton Rugby, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Live on Free Sports ROUND 12 Friday, December 28 (all kick-off times are local) 19:35 Connacht Rugby v Ulster Rugby, Sportsground Live on TG4, eir sport & Premier Sports Saturday, December 29 (all kick-off times are local) TBC Benetton Rugby v Zebre, Stadio Monigo Live on Free Sports 15:00 Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh Rugby, Scotstoun Live Premier Sports & eir sport 17:15 Munster Rugby v Leinster Rugby, Thomond Park Live on eir sport & Premier Sport 17:15 Scarlets v Cardiff Blues, Parc y Scarlets Live on Premier Sports & eir sport Sunday, December 30 (all kick-off times are local) 15:00 Dragons v Ospreys Rugby, Rodney Parade Live on S4C, Premier Sports & eir sport ROUND 13 Saturday, January 5 (all kick-off times are local) 15:00 Benetton Rugby v Glasgow Warriors, Stadio Monigo Live on Premier Sports 17:15 Leinster Rugby v Ulster Rugby, RDS Arena Live on eir sport & Premier Sport 17:15 Scarlets v Dragons, Parc y Scarlets Live on Premier Sport & eir sports 19:35 Edinburgh Rugby v Southern Kings, BT Murrayfield Live on Premier Sports & Super Sport 19:35 Connacht Rugby v Munster Rugby, Sportsground Live on TG4, Premier Sports & eir sport Sunday, January 6 (all kick-off times are local) 14:00 Zebre v Toyota Cheetahs, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Live on Super Sport, Free Sports & Premier Sports January 4/5/6 TBC Ospreys Rugby v Cardiff Blues Live on Premier Sports & eir sport ROUND 11 Saturday, January 19 (all kick-off times are local) TBC Southern Kings v Toyota Cheetahs, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Live on Super Sport, Premier Sport & eir sport ROUND 14 Friday, January 25 (all kick-off times are local) 19:35 Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys Rugby, Scotstoun Stadium Live on Premier Sport & eir sport 19:35 Leinster Rugby v Scarlets, RDS Arena Live on eir sport, TG4 & Premier Sports 19:35 Ulster Rugby v Benetton Rugby, Kingspan Stadium Saturday, January 26 (all kick-off times are local) 15:00 Dragons v Munster Rugby, Rodney Parade Live on Premier Sports & eir sport 15:00 Toyota Cheetahs v Zebre, Toyota Stadium Live on Super Sport & Premier Sport 17:15 Cardiff Blues v Connacht Rugby, Cardiff Arms Park Live on S4C, TG4 and Premier Sports 17:15 Southern Kings v Edinburgh Rugby, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Live Super Sport and Premier Sports ROUND 12 Saturday, February 2 (all kick-off times are local) 16:00 Toyota Cheetahs v Southern Kings, Toyota Stadium Live on Super Sport, Premier Sports and eir sport ROUND 15 Friday, February 15 (all kick-off times are local) 19:35 Edinburgh Rugby v Dragons, BT Murrayfield Live on Premier Sports 19:35 Munster Rugby v Southern Kings, Irish Independent Park Live on eir sport, Premier Sports & Super Sport Saturday, February 16 (all kick-off times are local) 16:00 Zebre v Leinster Rugby, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Live on Free Sports and eir sport 17:30 Connacht Rugby v Toyota Cheetahs, Sportsground Live on TG4, eir sport, Premier Sport & Super Sport 18:15 Benetton Rugby v Scarlets, Stadio Monigo Live on S4C & Premier Sports 19:35 Cardiff Blues v Glasgow Warriors, Cardiff Arms Park Live on Premier Sports February 15/16/17 TBC Ospreys Rugby v Ulster Rugby, Liberty Stadium Live on Premier Sports & eir sport ROUND 16 Friday, February 22 (all kick-off times are local) 19:35 Glasgow Warriors v Connacht Rugby, Scotstoun Stadium Live on Free Sports 19:35 Ospreys Rugby v Munster Rugby, Liberty Stadium Live on Premier Sports, eir sport & TG4 19:55 Leinster Rugby v Southern Kings, RDS Arena Live on eir sport, Super Sport & Premier Sports Saturday, February 23 (all kick-off times are local) 14:00 Benetton Rugby v Dragons, Stadio Monigo Live on S4C, Premier Sports & eir sport 19:35 Edinburgh Rugby v Cardiff Blues, BT Murrayfield Live on Premier Sport 19:35 Ulster Rugby v Zebre, Kingspan Stadium Live on Premier Sports Sunday, February 24 (all kick-off times are local) TBC Scarlets v Toyota Cheetahs, Parc y Scarlets Live on Premier Sports, Super Sport & eir sport ROUND 17 Friday, March 1 (all kick-off times are local) 19:35 Leinster Rugby v Toyota Cheetahs, RDS Arena Live on eir sport, Super Sport & Premier Sports Saturday, March 2 (all kick-off times are local) 14:45 Connacht Rugby v Ospreys Rugby, Sportsground Live on TG4 & Premier Sports 16:00 Benetton Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby, Stadio Monigo Live on Premier Sports & Free Sports 17:00 Scarlets v Munster Rugby, Parc y Scarlets Live on S4C, eir sport 1 & Premier Sports 18:15 Zebre v Glasgow Warriors, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Live on Premier Sports 19:35 Cardiff Blues v Southern Kings, Cardiff Arms Park Live on Premier Sport & Super Sport Sunday, March 3 (all kick-off times are local) 15:00 Dragons v Ulster Rugby, Rodney Parade Live on Premier Sports & eir sport ROUND 18 March 22/23/24 Cardiff Blues v Scarlets Connacht Rugby v Benetton Rugby Edinburgh Rugby v Leinster Rugby Glasgow Warriors v Toyota Cheetahs Munster Rugby v Zebre Ospreys Rugby v Dragons Ulster Rugby v Southern Kings ROUND 19 April 5/6/7 Toyota Cheetahs v Ospreys Rugby Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby Southern Kings v Dragons Leinster Rugby v Benetton Rugby Munster Rugby v Cardiff Blues Scarlets v Edinburgh Rugby Zebre v Connacht Rugby ROUND 20 April 12/13/14 Toyota Cheetahs v Dragons Connacht Rugby v Cardiff Blues Edinburgh Rugby v Ulster Rugby Southern Kings v Ospreys Leinster Rugby v Glasgow Warriors Scarlets v Zebre Benetton Rugby v Munster Rugby ROUND 21 April 26/27/28 Cardiff Blues v Ospreys Rugby Toyota Cheetahs v Southern Kings Dragons v Scarlets Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh Rugby Munster Rugby v Connacht Rugby Ulster Rugby v Leinster Rugby Zebre v Benetton Rugby Quarter-Final Stage May 3/4/5 Semi-Finals May 17/18/19 Guinness PRO14 Final May 25