The fixtures have been released for the ²⁰¹⁹⁄₂₀ season of the Guinness PRO14 and it is not just the fans who will be poring over the calendar picking out the most exciting matches.

The teams will also be looking at some of the standout fixtures as 13 teams look to succeed champions Leinster, who will be going for an unprecedented hat-trick of titles.

With that in mind, we have picked out some of the most eye-catching and important fixtures for each team.

DRAGONS

Dean Ryan’s new regime has big ambitions for the Dragons and they will have a big early test of their credentials with a trip to Munster on the opening weekend.

While there are plenty of intriguing encounters, a clash with the Ospreys, who the Dragons beat in a thriller last year, might be the pick of them.

That day, Sam Davies missed a last-gasp penalty for the Liberty Stadium outfit – now he is turning out for the Dragons and could play a big part in their rejuvenation.

Munster v Dragons, Thomond Park, Sat 28 September

Leinster Rugby v Dragons, DRS Arena, Fri 1 November

Dragons v Scarlets, Rodney Parade, Sat 21 December

Cardiff Blues v Dragons, Cardiff Arms Park, Thur 26 December

Dragons v Ospreys, Rodney Parade, Sat 4 January

Toyota Cheetahs v Dragons, Toyota Stadium, Sat 9 May

GLASGOW WARRIORS

Dave Rennie’s biggest task over the summer will have been getting his team back up after coming so close to the title at Celtic Park last season.

The Warriors paced the league and did almost everything right until they fell just short against Leinster in the final. They have the chance of a modicum of revenge against the champions at Scotstoun on November 30, with the added spice of the pair being in Conference A together this season.

While both will expect to reach the Final Series, that much could be the chance to strike an early psychological blow.

Glasgow Warriors v Scarlets, Scotstoun Stadium, Fri 4 October

Glasgow Warriors v Leinster Rugby, Scotstoun Stadium, Sat 30 November

Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors, BT Murrayfield, Sat 28 December

Benetton Rugby v Glasgow Warriors, Stadio Monigo, Sat 4 January

Leinster Rugby v Glasgow Warriors, RDS Arena, Fri 28 February

Munster v Glasgow Warriors, Thomond Park, Sat 25 April

LEINSTER

Three in a row has never been done in the Guinness PRO14 but with two successive titles, Leinster have that opportunity.

In Conference A with Glasgow, they will not have it easy, and Ulster will also fancy their chances of cracking the top three. The teams meet at the RDS Arena on December 20, and while Leinster comfortably won the home inter-pro meeting in the league last season, Ulster almost upset them at the Aviva in Europe.

Leo Cullen’s men know that a tough clash could be on the cards once again in December.

Benetton Rugby v Leinster Rugby, Stadio Monigo, Sat 28 September

Glasgow Warriors v Leinster Rugby, Scotstoun Stadium, Sat 30 November

Leinster v Ulster Rugby, RDS Arena, Fri 20 December

Munster Rugby v Leinster Rugby, Thomond Park, Sat 28 December

Leinster v Connacht Rugby, RDS Arena, Sat 4 January

Isuzu Southern Kings v Leinster Rugby, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Fri 27 March

OSPREYS

The Ospreys are back in the top tier of European rugby after a strong showing in their first campaign under Allen Clarke.

They will be even stronger this season, with the addition of Gareth Anscombe to pull the strings at fly-half. He will be absent early in the season with Wales, but the Ospreys will hope to strike an early blow away to Leinster at the RDS.

That was the venue for some of their most famous victories, in a pair of league finals in 2010 and 2012 – nearly a decade on, the Welsh side will be after a repeat.

Leinster Rugby v Ospreys Rugby, RDS Arena, Fri 4 October

Ospreys Rugby v Cardiff Blues, Liberty Stadium, Sat 21 December

Scarlets v Ospreys Rugby, Parc y Scarlets, Thur 26 December

Cardiff Blues v Ospreys Rugby, Cardiff Arms Park, Sat 28 March

Ospreys v Dragons, Principality Stadium, Sat 18 April

Ospreys v Scarlets, Liberty Stadium, Sat 29 May

TOYOTA CHEETAHS

After a dream debut season, Toyota Cheetahs found their sophomore campaign a little trickier, and they will have it all to do to get back into the Final Series in Conference A.

Their record on the road has been an issue in each of the last two campaigns, having won just three games outside South Africa. One of those was in Newport in their first season, and they travel to the Dragons on February 27 during the Six Nations.

Depending on how the start of the season has treated them, that could be a good opportunity to stay in the race for the top three.

Toyota Cheetahs v Glasgow Warriors, Toyota Stadium, Fri 27 September

Isuzu Southern Kings v Toyota Cheetahs, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Sat 18 January

Toyota Cheetahs v Isuzu Southern Kings, Toyota Stadium, TBC

Dragons v Toyota Cheetahs, Rodney Parade, Sat 27 February

Toyota Cheetahs v Leinster Rugby, Toyota Stadium, Sat 21 March

Toyota Cheetahs v Isuzu Southern Kings, Toyota Stadium, Sat 29 May

ULSTER

Dan McFarland’s first season with Ulster was a successful one, taking Ulster back to the Final Series as well as into a European quarter-final.

While they pushed Leinster all the way in Europe, the heavy defeat to Glasgow Warriors in the league will have left a slightly sour taste after such a promising campaign. The teams meet back at Scotstoun on March 27, where Ulster will surely be looking to avenge that defeat.

With the sides also in Conference A together, the meeting has more riding on it than simply revenge.

Isuzu Southern Kings v Ulster, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Sat 12 October

Munster Rugby v Ulster Rugby, Thomond Park, Sat 9 November

Leinster Rugby v Ulster, RDS Arena, Fri 20 December

Ulster Rugby v Connacht Rugby, Kingspan, Fri 27 December

Glasgow Warriors v Ulster Rugby, Scotstoun Stadium, Fri 27 March

Ulster Rugby v Leinster Rugby, Kingspan Stadium, Sat 29 May

ZEBRE

Last season, Zebre started the season very strongly before fading, and Michael Bradley’s side will need to ensure they build some momentum in the new campaign.

While World Cup absentees will hurt them early, their first home game against the Dragons will be a match they will certainly be up for in round two.

The Conference A rivals last met in Italy in April 2018 when Zebre won a classic encounter 34-32 as the teams combined for nine tries. If that is anything to go by, we could be in for another try-fest on October 5.

Zebre Rugby v Dragons, Stadio Lanfranchi, Sat 5 October

Zebre Rugby v Leinster Rugby, Stadio Lanfranchi, Sat 26 October

Zebre Rugby v Benetton Rugby, Stadio Lanfranchi, Sat 21 December

Benetton Rugby v Zebre Rugby, Stadio Monigo Sat 28 December

Toyota Cheetahs v Zebre Rugby, Toyota Stadium, Sat 25 April

Benetton Rugby v Zebre Rugby, Stadio Monigo, Sat 29 May

²⁰¹⁹⁄₂₀ FIXTURES INFORMATION

To view all fixtures from R1-21 visit https://www.pro14rugby.org/match-centre/fixtures/

To download all fixtures directly to your calendar visit https://www.pro14rugby.org/downloadable-fixture-list/