Each year the Guinness PRO14 churns out a plethora of derbies for fans to feast on providing some of the most exciting fixtures in world rugby.

Munster v Leinster has perhaps become the most iconic of them all with both clubs regularly finishing high up their conferences and challenging for silverware.

Momentum has swung in the direction of reigning champions Leinster recently but Munster will be hoping that head coach Johann van Graan can steer them into a new era of dominance next year.

It’s not just the Irish teams that provide derby-day action though as the Welsh, Scottish, Italian and South African sides all go toe-to-toe for the bragging rights.

Here’s five derbies to look out for next season:

MUNSTER V LEINSTER, THOMOND PARK, SAT 28 DECEMBER

This has long been one of the most hotly-contested rivalries in world rugby and at present Leinster hold the cards.

Leo Cullen’s men are the reigning Guinness PRO14 champions and knocked Munster out at the semi-final stages last season on their way to the crown.

The history books will tell you that once upon a time the head-to-head scores looked similar but today the balance tips in favour of Leinster having won 51 derby clashes to Munster’s 43, since records began in 1946.

Van Graan’s side got the better of the meeting at Thomond Park last season though, and will be hoping for more of the same at the end of December.

EDINBURGH V GLASGOW WARRIORS, BT MURRAYFIELD, SAT 28 DECEMBER

Despite making it all the way to the Guinness PRO14 Final last season, Glasgow Warriors let the 1872 Cup slip through their grasp.

Edinburgh instead took the three-game series 2-1 for the second year running clinching the Cup with a 16-8 victory on enemy turf at Scotstoun.

Stuart Hogg has long been the Warriors’ secret weapon but after his departure to Exeter Chiefs, Edinburgh will fancy their chances of a three-peat.

Glasgow still outweigh Edinburgh in terms of overall wins, lifting the trophy seven times to Edinburgh’s five but won’t want to give away any further ground to their rivals.

The first meeting at BT Murrayfield on December 28 is not to be missed.

DRAGONS V SCARLETS, RODNEY PARADE, SAT 21 DECEMBER

Dragons edged a thrilling encounter the last time the clubs met on Judgement Day in April – and new director of rugby Dean Ryan will be hoping the Newport-based side can pull off another result on home soil.

Matthew Screech scored a double in a 34-32 win at the Principality Stadium as the Dragons ended a tough season on the best possible note.

With the arrival of former Worcester Warriors boss Ryan, as well as Wales fly-half Sam Davies, Dragons will be confident of getting one over Scarlets once again.

But having just missed out on both a Final Series qualifying spot and a place in the European Champions Cup last term, Scarlets will be determined to get back to winning ways in the new season.

In Brad Mooar, Scarlets also have a new man in charge, and it will be fascinating to see if he can guide his troops to revenge over their Welsh rivals this winter.

BENETTON V ZEBRE, STADIO MONIGO, SAT 28 DECEMBER

Last season Benetton enjoyed their best season in the Guinness PRO14 finishing third in Conference B and reaching the quarter-finals.

Part of that success was founded on a trio of wins over Italian rivals including the lasting memory of a Round 21 home loss to finish things off, and clinch a place in the Final Series for Benetton.

Luca Bigi will be one player in particular that will be desperate to buck that trend next season after joining Zebre from Benetton and will be a welcome addition to Michael Bradley’s squad.

The teams meet for the first time in Treviso at the end of December, before a return fixture in Parma the following week.

ISUZU SOUTHERN KINGS V TOYOTA CHEETAHS, NELSON MANDELA BAY STADIUM, SAT 18 JAN

The two South African teams in the Guinness PRO14 have become renowned for producing high-scoring games so when they face each other it is normally a try-fest.

In three meetings last season 203 points were scored between the two sides with Cheetahs running out winners each time.

The Bloemfontein outfit followed up a 24-17 away win with a thrilling 40-36 victory back on home soil and finished off the season with another resounding 61-25 at the Toyota Stadium.

That means the Cheetahs have won all six meetings between the two sides over the last two seasons, although the Kings have scored at least 20 points in every game bar one.

Will a meeting in Port Elizabeth at the start of January be the game where the Kings finally get one over on their rivals?

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/