RUGBY PRO 12:LEINSTER AND Munster will clash at the RDS in the newly-named RaboDirect Pro12 the week before they open their Heineken Cup campaigns in November.

The clash of the Heineken Cup and Magners League champions is likely to see the return of the Irish players to their provinces after the World Cup.

Connacht, who will play in the Heineken Cup for the first time next season, face a daunting trip to play Ulster at Ravenhill the week before their debut as they try to bridge a 60-year gap since their last victory in Belfast.

A draft of the fixtures has been sent to the 12 clubs and while they are subject to change, Munster and Leinster will again face each other at Thomond Park the week before the Heineken Cup quarter-finals next April. As usual there will be successive Irish derby games over the Christmas period. Munster will host Connacht and Leinster will entertain Ulster, probably on Friday, December 23rd, while Leinster travel to the Sportsground and Munster head to Ravenhill for the new year’s weekend fixtures.

Champions Munster will open the defence of their title when they host Newport Gwent Dragons on the first weekend in September. Leinster will travel to Ospreys, Connacht head to Italy to face Benetton Treviso and Ulster will have home advantage against Glasgow Warriors.

The only Irish derby scheduled to take place during the World Cup will see Leinster take on Connacht at the RDS on the weekend starting October 7th.

The competition will take a two-week break in March for the Six Nations.