Rugby:Reigning champions Munster will get their new RaboDirect PRO12 campaign underway at Musgrave Park against Welsh side Newport Gwent Dragons on the opening weekend from Friday, September 2nd.
In last season’s competition, then known as the Magners League, Munster were undefeated at home at before defeating 2010 champions Ospreys then Leinster 19-9 in grand final.
This time around Leinster will travel to the Liberty Stadium to take on Ospreys, a re-run of the 2010 grand final. Elsewhere Benetton Treviso will host Connacht at Stadio Monigo, while Glasgow Warriors travel to Ravenhill to meet Ulster.
The RaboDirect PRO12 season will continue through September and early October while the Rugby World Cup is being played in New Zealand, but will have a two week break after Round 6 (weekend of October 7th) while the semi-finals and final in New Zealand are played.
League action resumes from the weekend of October 28th for Rounds 7 and 8 ahead of the opening Pool weekends of the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup.
Round 8 (November 4th) will see the first wave of major derby clashes as Leinster host Munster at the RDS, the Dragons entertain Cardiff Blues at their re-built Rodney Parade ground and the Ospreys play the Scarlets at the Liberty Stadium.
There will be two rounds of matches played during the Six Nations, Round 14 (February 10th) and Round 16 (February 24th) with the final round, Round 22, being played on the weekend of May 4th.
The play-offs, between the top four teams will take place on the weekend of May 11th with the grand final to be played on Saturday, May 26th, 2012.
Connacht, meanwhile, have moved their pre-season game against Exeter from the Sportsground to Buccaneers home ground, Dubarry Park in Athlone.
The western province will take on the English side on August 13th (kick-off 5.30pm) and the switch was made due to ongoing work at the Galway venue. Improvements include the covering of the East terrace and erection of a 300-seater covered stand on the West side.
“Our first match this season against the Exeter Chiefs was initially planned to be played in the Sportsground but with the redevelopment work that’s going on at the moment that’s not going to be possible so the game is scheduled for Dubarry Park in Athlone. It provides us with a great opportunity to get out and around the province and engage with our supporters,” said Connacht coach Eric Elwood.
