Cape Town gets Rainbow Cup bonus
NEWS. The Cape Town Stadium has been gifted the first match of the Rainbow Cup, despite ongoing challenges with the competition.
Kick-off times and dates for the first three rounds of the Pro14 Rainbow Cup were confirmed on Tuesday - with the opening game kicking off in South Africa.
The Stormers and the Sharks will compete in the competitions first game on Friday, April 23'(18.00 UK / 19.00 SA) and will then be followed by Ulster's derby match with Connacht and Zebre's trip to Edinburgh.
On Saturday, Benetton will host Glasgow Warriors to start off a run of four matches - which will see the Bulls take on the Lions, Ospreys taking on Cardiff Blues and Leinster hosting Munster in a rematch of their Pro14 Final on March 27.
Dragons and Scarlets will finish off Round One on Sunday (13.00) at Rodney Parade.
Full kick-off details for the opening rounds of the Pro14 Rainbow Cup are below.
* Confirmation for Rounds Four to Six will follow once Pro14 Rugby has received all necessary approvals and permissions from the relevant governments and health authorities for the South African teams to travel.
Round One
Friday, April 23
Stormers v Sharks - Kick-off: 18.00 UK / 19.00 SA
Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Ulster v Connacht - Kick-off: 20.15
Kingspan Stadium, Belfast
Edinburgh v Zebre - Kick-off: 20.15 UK / 21.15 Italy
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Saturday, April 24
Benetton v Glasgow Warriors - Kick-off: 13.00 UK / 14.00 Italy
Stadio de Monigo, Treviso
Bulls v Lions - Kick-off: 15.00 UK / 16.00 SA
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Ospreys v Cardiff Blues - Kick-off: 17.15
Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Leinster v Munster - Kick-off: 19.35
RDS Arena, Dublin
Sunday, April 25
Dragons v Scarlets - Kick-off: 13.00
Rodney Parade, Newport
Round Two
Friday, April 30
Sharks v Lions - Kick-off: 18.00 UK / 19.00 SA
Kings Park, Durban
Saturday, May 1
Stormers v Bulls - Kick-off: 16.00 UK / 17.00 SA
Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Friday, May 7
Zebre Rugby Club v Benetton - Kick-off: 18.00 UK / 19.00 Italy
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
Munster v Ulster - Kick-off: 20.15 UK
Thomond Park, Limerick
Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh - Kick-off: 20.15
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Saturday, May 8
Connacht v Leinster - Kick-off: 19.35
The Sportsground, Galway
Scarlets v Ospreys - Kick-off: 19.35
Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Sunday, May 9
Cardiff Blues v Dragons - Kick-off: 13.00
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
Round Three
Saturday, May 8
Lions v Stormers - Kick-off: 15.00 UK / 16.00 SA
Airline Park, Johannesburg
Bulls v Sharks - Kick-off: 17.15 UK / 18.15 SA
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Friday, May 14
Munster v Connacht - Kick-off: 18.00
Thomond Park, Limerick
Leinster v Ulster - Kick-off: 20.15
RDS Arena, Dublin
Saturday, May 15
Scarlets v Cardiff Blues - TBC May 15/16
Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Benetton v Zebre - Kick-off: 17.15 UK / 18.15 Italy
Stadio de Monigo, Treviso
Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors - Kick-off: 19.35
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Sunday, May 16
Dragons v Ospreys - Kick-off: 13.00
Rodney Parade, Newport
Round Four: Weekend of May 29.
Round Five: Weekend of June 5.
Round Six: Weekend of June 12.
Final: Weekend of June 19.