Pro14 Fixtures: Cheetahs and Kings out in the cold
NEWS: Fixtures for the return of the Pro14 from August 21 has been confirmed.
An abbreviated schedule will see the 2019/20 Pro14 regular-season run to 15 rounds followed by semifinals and a Final across four consecutive weeks.
Round 14 will kick-off in Italy on Friday, August 21 with Benetton welcoming Zebre to Treviso before a jam-packed Saturday schedule delivers a feast of mouth-watering derby action in the UK and Ireland.
In Wales, Scarlets face Cardiff Blues in Llanelli upon their return to rugby with head coach Glenn Delaney taking charge of the hosts for the very first time. That game will be followed by Edinburgh’s clash with Glasgow Warriors in the Scottish capital and the final game on Saturday sees Munster visit Aviva Stadium in Dublin, where Leinster are looking to extend their record unbeaten run of 14 games in the Pro14.
The opening weekend rounds off on Sunday with Ospreys taking on Dragons in Swansea and Connacht facing Ulster in Dublin.
South African Derbies
At this point, no dates have been fixed for the Pro14 derby games between the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings.
Due to the current conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa, both teams have only been allowed to return to non-contact training this week.
PRO14 Rugby remains in constant dialogue with SA Rugby and the teams and aim to identify appropriate dates for the two derbies when possible.
David Jordan, Tournament Director of the Pro14, said: "So far we have been encouraged by the developments that have allowed all of our teams to return to training. Thanks to the great efforts of our clubs and unions, the willingness of governments and the support of our broadcasters we now have a fixture list to look forward to.
"Everyone who makes our games possible has had to adapt to a new way of working under the restrictions of the pandemic and the response of all our key stakeholders has been very impressive. With these fixtures now confirmed we are all geared to safe delivery of these games and to the welcome return of rugby after such a long period without the sport."
Round 14
Friday, August 21
Benetton Rugby v Zebre | Stadio Monigo, Treviso
Saturday, August 22
Scarlets v Cardiff Blues | Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors | Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Leinster v Munster | Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Sunday, August 23
Ospreys v Dragons | Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Connacht v Ulster | Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Round 15
Friday, August 28
Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh | Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Saturday, August 29
Dragons v Scarlets | Rodney Parade, Newport
Ulster v Leinster | Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Sunday, August 30
Munster v Connacht | Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Cardiff Blues v Ospreys | Rodney Parade, Newport
Zebre v Benetton Rugby | Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma
PRO14 Final Series
Semifinals: To be played on the weekend of September 4/5/6
Finals: To be played on Saturday, September 12