The weekend starts on Friday night Richard Cockerill takes his Edinburgh team to Liberty Stadium to face Ospreys (live on Premier Sports 2, 19:35). Edinburgh reached the Guinness PRO14 Final Series for the first time last season and have lost just once on the opening weekend since 2013, however, they have not beaten the four-time champions in Swansea since 2009.
The first game of the season in Italy takes place in Parma where Zebre Rugby Clubplay host to the newly christened Isuzu Southern Kings at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi (live on DAZN, SuperSport 1 20:35 & Free Sports 19:35). Coached by Michael Bradley, the hosts claimed their highest total of wins last season (7) but face a reinvigorated Kings team eager to set new standards.
Saturday’s first game of the day takes place at The Sportsground in Galway where Andy Friend takes charge of Connacht for the first time against Glasgow Warriors (live on TG4, eir sport 1 & Premier Sports 1, 15:00). It’s a meeting of the 2015 and 2016 champions and the third season in a row that they have met on the opening weekend with Warriors twice leaving as victors.
Following the action in Galway, the Toyota Cheetahsfirst game of the season comes against Munster at Thomond Park (live on eir sport 1, Premier Sports 2, 17:15 & SuperSport 1, 18:15). Munster are coached by South African Johann van Graan and were one of the few teams to beat the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last season, however, the visitors will be eager to avoid a repeat of their heavy loss here in Round 2 in 2017.
At Kingspan Stadium Ulster face Scarlets with their new head coach Dan McFarland in charge for the first time (live on Premier Sports 1, eir sport 2 & S4C, 17:15). Scarlets, who lost six times to Irish opposition last season, face an Ulster team who have only ever lost once in the opening round of the Championship, but with title aspirations on their minds the Welsh region will want to buck the trend in Belfast.
Dragons open up their campaign at Rodney Parade against Benetton Rugbywith the Italians fresh from record number of wins (11) last season (live on Premier Sports 1, eir sport 2 & DAZN). Head coach Bernard Jackman has brought in a number of new signings while Kieran Crowley has consolidated at Benetton and should have aspirations to challenge for the Guinness PRO14 Final Series this season.
