Dates with destiny for the new rugby season
IT’S a big year in Welsh rugby with plenty of important things set to happen this season.
There’s lots of key dates worth remembering but it’s not always easy to keep up with everything that is going on in such a packed rugby schedule.
So we’ve put together all the key dates you need to remember ahead of a huge season of Welsh rugby.
The season kicks off on August 31, with the Cardiff Blues hosting Leinster at the Arms Park and the Ospreys welcoming Edinburgh to the Liberty Stadium.
Then the following day, the Scarlets travel to Ulster while the Dragons start their campaign by facing Benetton at Rodney Parade. The regions’ opening PRO14 fixtures Cardiff Blues v Leinster, 7.35pm, Friday August 31, Cardiff Arms Park Ospreys v Edinburgh, 7.35pm, Friday August 31, Liberty Stadium Ulster v Scarlets, 5.13pm, Saturday September 1, Kingspan Stadium Dragons v Benetton, 7.35pm, Saturday September 1, Rodney Parade The regions’ opening European fixtures CHAMPIONS CUP Scarlets v Racing 92, 5.30pm, Saturday October 13, Parc y Scarlets Lyon v Cardiff Blues, 2pm, Sunday October 14, Matmut Stadium de Gerland CHALLENGE CUP Timisoara Saracens v Dragons, 2.30pm, Saturday October 13, Dan Paltinisanu Stadium Ospreys v Pau, 3pm, Saturday October 13, Liberty Stadium
As of yet, no plans for a seventh installment of Judgement Day have been confirmed, but the Cardiff Blues and Dragons do have home derbies pencilled in against their west Wales rivals on the final weekend of the season (weekend of April 26).
That was when the Judgement was played last season and the Dragons do not have a home ground confirmed for the match on the fixtures list so it would appear that, if there is to be another Judgement Day, this is when it will happen.
Other Welsh derbies are pencilled in throughout the season, although Boxing Day derbies won’t be happening this year. Every Welsh derby to be played next season ROUND SIX Scarlets v Ospreys, 3pm, Saturday October 6, Parc y Scarlets Dragons v Cardiff Blues, 5.15pm, Saturday October 6, Rodney Parade ROUND 11 Ospreys v Scarlets, 3pm, Saturday December 22, Liberty Stadium Cardiff Blues v Dragons, 5.15pm, Saturday December 22, Cardiff Arms Park ROUND 12 Scarlets v Cardiff Blues, 5.15pm, Saturday December 29, Parc y Scarlets Dragons v Ospreys, 3pm, Sunday December 20, Rodney Parade
ROUND 13 Scarlets v Dragons, 5.15pm, Saturday January 5, Parc y Scarlets Ospreys v Cardiff Blues, TBC, Liberty Stadium ROUND 18 (weekend of March 22) Cardiff Blues v Scarlets, TBC, Cardiff Arms Park Ospreys v Dragons, TBC, Liberty Stadium ROUND 21 (weekend of Apr 26) Cardiff Blues v Ospreys, TBC, Cardiff Arms Park Dragons v Scarlets, TBC Semi-final play-offs (weekend of May 3) Semi-finals (weekend of May 17) PRO14 Final, TBC, Saturday May 25, Celtic Park
The European finals take place in Newcastle this season, being played on the weekend of May 10-11 next year.
The quarter-finals will be held on the weekend starting Friday March 29, while the semi-finals will take place over the weekend starting Friday April 19. WALES
THE autumn series will be key for Warren Gatland, providing him the last chance to test his side against teams from the Southern Hemisphere ahead of the World Cup.
An unprecedented match against Celtic rivals Scotland kicks off Wales’ autumn campaign, before games against Australia, Tonga and South Africa. Wales’ autumn international fixtures Wales v Scotland, 2.45pm, Saturday November 3, Principality Stadium Wales v Australia, 5.20pm, Saturday November 10, Principality Stadium Wales v Tonga, 2.30pm, Saturday November 17, Principality Stadium Wales v South Africa, 5.20pm, Saturday November 24, Principality Stadium
After finishing second in this season’s Six Nations, Wales will be looking to go one step further and win their first Six Nations title since 2013.
With trips to Paris, Rome and Edinburgh on the agenda this season, it will be interesting to see how Gatland’s side go. Wales’ Six Nations fixtures France v Wales, 8pm, Friday February 1, Stade de France Italy v Wales, 4.45pm, Saturday February 9, Stadio Olimpico Wales v England, 4.45pm, Saturday February 23, Principality Stadium Scotland v Wales, 2.15pm, Saturday March 9, Murrayfield Wales v Ireland, 2.45pm, Saturday March 16, Principality Stadium
Everything this season is building towards the World Cup in Japan next year.
The first thing that will happen will be Warren Gatland naming his extended training squad, which, going on previous years, can be expected around early June.
After that Wales will play a few warm-up games between early August and the start of September (dates to be confirmed) – with a double-header with England lined up and a potential fixture with Ireland on the cards.
And then the wider squad will be cut down to the final 31-man party at some point in late August or early September ahead of the World Cup starting in Japan on September 20.