Scarlets to open defence of title against the Kings

CHAMPIONS Scarlets will be the first Welsh team to take on South African opposition in the Guinness PRO14, opening the defence of their title at home to the Southern Kings.

The introduction of the Kings and the Toyota Cheetahs marks the start of a brave new world for the expanded cross-border competition.

So it’s quite fitting the title holders should face one of the two new South African sides on the opening weekend of the season.

That will be at Parc y Scarlets on either September 1 or 2, with precise kick-off times yet to be confirmed amid consulation with broadcasters.

All four Welsh regions are at home that first weekend, with Cardiff Blues entertaining Edinburgh, the Ospreys hosting Zebre and the Dragons locking horns with Leinster on the new Rodney Parade pitch.

It’s Ulster who are the opening opponents for the Cheetahs, who will step out at Belfast’s Kingspan Stadium on the evening of Friday, September 1.

Then on the second weekend of the season (Sept 8-9), all four Welsh regions will be away from home.

The first Welsh team to travel to South Africa will be the Ospreys, who will take on the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on the weekend 29-30.

Full fixtures for the first 13 rounds of the league season will be announced on Monday.

The 14 teams are divided into two conferences of seven amid the new expanded competition structure.

Sides play teams in their own section home and away, while they have home or away matches versus outfits from the other conference.

There are also two additional rounds of derby matches to ensure there is no reduction in the number of derbies.

That means a total of 21 regular season matches, with the top three teams from each conference progressing to the playoffs, which will comprise quarter-finals, semis and the final. OPENING GUINNESS PRO14 FIXTURES September 1-2: Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh; Connacht v Glasgow; Dragons v Leinster; Munster v Treviso; Ospreys v Zebre; Scarlets v Southern Kings; Ulster v Toyota Cheetahs September 8-9: Connacht v Southern Kings; Edinburgh v Dragons; Glasgow v Ospreys; Leinster v Cardiff Blues; Munster v Toyota Cheetahs; Treviso v Ulster; Zebre v Scarlets September 15-16: Cardiff Blues v Glasgow; Dragons v Connacht; Edinburgh v Treviso; Ospreys v Munster; Southern Kings v Leinster; Toyota Cheetahs v Zebre; Ulster v Scarlets of September