Munster host Scarlets in league opener

MUNSTER’S clash with their 2007/08 Heineken Cup pool opponents, Llanelli Scarlets, is the pick of the first round ties for next season’s Magners League.

All four Irish provinces start with home matches on the weekend of September 21-23.

Champions, Ospreys, travel to Ravenhill, a venue, which up until the second half of last season, had developed a fortress-like quality for visiting teams in the competition.

Leinster mark the opening of their new home ground at the redeveloped RDS with the visit of Edinburgh Rugby while Connacht welcome Newport Gwent Dragons to the Sportsground.

Next season’s Magners League contains just ten teams after the Scottish Borders was disbanded by the SRU at the end of last season. Because of spiralling debts, Murrayfield chiefs reduced the number of professional districts in Scotland from three to two.

Consequently, the Glasgow Warriors are to receive more resources and already have moved to a new home (Firhill) as well as confirming their intentions for league honours with the signing of former All Black and Leicester Tigers star, Daryl Gibson, yesterday.

With the World Cup into its third week when the league season kicks off and all bar Connacht deprived of large chunks of their squads, Michael Bradley’s men can take advantage with a few important wins. The following weekend Connacht are away to a weakened Scarlets side.

Those severely affected by ‘Le Coupe du Monde’ like Munster, Leinster and Ulster will have the opportunity to cast their eye over fringe players as well as surveying their summer signings.

The Irish provinces have friendlies pencilled in prior to the beginning of the Magners League season and should hit the ground running when the competition begins on the third weekend in September.

But the Welsh should be more battle-hardened as there will be four mouth-watering all Welsh encounters before the first round date to avoid the Regions having to play midweek fixtures later in this Rugby World Cup season.

Interestingly, Munster’s first four games are against the four Welsh regions. After Llanelli’s visit to Musgrave, Declan Kidney’s charges travel to face the Newport Gwent Dragons. Cardiff Blues return a week after that to Cork before the Reds travel to the Liberty Stadium in Swansea to face Ospreys.

At this stage, the Magners League organisers have not confirmed actual dates. The dates and times for kick-offs will be agreed after a meeting between the competition’s official broadcasters.

The 2007/8 Magners League will conclude with final round being played on the weekend of May 10.

Celtic Rugby Director David Jordan said: “We saw record attendances at Magners League games last season, with many fixtures selling out, and we will be hoping to build on that success. With qualification for the Heineken Cup at stake every game is meaningful to the teams concerned and, as we have seen over the last couple of years, the championship decider can go right down to the last day of the season.”

Maurice Breen, Marketing Director of WM Magner Ltd, added: “Following the successful inaugural season of the Magners League, the fixture list for 2007/2008 has lined up what promises to be another season of sell-out, exciting and competitive matches.”