Pro12 action set for September kick-off

The fixtures for next season’s Guinness Pro12 are expected to be announced next week, with the competition kicking off on the first weekend of September.

The fixtures for the Aviva Premiership in England were announced last week but Pro12 organisers have a number of factors to take into account given that the competition is in four countries.

A Pro12 spokesperson said that World Cup games in Cardiff this autumn was also an added factor in the fixtures this coming season. “There are a number of factors every year, not least as we have four countries, inter-union games, local derbies and soccer ground shares, while the World Cup knockout games in Cardiff are another aspect this time round,” said the spokesperson.

Discussions have been taking place with the four unions and the 12 clubs and the fixtures are due to be released next week.

The competition will be launched in London on August 24, with the opening round on the first weekend in September.

A second round will take place the following weekend, then there will be a break of two weekends in the second half of September for the Rugby World Cup.

A third round will be staged on the first weekend in October, there will be a break the following weekend and the fourth round will continue from the weekend of October 17.

There will be seven rounds of the Pro12 before the opening round of games in Europe on the weekend starting November 13.

The semi-finals of the Pro12 will take place on the weekend beginning May 21 next year, a week after the European Champions Cup final takes place in Lyon.

The final of the Pro12 will take place on May 28.

Meanwhile, Munster have confirmed they will commence pre-season action against French Top 14 outfit Grenoble at Thomond Park on Friday, August 14, (7pm).

The game will see the return of former Munster player Mike Prendergast — who made 48 appearances for the province — to Thomond Park.

Prendergast, who is now skills coach with the French outfit, guided Young Munster to promotion to Division 1A of the AIL in his first season and also enjoyed both Munster Senior Cup and Limerick Charity Cup successes.

Munster supporters will be able to meet their heroes at a post-match barbecue in Thomond Park’s Fan Zone Plaza.