Cheetahs make early charge on Thomond Park in new Pro14

Thomond Park will get its first taste of the new South African additions to the Guinness Pro14 when Cheetahs face Munster in Round 2 of the new-look competition.

The expanded championship will kick off on September 1, when the Cheetahs visit Ulster’s Kingspan Stadium, and they will remain in Ireland for the fortnight, where they will be joined by Southern Kings, who face Connacht in Round 2.

Leinster are the first Irish team pencilled in for a trip to the southern hemisphere, with Leo Cullen’s men embarking on a mini-tour in Round 3 and 4, when they will face the Kings and the Cheetahs back to back.