Magners League TV times promise bumper New Year

After a fantastic Festive season of local derbies, the tournament will move into four vital rounds in the first three months of the New Year as the battle for places in the top four heats up.

And for those fans wanting to keep pace with the action, 17 of the 20 fixtures between January and March will be live on the tournament's extensive TV platform on BBC Wales, S4C and Setanta Ireland.

"The three month period at the start of the New Year is going to be vital for those teams wanting to break into the play-off positions and stay in the hunt for a semi-final slot. It is also the time of year when the battle for European places comes more sharply into focus," said Director of Celtic Rugby David Jordan.

"This year's Magners League is tighter than ever before with only 12 points covering nine clubs and five points splitting league leaders Leinster and the seventh placed Ospreys.

"Every game will bring new pressure and the fact that 14 of the 35 games in the opening seven rounds have been won or lost by seven or less points this season shows the matches are get tighter and more intense.

"Round 11 will once again see Welsh fans get three chances to see their Regions in action, with BBC Wales screening Tommy Bowe's return to Belfast for the Ulster v Ospreys clash on Friday, 8 January, and S4C tracking the Blues to Edinburgh the following day and the Scarlets to Munster on the Sunday.

"Table-topping Leinster have three games at the RDS to look forward to, all of which are live on TV. They host Glasgow in Round 11, receive the Scarlets on 20 February and then entertain Connacht in March."

Magners League TV FIXTURES - Rounds 11-14

ROUND 11
Friday, 8 January
18:30 Connacht v NG Dragons - Galway Sportsground
19.05 Ulster v Ospreys - Ravenhill, BBC Wales
20.00 Leinster v Glasgow Warriors - RDS, Setanta Ireland
Saturday, 9 January
18.30 Edinburgh v Cardiff Blues - Murrayfield, S4C
Sunday, 10 January
17.00 Munster v Scarlets - Musgrave Park, S4C


ROUND 12
Friday, 19 February
19.05 Ulster v NG Dragons Ravenhill, BBC Wales
19.30 Glasgow Warriors v Cardiff Blues - Firhill Arena
20.00 Munster v Edinburgh - Musgrave Park, Setanta Ireland
Saturday, 20 February
18.30 Leinster v Scarlets - RDS, S4C
Sunday, 21 February
17.00 Ospreys v Connacht - Liberty Stadium, S4C


ROUND 13
Friday, 5 March
19.05 Scarlets v Ulster - Parc y Scarlets, BBC Wales
20.00 Connacht v Glasgow Warriors - Sportsground, Setanta Ireland
Saturday, 6 March
18.30 NG Dragons v Munster - Rodney Parade, S4C
Sunday, 7 March
14.00 Edinburgh v Ospreys - Murrayfield, S4C
16.00 Cardiff Blues v Leinster - Cardiff City Stadium, BBC Wales


ROUND 14
Friday, 26 March
19.05 Cardiff Blues v Ulster - Cardiff City Stadium, BBC Wales
19.30 Edinburgh v Scarlets - Murrayfield
20.00 Munster v Glasgow Warriors - Thomond Park Stadium, Setanta Ireland
Saturday, 27 March
16.30 Leinster v Connacht - RDS, Setanta Ireland
18.30 NG Dragons v Ospreys - Rodney Parade - S4C