GUINNESS PRO12: The big clashes

The GUINNESS PRO12, rugby's premier professional club competition in Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, returns in September.

And the fixture list has thrown up a mouth-watering clash as early as the opening weekend - a rematch of last year's final between Glasgow Warriors and reigning champions Leinster on Saturday September 6.

But, delving further into the list, some intriguing battles lay ahead in the battle both for the title and for local pride.

Newport Gwent Dragons will host rivals Ospreys - last season's highest Welsh finishers in fifth - in the first derby of the season in Round 2, while hot on the heels of that will follow an all-Irish contest between Connacht and Leinster in Round 3.

The traditional Christmas bouts between neighbours will continue with the first edition of the 1872 Cup, between the Warriors and Edinburgh, taking place on Saturday December 27 at Scotstoun.

Last season the spoils went to Glasgow after a 20-16 triumph at Murrayfield was followed by a pulsating 37-34 victory in the rearranged fixture at home in April.

And this time the return fixture is scheduled for the New Year - on Friday January 2 - to complete a busy festive period for the GUINNESS PRO12's Scottish supporters.

Italian sides Zebre and Treviso also lock horns in Rounds 11 and 12, while Munster will host reigning champions Leinster in the first of two huge games for the reigning champions.

After visiting Thomond Park on Boxing Day, Leinster host Ulster - a repeat of both last season's semi-final and the 2013 final - at the RDS on January 3.

Elsewhere the busy festive period sees Cardiff Blues welcome Newport Gwent Dragons and Ospreys playing host to the Scarlets, while Ravenhill will be the venue for Ulster and Connacht's first clash of the campaign.

And, if that wasn't enough, with the new European Rugby Champions Cup final now moved forward to early May, GUINNESS PRO12 fans can look forward to the league running from Round 22 all the way to the final in three consecutive weeks.

With Leinster chasing their sixth successive final, Glasgow determined to go one better than last year, Ospreys seeking to return to play-off action and many more on the hunt for silverware, it is certain to be a thrilling climax.

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