Connacht and Glasgow clash as the Guinness PRO12 launches exciting fixture list : Guinness PRO12 : News

Glasgow Warriors will seek revenge against champions Connacht for last year's semi-final defeat in the opening round of the 2016/17 Guinness PRO12 campaign - which also sees the introduction of six new 'Big Weekend' rounds.

This year's Guinness PRO12 will feature six special weekends of intra-union matches, or games between the Italian and Scottish clubs, spread throughout the fixture list.

The regular season will culminate in Round 22's 'Super Saturday', featuring six big intra-union matches, and there are also two back-to-back Big Weekends during the festive season.

"We are delighted to announce the fixture list ahead of what promises to be a truly special Guinness PRO12 season," said Martin Anayi, managing director of PRO12 Rugby.

"After listening to feedback from both the clubs and fans, we have been able to structure a season that has their best interests at its heart.

"It has not been an easy task to shape the season around the Autumn internationals, Six Nations and EPCR competitions, but the new 'Big Weekends' contain some mouth-watering fixtures for supporters to get excited about."

Connacht produced a stunning performance to win their first-ever Guinness PRO12 title last year, and will look to repeat their semi-final success over the Warriors at The Sportsground in Round 1.

Elsewhere on the opening weekend, last year's beaten finalists Leinster welcome Treviso to the RDS, Ulster face Newport Gwent Dragons, Munster open up their campaign with a trip to Scarlets while Cardiff Blues entertain Edinburgh and Zebre head to the Ospreys.

The season gets underway on Friday, September 2 with games starting at the new regular time of 7.35pm and 70 of the first 78 matches scheduled for live television,

The first 'Big Weekend' round will take place in Round 6 with Leinster and Munster at the Aviva Stadium headlining a weekend that includes Connacht v Ulster, Scarlets v Dragons and Ospreys v Cardiff Blues.

This year's regular season ends with six intra-union matches in Round 22, with the second and final leg of the 1872 Cup between Edinburgh and the Warriors to be played at BT Murrayfield.

The championship will climax on Saturday, 27 May 2017 with the Guinness PRO12 Final.

Ulster Rugby has today been boosted by the news that Sean Reidy has signed a three-year contract extension, keeping him at Kingspan Stadium until the summer of 2020.

Louis Ludik had no hesitation in penning a three-year extension to his Ulster contract and says he is loving life in Belfast after two years in the city.