All eyes will once again be on the Guinness PRO14 this weekend as the 2020/21 season follows hot on the heels of Leinster’s third consecutive title victory in Dublin.
Six blockbuster encounters will raise the curtain on the new campaign, starting with a Friday night triple-header which is guaranteed to tantalise the tastebuds.
Zebre and Cardiff Blues will have the honour of launching the season at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma as both clubs bid to put last season’s disappointment behind them.
Leinster and Ulster, the two 2019/20 Guinness PRO14 finalists, will also be in action on Friday night when they host Dragons and Benetton, respectively.
Scarlets will then welcome Munster in Saturday’s opening encounter, before Connacht take on Glasgow Warriors in Galway and Edinburgh lock horns with Ospreys in the Scottish capital.
Leinster v Dragons – Match Preview
The Invincibles, unbeaten in 17 games on their way to a third successive Guinness PRO14 title, get back to business on Friday night when they welcome Dragons to Dublin.
Leo Cullen’s men conquered all before them in the Championship last season but came up short in Europe against Saracens, a result that will still be fresh in their mind when Dragons visit.
And while Leinster have not lost on the opening weekend since 2015, they face a Dragons side with renewed vigour following the signings of Nick Tompkins, Jamie Roberts and Jonah Holmes.
Location:
At RDS Arena, Dublin, 8.15pm.
Officials:
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 7th competition game: Assistant Referees: Frank Murphy, Chris Busby (both IRFU) TMO: Simon McDowell (IRFU) Citing Commissioner: Peter Ferguson (IRFU)
Overall Guinness PRO14 head to head record:
Played 33, Leinster won 24, Dragons won 9.
Did you know?
- Leinster Rugby’s most recent defeat in the Guinness PRO14 was by a single point at Ulster in April 2019.
- The reigning Champions have not been defeated by a Welsh Regions since they visited Parc y Scarlets in September 2018.
- The last time the Leinstermen lost on the opening weekend was against Edinburgh at Meggetland in 2015.
- Dragons most recent victory was 13-10 at home to Toyota Cheetahs on 29 February.
- Dragons have not won away from home in the Championship since visiting Zebre in October 2019.
- The Welshmen have not been victorious in a round one fixture since beating Ulster at Rodney Parade in 2013.
- Leinster have won their last seven encounters against Dragons since the Welshmen’s 23-13 success at Rodney Parade in January 2016 whilst their only previous victory on Leinster soil came at the RDS Arena in February 2015.
