The Treviso away game on Oct 5th weekend could potentially have made for a nice week in Italy if we got Zebre away first up in Europe, but sounds like it's not going to work out that way.

Fixtures (weekend) announced for RaboDirect PRO12 Pat Training_resized

The weekend dates for the RaboDirect PRO12 Season 2013/14 fixtures have now been announced, with the season kicking off on the first weekend of September.

Connacht play host to familiar Italian opponents Zebre during the opening weekend. Round two sees Pat Lam make his first official away trip as Connacht Head Coach to Arms Park, hoping to replicate last season’s win over the Blues.

RaboTrophy resizedThere are the regular local derby fixtures to look forward to over the festive period, with Connacht travelling to Munster the weekend after Christmas Day. Provincial rivals and reigning league champions Leinster make their way to the Sportsground for the opening game of the New Year.

The final round of the regular season, Round 22, is scheduled for 9/10/11 May. The Play-Offs follow a week later then the 2013/14 RaboDirect PRO12 season concludes with the Final on the last weekend in May.

Tournament Director David Jordan commented: “It is ten years since the competition changed to a home and away format and four years since the introduction of the end of season Play-Offs. During that time a regular season pattern has emerged and we have seen increases in both attendances and viewing figures so fans are obviously enjoying the rugby that is on offer in the RaboDirect PRO12.

“In the coming season fans in the home Unions have the added excitement of the victorious British and Irish Lions players returning to their clubs to look forward to as well.

“Since the inception of the competition five different teams have taken the title, although interestingly no champions have ever defended their crown, Leinster will have a challenge on their hands in the coming season.”

RaboDirect PRO12 Season 2013/14

Round 1 – 6/7/8 September

Connacht v Zebre


Round 2 – 13/14/15 September

Cardiff Blues v Connacht


Round 3 – 20/21/22 September

Connacht v Ulster


Round 4 – 27/28/29 September

Connacht v Ospreys


Round 5 – 4/5/6 October

Treviso v Connacht


ERC 1 – 11/12/13 October


ERC 2 – 18/19/20 October


Round 6 – 25/26/27 October

Leinster v Connacht


Round 7 – 1/2/3 November

Connacht v Glasgow


Round 8 – 22/23/24 November

Connacht v Scarlets


Round 9 – 29/30/31 November

Edinburgh v Connacht


ERC 3 – 6/7/8 December


ERC 4 – 13/14/15 December


Round 10 – 20/21/22 December

Connacht v Dragons


Round 11 – 27/28/29 December

Munster v Connacht


Round 12 – 3/4/5 January

Connacht v Leinster


ERC 5 – 10/11/12 January


ERC 6 – 17/18/19 January


Round 13 – 7/8/9 February

Glasgow v Connacht


Round 14 – 14/15/16 February

Connacht v Edinburgh


Round 15 – 21/22/23 February

Zebre v Connacht


Round 16 – 28/1/2/ March

Connacht v Treviso


Round 17 – 21/22/23 March

Dragons v Connacht


Round 18 – 28/29/30 March

Scarlets v Connacht


ERC QF – 4/5/6 April


Round 19 – 11/12/13 April

Ulster v Connacht


Round 20 – 18/19/20 April

Connacht v Munster



ERC SF – 25/26/27 April


Round 21 – 2/3/4 May

Connacht v Cardiff


Round 22 – 9/10/11 May

Ospreys v Connacht



Rabo SF – 17 / 18 May

ERC Final – 24 May

Rabo Final – 31 May / 1 June

League Fixtures in full can be found at www.RaboDirectPRO12.com

NOTE: All fixtures and venues are subject to change

- See more at: www.connachtrugby.ie/2013071983371/fixtu...Id5znM.IM5vCbIb.dpuf

ummm, wrote: Will be interesting to see if Munster will make good on their plan to have a different Interpro in Musgrave each year, or if they'll stiff us again.

Getting a good start might be tough, we're poor away from home and we've started at home 5 out of the last 6 years so we're probably due an away fixture in week 1.

I'd say we'll be asking for an away fixture, don't want to clash with the All-Ireland hurling final, it being there's half a chance Galway will be there.

Hard to believe Munster will bring Ulster or Leinster to Cork, they'd be doing themselves out of thousands of ticket sales.

Will be interesting to see if Munster will make good on their plan to have a different Interpro in Musgrave each year, or if they'll stiff us again.

Getting a good start might be tough, we're poor away from home and we've started at home 5 out of the last 6 years so we're probably due an away fixture in week 1.

Seems that the Rabo fixtures will be out tomorrow lunchtime by all accounts. Looking forward to seeing the fixture list. There'll be the usual slots for the interpros, probably Munster away on 26th or 27th and then Leinster at home on New Year's Day possibly. Ulster home or away the week before the first round of the Heineken Cup probably.

The league needs to be the main focus this season imo. Our win and points total needs to improve particularly at home. We put ourselves behind the 8 ball from the off last year with some poor results particularly with the Cardiff defeat. We took a couple of scalps away from home towards the end of the season but they really only made up for the games we lost at home rather than being extra points.

The start of the season as almost always is when we need to get the points tally moving. We will struggle when the big 5 or 6 sides are at full strength but we need to look to make some ground early on.

Lets see what the fixture list throws up. Dragons at home might be a decent one to start with.