The Ospreys first home game of the new RaboDirect PRO12 season will see them welcome Edinburgh to the Liberty Stadium on Saturday 21st September, KO 6.30pm.
Full details for the opening rounds of the new PRO12 season were revealed by league organisers today, with fixture day and times confirmed up until the final week of December.
The RaboDirect PRO12 campaign gets underway against Benetton Treviso at Stadio Monigo on Saturday 7th September, kick off at 7.30pm (Italian time).
Round 2 sees the Ospreys travel to Dublin to face Leinster at the RDS Showground on Saturday 14th September, getting underway at 6.15pm.
Next comes Edinburgh at the Liberty Stadium and then a week later the Ospreys return to Ireland to face Connacht at the Sportsground on the 28th at 5.00pm.
Round 5 is a home game against Ulster, on Friday 4th October at 7.05pm, and then at the end of the month the Ospreys host Newport Gwent Dragons on Sunday 27th October, with the action getting underway at 2.30pm.
The Ospreys travel to Munster in Round 7, a 7.15pm kick-off on Saturday 2nd November.
There is a return to traditional Saturday afternoon rugby on the 23rd November when the Ospreys entertain Zebre at 2.30pm, before Glasgow visit the Liberty on Friday 29th at 7.05pm.
The Christmas derby fixtures begin with a ‘Black Friday’ trip to Cardiff Arms Park on December 20th at 7.05pm, before a Boxing Day trip across the Loughor Bridge (2.05pm KO) to face the Scarlets.
The Scarlets will then make the return trip to the Liberty Stadium on the weekend of 3rd/4th/5th January, with the final day and time to be confirmed in early December following the FA Cup 3rd Round draw.
After seeing the first half of the campaign now taking shape following prior confirmation of Heineken and LV= Cup fixtures, Head Coach Steve Tandy says he’s looking forward to the action getting underway.
“It’s always nice to get the fixtures confirmed, it’s when preparations for the new season really start to take shape” said Tandy.
“It focuses everyone’s attention on the challenges that are ahead and we can begin structuring our training schedule to make sure we prepare for each game as best we can.
“It’s a tough start to the season, with three of our first four games away from home, but we have to man up to the challenge. We’re really looking forward to it. Treviso and Leinster away in the first two weeks will really test us. We know we’re going to have to hit the ground running but the fact is that this is a very difficult league and whoever we were playing in the opening weeks it would be tough so we’ve just got to get on with it.
“Our first home game is against Edinburgh three weeks in and after a couple of weeks on the road we’ll be looking forward to running out in front of our fans what should be a good crowd getting behind the cause.
“There’s a real energy in the group at the moment. We’ve had some new faces coming into the squad who’ve injected some freshness, and I’m not just talking about new signings but some of the young boys who’ve stepped up during pre-season.
“Throw in the Lions who are back in this week with a spring in their step and you’ve got a camp that is excited about the new season and where we’re at right now. “
Season memberships remain on sale at the moment, with renewal prices starting at just £160 per person, or just £92.50 if you take advantage of the bring a friend offer and introduce someone to the Ospreys who wasn’t a member in 2013/14.
The membership includes entry to 17 regular season home fixtures, including the pre-season game against Worcester on Saturday 24th August (KO 3.00pm), 11 scheduled PRO12 game, three Heineken Cup fixtures and two in the LV= Cup, with two children going free with every paying adult.