Connacht will be the visitors to Parc y Scarlets for the opening match of Brad Mooar’s first Guinness PRO14 campaign.
The fixtures for the 2019-20 Championship season have been unveiled, with the Scarlets enjoying home advantage in the opening round on Saturday, September 28, taking on their new Conference B rivals with a 5:15pm kick-off.
This season, the start of the competition has been delayed to avoid clashes with the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
For the first time, dates and kick-off times up to round 20 have been confirmed with the 2016-17 champions at home for four of the first six fixtures.
After the Connacht match, the Scarlets travel north to take on last season’s beaten finalists Glasgow in Scotstoun. Zebre are the visitors to Parc y Scarlets in round three, then it’s another trip to Scotland to take on Edinburgh.
Parc y Scarlets will host the Toyota Cheetahs and Benetton on successive weekends in rounds five and six before the focus turns to the opening two matches in the European Challenge Cup.
The big derby date against the Ospreys is back in its traditional Boxing Day slot and a bumper crowd is guaranteed for the clash on Thursday, December 26 at Parc y Scarlets (5:15pm).
The Scarlets v Ospreys derby returns to a Boxing Day date
The Scarlets enter 2020 by taking on Cardiff Blues on Friday, January 3 at the Arms Park (7:35pm).
Forwards coach Ioan Cunningham said: “It is brilliant for us to have a home game to start the season and for Brad to be at home and experience the magic of Parc y Scarlets in his first match in the competition.
“Yes, we will be missing a lot of players on World Cup duty, but we are all excited to see some of the exciting young talent we have in the squad given an opportunity.
“Connacht is a tough start, they are a quality side who play some great rugby and won’t lose a huge amount of players to Ireland.
“But, as I said, being at home to start is great for us and for what is a new era with our new coaching team.”
With Challenge Cup fixtures expected to be confirmed next month, Scarlets supporters will have 13 home fixtures at Parc y Scarlets, plus an additional one at the Principality Stadium for Judgement Day, as part of their season ticket package.
The 2019-20 season ticket has more benefits and savings than ever before, among them a 10% in-store discount on Scarlets merchandise.
For full details of how you can buy a season ticket and join the pack go to tickets.scarlets.wales
Fixtures
September
Rd 1 – Saturday, Sept 28: Connacht (Parc y Scarlets) 5.15pm
October
Rd 2 – Friday, Oct 4: Glasgow (Scotstoun) 7.35pm
Rd 3 – Saturday, Oct 12: Zebre (Parc y Scarlets) 3pm
Rd 4 – Saturday, Oct 26: Edinburgh (Bt Murrayfield) 7.35pm
November
Rd 5 – Saturday, Nov 2: Toyota Cheetahs (Parc y Scarlets) 3pm
Rd 6 – Saturday, Nov 9: Benetton (Parc y Scarlets) 7.35pm
Rd 7 – Friday, Nov 29: Ulster (Kingspan Stadium) 7.35pm
December
Rd 8 – Saturday, Dec 21: Dragons (Rodney Parade) 5.15pm
Rd 9 – Thursday, Dec 26: Ospreys (Parc y Scarlets) 5.15pm
January
Rd 10 – Friday, Jan 3: Cardiff Blues (Cardiff Arms Park) 7.35pm
February
Rd 11 – Saturday, Feb 15: Edinburgh (Parc y Scarlets) 3pm
Rd 12 – Sunday, Feb 23: Isuzu Southern Kings (Parc y Scarlets) 5.15pm
Rd 13 – Saturday, Feb 29: Munster (Thomond Park) 5pm
March
Rd 14 – Friday, March 20: Connacht (The Sportsground) 5.15pm
Rd 15 – Saturday, March 28: Dragons (Parc y Scarlets) 3pm
April
Rd 16 – Saturday, April 11: Isuzu Southern Kings (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium) 3pm
Rd 17 – Saturday, April 18: Cardiff Blues (venue TBC) 5.15pm
Rd 18 – Friday, April 24: Benetton (Stadio Monigo) 6.05pm
May
Rd 19 – Saturday, May 9: Leinster (Parc y Scarlets) 7.45pm
Rd 20 – Saturday, May 16: Munster (Parc y Scarlets) 5.15pm
Rd 21 – Ospreys (Liberty Stadium) Date and KO time to be confirmed