Leinster first province off to South Africa as Guinness PRO14 fixtures revealed

Leinster fans, get booking your flights to South Africa!

Leo Cullen's men are set to make history as the first ever European side to travel to South Africa and take on the local opposition in competitive action. The first 13 rounds of fixtures in the newly minted Guinness PRO14 are set to be officially unveiled on Monday but some matches are already leaking. The opening three weekends of PRO14 fixtures have been revealed by respected Wales Online rugby writer Simon Thomas. Ulster have already revealed they would be taking on the Cheetahs at kingspan Stadium on September 1 but we now have a solid idea of the first three weekends of action. The fixtures certainly tally with what Connacht captain John Muldoon told us during the most recent episode of SportsJOE Live in Galway, with the 2015/16 champions entertaining the Southern Kings at The Sportsground on September 8 or 9. Munster and Connacht are at home in the first and second weekends with champions Scarlets kicking off their title defence against newcomers the Southern Kings. Leinster are away to Bernard Jackman's Dragons on the opening weekend then host Cardiff Blues at The RDS before they fly out to South Africa to take on the Kings. Here are the full fixtures... GUINNESS PRO14 ROUNDS 1-3 September 1-2

• Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh
• Connacht v Glasgow
• Dragons v Leinster
• Munster v Treviso
• Ospreys v Zebre
• Scarlets v Southern Kings
• Ulster v Toyota Cheetahs [Friday, Sept 1]

September 8-9

• Connacht v Southern Kings
• Edinburgh v Dragons
• Glasgow v Ospreys
• Leinster v Cardiff Blues
• Munster v Toyota Cheetahs
• Treviso v Ulster
• Zebre v Scarlets

September 15-16

• Cardiff Blues v Glasgow
• Dragons v Connacht
• Edinburgh v Treviso
• Ospreys v Munster
• Southern Kings v Leinster
• Toyota Cheetahs v Zebre
• Ulster v Scarlets