The URC have released their fixtures for the 2023/2024 campaign.
With the World Cup beginning in early September, next season's league will begin a month later than last year and finish nearly a full month later as well.
The first game of the campaign will be on Saturday, October 21, with Zebre hosting Ulster at 13.00. Connacht follow at 15.00, at home to the Ospreys, and Munster will host the Cell C Sharks at 17.15.
Leinster kick-off their league season the next day with a visit to Glasgow Warriors at 16.00.
The first URC inter-pro of the season will be Connacht vs Ulster on Saturday, November 4.
The most anticipated match-up of the first half of the season will take place on Saturday, November 25, when Leinster welcome Munster, as they aim for revenge for their excruciating loss in last year's play-off semi-final (the two sides will also meet in a pre-season fixture on September 8)
The play-offs will begin on June 7, and the Grand Final will take place on June 22.
Leinster Will Be Relishing Chance At Munster Revenge
13 May 2023; Mike Haley of Munster is tackled by Max Deegan and Robbie Henshaw of Leinster during the United Rugby Championship Semi-Final match between Leinster and Munster at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
READ HERE: Watch: The Stormers Squad And Staff Went Mental Moments After Munster Beat Leinster
"The fixture list is the central pillar to the operation of our league and teams and providing certainty to fans, clubs and broadcasters earlier than ever will have a positive impact," said URC chief executive Martin Anayi.
"Providing a set of fixtures that aims to balance kick-off times which encourage attendance and deliver big broadcast while factoring in the travel necessary to compete is a monumental task that cannot be underestimated.
"Each year we feel we are learning more and more about how to refine and improve our process and the final fixture list itself and I express great gratitude to our broadcast partners who have supported requests from the league and our clubs.
"To deliver this fixture list 102 days ahead of kick-off is unprecedented for our league and gives us another target to beat again next year."
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