There’s Already One Massive Problem With The New PRO14 Fixture List

Double booked.

With the start of the inaugural Guinness PRO14 season just around the corner, the fixture list for the newly expanded Championship has been announced.

The two new South African teams face away trips in the opening round with the Kings travelling to holders Scarlets in Wales and the Cheetahs set to descend upon Belfast to take on Ulster. The following week they will both be in Ireland as the Kings take on Connacht while Munster host the Cheetahs at Thomond Park.

There’s a bit of an issue with one of the South African fixtures in round 5 however, as spotted by Simon Thomas of WalesOnline. Ospreys will be the first Welsh side to travel to South Africa as they take on the Cheetahs on September 30.

The issue is that game has been scheduled for the same day as the Cheetah’s ground is staging a Test match. The Ospreys are set to take them on at 2pm, but later that same day, the Springboks will face Australia in a Rugby Championship match at Bloemfontein’s Toyota Stadium, at 5.05pm.

At present the fixture is marked down as unconfirmed so it remains to be seen what will happen. Thomas suggest perhaps the game could serve as a curtain raiser to the Test match as part of a historic double header.

Not a bad idea if you ask me.

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