United Rugby Championship Round 1: All You Need to Know

Just over three months on from Leinster lifting the BKT United Rugby Championship at Croke Park for the second year in a row, a new season kicks off, with plenty of new faces around the Irish provinces.

The first of 18 regular-season rounds begins this evening, with Connacht and Ulster both opening their campaigns at home.

Connacht will hope the momentum from last season has carried through the summer, as they welcome Stormers to Galway, while Ulster entertain Edinburgh in Belfast.

Leinster are the only Irish side away from home in the opening round, as Leo Cullen's final season in charge begins in Johannesburg, taking on the Lions at lunchtime on Saturday.

And then on Saturday evening, Thomond Park is the place to be for the game of the weekend, with Munster welcoming the Glasgow Warriors to Limerick.