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Matthew Southcombe

Guinness PRO14 2019/20 fixture dates confirmed: Cardiff Blues to play home game at Rodney Parade when rugby returns

The Cardiff Blues will play their home game at the Dragons' Rodney Parade next month as the Guinness PRO14 confirm the fixture details.

PRO14 action will return behind closed doors next month with two rounds of derby matches before a semi-final and final is played in September.

As WalesOnline reported in May, the Scarlets will welcome the Cardiff Blues to Parc y Scarlets on August 22.

The some hospitality areas at the training barn at the stadium are being used as a field hospital to aid in the fight against Covid-19.

However, the beds at the venue are currently empty and, with no fans attending the matches, those areas of the site will not need to be used on a matchday.

Then, on August 23, the Ospreys welcome the Dragons to the Liberty Stadium in Swansea.

The following Saturday, August 29, will see the Scarlets head on the road to face the Dragons.

And the Ospreys will also be travelling to Newport on the 30th to face the Cardiff Blues. John Mulvihill's side are using Rodney Parade as their home venue for this fixture, with the Cardiff Arms Park currently forming part of the field hospital at the Principality Stadium.

Cardiff Blues Chief Executive Richard Holland said: “Taking the game elsewhere in our region was not a realistic option due to the necessary compliance with Covid-19 protocols and our commercial obligations.

“Rodney Parade will obviously be fully Covid-19 compliant, has LED boards and boasts a fantastic playing service.

“We are very grateful to our friends at the Dragons, who have come to our aid and we are now looking forward to getting back on the pitch.”

Derby matches will also be taking place in Ireland, Scotland and Italy, with those who finish first and second in their conferences going through to the semi-final stage.

Tournament organisers are hopeful that cross-border travel will be permitted by local governments by the time the play-offs come around.

The Scarlets are the only Welsh side with a hope of making the semi-final. They currently sit third in Conference B, eight points behind second-placed Munster.

There are no derbies taking place between South African team in August due to the current coronavirus situation in the country. Both the Southern Kings and Cheetahs have only recently been permitted to return to non-contact training.

The league says it will 'aim to identify appropriate dates for the two derbies when possible.'

Organisers have also pencilled in October 1 as a date to start the 2020/21 PRO14 season.

David Jordan, Tournament Director of the Guinness PRO14, said: “So far we have been encouraged by the developments that have allowed all of our teams to return to training.

"Thanks to the great efforts of our clubs and unions, the willingness of governments and the support of our broadcasters we now have a fixture list to look forward to.

“Everyone who makes our games possible has had to adapt to a new way of working under the restrictions of the pandemic and the response of all our key stakeholders has been very impressive.

"With these fixtures now confirmed we are all geared to safe delivery of these games and to the welcome return of rugby after such a long period without the sport.”

Guinness PRO14 fixtures for remainder of 2019/20 season...

ROUND 14

Friday, August 21 Benetton Rugby v Zebre | Stadio Monigo, Treviso at 19:00 (20:00 ITA)

Saturday, August 22 Scarlets v Cardiff Blues | Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli at 15:00 UK

Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors | BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh at 17:15

Leinster v Munster | Aviva Stadium, Dublin at 19:35

Sunday, August 23 Ospreys v Dragons | Liberty Stadium, Swansea at 14:15

Connacht v Ulster | Aviva Stadium, Dublin at 16:30 (live on TG4)

ROUND 15

Friday, August 28 Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh | BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh at 19:35

Saturday, August 29 Dragons v Scarlets | Rodney Parade, Newport at 17:15

Ulster v Leinster | Aviva Stadium, Dublin at 19:35

Sunday, August 30 Munster v Connacht | Aviva Stadium, Dublin at 15:00

Cardiff Blues v Ospreys | Rodney Parade, Newport at 17:00

Zebre v Benetton Rugby | Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma at 19:00 UK (20:00 ITA)

Semi final to be played on 4/5/6 September.

Final scheduled for September 12.

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