PONTYPOOL will start the defence of their WRU National Championship crown with a pair of games against new boys while Newbridge open up at a happy hunting ground.

On opening weekend Pooler host Division One East champs Rhydyfelin with that September 2 clash followed by a trip to Division One West Central title winners Trebanos.

Leighton Jones’ men will be scenting revenge when they head to Cardiff Met on March 24 - the students were the only side to beat them when they romped to the title with 21 successes from 22 last year.

The first Gwent derby is on December 30 when Newbridge travel to Pooler with the return fixture taking place at the Welfare Ground on the penultimate weekend of the season.

The fixture computer has ensured ‘Bridge start their campaign with happy memories fresh in their minds when they travel to Narberth, the scene of their great escape from relegation last season when a stunning 43-29 win ensured they avoided the drop.

The first game of the season at the Welfare is in round two when Beddau are the visitors with Newbridge aiming to pick up where they left off after they won five of their last six.

That stunning run saw them condemn Glamorgan Wanderers to the drop and leap from one-from-bottom to seventh on final day.

Gwent Championship fixtures

September 2: Narberth v Newbridge, Pontypool v Rhydyfelin

September 9: Newbridge v Beddau, Trebanos v Pontypool

September 16: Bedlinog v Newbridge, Pontypool v Glynneath

September 23: Bedlinog v Pontypool, Newbridge v Tata Steel

September 30: Cardiff Met v Newbridge, Pontypool v Narberth

October 7: Pontypool v Beddau, Skewen v Newbridge

October 14: Newbridge v Newcastle Emlyn, Pontypool v Skewen

October 21: Rhydyfelin v Newbridge, Tata Steel v Pontypool

October 28: Newbridge v Trebanos, Pontypool v Cardiff Met

November 4: Glynneath v Newbridge, Newcastle Emlyn v Pontypool

November 11: Newbridge v Narberth, Rhydyfelin v Pontypool

December 9: Beddau v Newbridge, Pontypool v Trebanos

December 16: Glynneath v Pontypool, Newbridge v Bedlinog

December 30: Pontypool v Newbridge

January 6: WRU National Cup

January 13: Pontypool v Bedlinog, Tata Steel v Newbridge

January 20: Narberth v Pontypool, Newbridge v Cardiff Met

January 27: WRU National Cup

February 17: Beddau v Pontypool, Newbridge v Skewen

March 3 (WRU National Cup weekend): Newcastle Emlyn v Newbridge, Skewen v Pontypool

March 10: Newbridge v Rhydyfelin, Pontypool v Tata Steel

March 24: Cardiff Met v Pontypool, Trebanos v Newbridge

March 31: Newbridge v Pontypool

April 7 (WRU National Cup weekend): Newbridge v Glynneath, Pontypool v Newcastle Emlyn

FOR A FULL LIST OF THE FIXTURES FROM DIVISION ONE, TWO AND THREE GO TO http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/club/fixture_download.php