PONTYPOOL will start their WRU National Championship title defence with a trip to new boys Ystrad Rhondda.

Pooler, chasing promotion back to the Premiership, are aiming for a third crown on the spin after winning all 22 fixtures in 2017/18.

Leighton Jones' men start at the Division One East Central champions and enjoy a first home game against Tata Steel the following weekend.

Newbridge, fifth last season, enjoy home advantage in their opener against Rhydyfelin before a trip to Narberth.

There isn't long to wait for the first Gwent derby of the season at Pontypool Park on September 22 with 'Bridge hoping for a bumper crowd at the Welfare Ground for the festive clash on December 22.

September 1: Newcastle Emlyn v Trebanos, Newbridge v Rhydyfelin, Cardiff Met v Maesteg Quins, Beddau v Narberth, Ystrad Rhondda v Pontypool, Tata v Bedlinog

September 8: Rhydyfelin v Newcastle Emlyn, Trebanos v Cardiff Met, Narberth v Newbridge, Maesteg Quins v Ystrad Rhondda, Bedlinog v Beddau, Pontypool v Tata

September 15: Cardiff Met v Newcastle Emlyn, Ystrad Rhondda v Trebanos, Rhydyfelin v Narberth, Newbridge v Bedlinog, Tata v Maesteg Quins, Beddau v Pontypool

September 22: Newcastle Emlyn v Narberth, Trebanos v Tata, Bedlinog v Rhydyfelin, Cardiff Met v Ystrad Rhondda, Pontypool v Newbridge, Maesteg Quins v Beddau

September 29: Ystrad Rhondda v Newcastle Emlyn, Beddau v Trebanos, Rhydyfelin v Pontypool, Tata v Cardiff Met, Narberth v Bedlinog, Newbridge v Maesteg Quins

October 6: Newcastle Emlyn v Bedlinog, Trebanos v Newbridge, Maesteg Quins v Rhydyfelin, Cardiff Met v Beddau, Pontypool v Narberth, Ystrad Rhondda v Tata

October 13: Tata v Newcastle Emlyn, Rhydyfelin v Trebanos, Newbridge v Cardiff Met, Narberth v Maesteg Quins, Beddau v Ystrad Rhondda, Bedlinog v Pontypool

October 20: Newcastle Emlyn v Pontypool, Trebanos v Narberth, Cardiff Met v Rhydyfelin, Ystrad Rhondda v Newbridge, Maesteg Quins v Bedlinog, Tata v Beddau

October 27: Beddau v Newcastle Emlyn, Bedlinog v Trebanos, Rhydyfelin v Ystrad Rhondda, Narberth v Cardiff Met, Newbridge v Tata, Pontypool v Maesteg Quins

November 10: Newcastle Emlyn v Maesteg Quins, Trebanos v Pontypool, Tata v Rhydyfelin, Cardiff Met v Bedlinog, Beddau v Newbridge, Ystrad Rhondda v Narberth

November 24: Newbridge v Newcastle Emlyn, Rhydyfelin v Beddau, Pontypool v Cardiff Met, Narberth v Tata, Bedlinog v Ystrad Rhondda, Maesteg Quins v Trebanos

December 1: Trebanos v Newcastle Emlyn, Rhydyfelin v Newbridge, Maesteg Quins v Cardiff Met, Narberth v Beddau, Pontypool v Ystrad Rhondda, Bedlinog v Tata

December 8: Newcastle Emlyn v Rhydyfelin, Cardiff Met v Trebanos, Newbridge v Narberth, Ystrad Rhondda v Maesteg Quins, Beddau v Bedlinog, Tata v Pontypool

December 15: Newcastle Emlyn v Cardiff Met, Trebanos v Ystrad Rhondda, Narberth v Rhydyfelin, Bedlinog v Newbridge, Maesteg Quins v Tata, Pontypool v Beddau

December 22: Narberth v Newcastle Emlyn, Tata v Trebanos, Rhydyfelin v Bedlinog, Ystrad Rhondda v Cardiff Met, Newbridge v Pontypool, Beddau v Maesteg Quins

January 5: Cup round one

January 12: Newcastle Emlyn v Ystrad Rhondda, Trebanos v Beddau, Pontypool v Rhydyfelin, Cardiff Met v Tata, Bedlinog v Narberth, Maesteg Quins v Newbridge

January 19: Bedlinog v Newcastle Emlyn, Newbridge v Trebanos, Rhydyfelin v Maesteg Quins, Beddau v Cardiff Met, Narberth v Pontypool, Tata v Ystrad Rhondda

January 26: Cup R2

February 2: Newcastle Emlyn v Tata, Trebanos v Rhydyfelin, Cardiff Met v Newbridge, Maesteg Quins v Narberth, Ystrad Rhondda v Beddau, Pontypool v Bedlinog

February 16: Pontypool v Newcastle Emlyn, Narberth v Trebanos, Rhydyfelin v Cardiff Met, Newbridge v Ystrad Rhondda, Bedlinog v Maesteg Quins, Beddau v Tata

March 2: Newcastle Emlyn v Beddau, Trebanos v Bedlinog, Ystrad Rhondda v Rhydyfelin, Cardiff Met v Narberth, Tata v Newbridge, Maesteg Quins v Pontypool

March 23: (Cup R3) Maesteg Quins v Newcastle Emlyn, Pontypool v Trebanos, Rhydyfelin v Tata, Bedlinog v Cardiff Met, Newbridge v Beddau, Narberth v Ystrad Rhondda

March 30: Newcastle Emlyn v Newbridge, Beddau v Rhydyfelin, Cardiff Met v Pontypool, Tata v Narberth, Ystrad Rhondda v Bedlinog, Trebanos v Maesteg Q