NEWPORT Gwent Dragons are set to play under Friday night lights for most of the first half of the Guinness Pro12 season, starting with an opening clash at Ulster.

The Sunday afternoon slot has been ditched by S4C for the coming campaign, although the Dragons will play one game on the Sabbath during the autumn internationals when Edinburgh visit Rodney Parade on November 27.

The Dragons open up in Belfast on Friday, September 2 and enjoy a first home encounter the following weekend with the visit of Zebre followed by a Saturday date with Munster in Newport on September 24.

Kingsley Jones’ side, who failed to win a single league away game in 2015/16, then head to Italy when they lock horns with last season’s bottom club Treviso and they finish the first month against title hopefuls Glasgow at Rodney Parade.

The first derby of the season is on a Saturday evening at Parc y Scarlets followed by another trip west to face the Ospreys.

The festive fixtures pit them against Cardiff Blues in the capital on Boxing Day while the Ospreys head to Newport on New Year’s Day.

The home Scarlets clash is currently listed as at Rodney Parade in round 20 on Saturday, April 15, although the men from Llanelli look likely to once again be the Dragons’ Judgement Day opponents.

The Dragons finish the season with a mouth-watering derby against fiercest rivals Cardiff Blues.

Removing the festive fixtures, the Dragons play five Friday games, four Saturdays and one Sunday encounter in the first half of the season.

Of the five confirmed home dates up to the new year, three are on Friday nights, one is on a Saturday afternoon and one is on a Sunday afternoon.

Dragons fixtures

  • Friday, September 2 – Ulster (away, 7.35pm)
  • Friday, September 9 – Zebre (home, 7.15pm)
  • Saturday, September 17 – Munster (home, 3pm)
  • Friday, September 23 – Treviso (away, 7.05pm)
  • Friday, September 30 – Glasgow (home 7.35pm)
  • Saturday, October 8 – Scarlets (away, 7.35pm)
  • Saturday, October 29 – Ospreys (away, 3pm)
  • Friday, November 4 – Connacht (home, 7.15pm)
  • Sunday, November 27 – Edinburgh (home, 3.30pm)
  • Saturday, December 3 – Leinster (away, 7.35pm)
  • Monday, December 26 – Cardiff Blues (away, 2.05pm)
  • Sunday, January 1 – Ospreys (home, 5.05pm)
  • Friday, January 6 – Treviso (home, 7.15pm)
  • Weekend of February 10 – Munster (away)
  • Weekend of February 17 – Connacht (away)
  • Weekend of February 24 – Leinster (home)
  • Weekend of March 3 – Glasgow (away)
  • Weekend of March 24 – Ulster (home)
  • Weekend of April 7 – Zebre (away)
  • Saturday, April 15 – Scarlets (home*, 5.15pm)
  • Weekend of April 28 – Edinburgh (away)
  • Saturday, May 6 – Cardiff Blues (home, 5.15pm)
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  • Semi-finals – Weekend of May 19
  • Final – Weekend of May 26