There will be six rounds of next season’s Pro12 action played before the Rugby World Cup has concluded at the end of October.

The first round will coincide with Ireland’s final warm up game against England on the September 5th.

There will be a further round of fixtures then on the weekend of the 12th, six days before the Rugby World Cup kicks off for real, and three weeks before the third round of Pro12 fixtures.

That round will clash with Ireland’s pool meeting with Italy, on October 4th, and will be followed by another week’s break in the domestic action.

The fourth round is then played on the same weekend as the RWC quarter finals, with the semi-finals likewise the week after, and again the sixth round clashing with the final on October 31st.

It’ll be all go for the internationals next season with the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup scheduled to get underway less than a fortnight after the World Cup final.

The first two rounds of pool games will take place in the second and third weekends of November.

Meanwhile Connacht forwards Dave Heffernan, Danny Qualter, JP Cooney and versatile back Shane O’Leary have become the latest players to sign new one-year contract extensions with Connacht Rugby and the IRFU.

Their signatures bring to 18 the number of current players who have committed their futures to the province for next season.

Connacht CEO Willie Ruane said:

“The retention of our young indigenous players such as Dave (Heffernan) and Danny (Qualter) is very important for the future of Connacht Rugby. It is also very pleasing to see young JP (Cooney) and Shane (O’Leary) enjoying their rugby and confident that they are in the right place to grow as players and also add to the culture we have built here.”

Pro12 Fixtures:

5th September

Second Captains

12th September

3rd October

17th October

24th October

31st October

7th November

28th November

5th December

26th December

2nd January

9th January

30th January

13th February

20th February

27th February

5th March

26th March

2nd April

16th April

30th April

7th May

21st May Play-offs

28th May Final