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The Pro 14 season begins this weekend. In week 1 of the league matches will be played in Ireland, Italy, and Wales on Friday and Saturday. The season is to be the last before RWC 2019 making it increasingly important for all involved as players press for representative duties.
For a season preview and prediction click here.
The season kicks-off on Friday with three league matches. First up is the Cardiff Blues vs Leinster. USA Eagels Blaine Scully, and Samu Manoa both miss out through injury.
Game two is to also be in South Wales. The Ospreys will face Edinburgh in Swansea, doing so with former USA age-grade representative Hanno Dirksen playing wing. He sacrificed his USA player eligibility to play as a professional in Wales. Nine years later he remains uncapped and has missed what would have been two RWCs for the USA. Juan Pablo Socino will not play for Edinburgh.
In Italy Zebre play host to the Southern Kings. The Parma-based side start their season without Eduardo Bello (prop) who is injured. New Argentine recruit Nicolás de Battista (center) will not play in the match.
Continuing Week 1 of the Pro 14 will be four Saturday matches. First up Connacht welcome the Glasgow Warriors in Galway. The Scottish side have named Canadian speedster DTH van der Merwe to start on the left wing and Tennessee’s Scotland international Tommy Seymour on the right wing.
Also in Ireland Munster hosted South African side the Cheetahs and Ulster take-on Welsh region the Scarlets. USA scrum-half Ruben de Haas will not feature for the Cheetahs.
Completing week 1 will be the Dragons vs Benetton Treviso in Newport, Wales. The visitors have a number of missing players through injuries Among them are Argentine players Tomas Baravalle (hooker), and Ignacio Brex (center).
