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Mark Orders

Welsh rugby derbies all handed 'fan-friendly' kick-off times in new URC season as Judgement Day returns

All Welsh United Rugby Championship derbies will kick off in mid and late afternoon slots in the coming season after the release of the new schedules.

URC chief Martin Anayi has hailed the move as "fan friendly". It is certainly a nod in the direction of supporters of the Welsh professional sides, many of whom were less than impressed with some of the scheduling last term.

Played in the graveyard 7.35pm slot on a Saturday evening, the Ospreys v Cardiff clash last October, for instance, attracted a crowd of just 5,767, with some fans pointing out the slot wasn’t conducive to travelling support, with the last train from Swansea to the capital leaving at 9.50pm.

Read more: Wales' pre-season fixtures in full as teams prepare for Anglo-Welsh showdowns

But TV companies have been working with the Welsh teams to try to improve the situation for those who want to attend neighbourly jousts at professional level in this part of the world.

Scarlets and Ospreys start the derby ball rolling in Wales on Saturday, September 17, with a 5.15pm kick-off in Llanelli. Three weeks later, on October 8, Scarlets host Cardiff in the same time slot.

Then it's another all-Welsh affair a week later with Cardiff entertaining the Dragons with a 5.15pm kick-off on Saturday, October 15, while on Sunday, October 23, the Dragons take on Ospreys in Newport with a 3pm start.

Judgement Day is returning in the spring: Dragons and Scarlets have been lined up to open the action at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, April 22, with a 3pm kick-off, followed by Ospreys and Cardiff taking the field at 5.15pm.

There are still some matches at 7.35pm on Saturdays for Welsh teams — Ospreys, for instance, have three home games in that slot — but playing the derby matches at other times will be seen as a step forward in many eyes.

“The confirmation of kick-off times makes the prospect of the new season all the more tantalising," said Anayi. "Our broadcast partners have done their best to work within the various complexities of our schedule to give our teams an incredible platform to perform on.

"We have a great news story in Wales where all three broadcasters have worked hard to produce more fan-friendly kick-off times after consultation with the regions. All Welsh derbies will have mid and late afternoon starts and that could not have been achieved without the support of BBC Wales, S4C and Premier Sports.

“It is always difficult to create the perfect schedule given our presence across five countries but after the success of URC 1, we’re delighted to look forward and begin to drive the excitement and what the new campaign has to offer.”

United Rugby Championship fixtures and kick-off times for 2022/23

R1 - Friday, September 16

Benetton v Glasgow Warriors | 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Cardiff Rugby v Munster | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, September 17

Zebre Parma v Leinster | 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA & SA | RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Emirates Lions v Vodacom Bulls | 15.05 IRE & UK / 16.05 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Scarlets v Ospreys | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Edinburgh Rugby v Dragons RFC | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, S4C, SuperSport

Ulster v Connacht | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | BBC NI, TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport

**Fri, Feb 3 2022 Cell C Sharks v DHL Stormers | 17.00 IRE & UK / 18.00 ITA / 19.00 SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports, TG4

R2 – Friday, September 23

Zebre Parma v Cell C Sharks | 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Glasgow Warriors v Cardiff Rugby | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Leinster v Benetton | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, September 24

Scarlets v Ulster | 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Vodacom Bulls v Edinburgh Rugby | 14.30 IRE & UK / 15.30 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

DHL Stormers v Connacht | 16.45 IRE & UK / 17.45 ITA & SA | SuperSport, RTÉ, Premier Sports

Ospreys v Emirates Lions | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Sunday, September 25

Dragons RFC v Munster | 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

R3 – Friday, September 30

Vodacom Bulls v Connacht | 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA & SA | SuperSport, TG4, Premier Sports

Cardiff Rugby v Emirates Lions | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Ulster v Leinster | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | BBC NI, RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, October 1

DHL Stormers v Edinburgh Rugby | 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Ospreys v Glasgow Warriors | 15.05 IRE & UK / 16.05 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Munster v Zebre Parma | 17.05 IRE & UK / 18.05 ITA & SA | RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Benetton v Scarlets | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA | S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Dragons RFC v Cell C Sharks | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, TG4

R4 – Friday, October 7

Connacht v Munster | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Edinburgh Rugby v Emirates Lions | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, October 8

Zebre Parma v DHL Stormers | 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport, TG4

Leinster v Cell C Sharks | 17.05 IRE & UK / 18.05 ITA & SA | RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Scarlets v Cardiff Rugby | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Glasgow Warriors v Vodacom Bulls | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Ulster v Ospreys | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | BBC NI, S4C, TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Sunday, October 9

Benetton v Dragons RFC | 14.45 IRE & UK / 15.45 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport

R5 – Friday, October 14

Ospreys v DHL Stormers | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Connacht v Leinster | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, October 15

Emirates Lions v Ulster | 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Cell C Sharks v Glasgow Warriors | 15.05 IRE & UK / 16.05 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Edinburgh Rugby v Benetton | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Cardiff Rugby v Dragons RFC | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Scarlets v Zebre Parma | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Munster v Vodacom Bulls | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport

R6 – Friday, October 21

Benetton v Vodacom Bulls | 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Connacht v Scarlets | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | TG4, BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, October 22

Zebre Parma v Edinburgh Rugby | 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Emirates Lions v Glasgow Warriors | 15.05 IRE & UK / 16.05 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports, TG4

Cell C Sharks v Ulster | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Cardiff Rugby v DHL Stormers | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Leinster v Munster | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Sunday, October 23

Dragons RFC v Ospreys | 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

R7 – Friday, October 28

Scarlets v Leinster | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Glasgow Warriors v Benetton | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, October 29

Emirates Lions v DHL Stormers | 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Dragons RFC v Zebre Parma | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA | S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Munster v Ulster | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA | RTÉ., Premier Sports, SuperSport

Ospreys v Connacht | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | S4C, RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Sunday, October 30

Cardiff Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby | 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

** Friday, Feb 10 2023 Vodacom Bulls v Cell C Sharks | 17.00 IRE & UK / 18.00 ITA / 19.00 SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

R8 – Friday, November 25

DHL Stormers v Scarlets | 17.00 IRE & UK / 18.00 ITA / 19.00 SA | SuperSport, BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport, TG4

Ulster v Zebre Parma | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | BBC NI, TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, November 26

Vodacom Bulls v Ospreys | 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA | SuperSport, S4C, Premier Sports

Benetton v Edinburgh Rugby | 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Leinster v Glasgow Warriors | 15.15 IRE & UK / 16.15 ITA / 17.15 SA | RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Munster v Connacht | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Sunday, November 27

Emirates Lions v Dragons RFC | 14.00 IRE & UK / 15.00 ITA / 16.00 SA | SuperSport, S4C, Premier Sports

Cell C Sharks v Cardiff Rugby | 16.10 IRE & UK / 17.10 ITA / 18.10 SA | SuperSport, S4C, Premier Sports

R9 – Friday, December 2

Cell C Sharks v Ospreys | 17.00 IRE & UK / 18.00 ITA / 19.00 SA | SuperSport, BBC Wales, Premier Sports, TG4

Edinburgh Rugby v Munster | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | Premier Sports, TG4, SuperSport

Saturday, December 3

DHL Stormers v Dragons RFC | 12.00 IRE & UK / 13.00 ITA / 14.00 SA | SuperSport, S4C, Premier Sports

Zebre Parma v Glasgow Warriors | 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Connacht v Benetton | 15.15 IRE & UK / 16.15 ITA / 17.15 SA | RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Vodacom Bulls v Cardiff Rugby | 18.00 IRE & UK / 19.00 ITA / 20.00 SA | SuperSport, S4C, Premier Sports

Leinster v Ulster | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.30 ITA / 21.35 SA | TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport

S unday, December 4

Emirates Lions v Scarlets | 11.30 IRE & UK / 12.30 ITA / 13.30 SA | SuperSport, S4C, Premier Sports

R10 – Friday, December 23

Cell C Sharks v Emirates Lions | 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh Rugby | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Connacht v Ulster | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, December 24

Benetton v Zebre Parma | 12.30 IRE & UK / 13.30 ITA / 14.30 SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Monday, December 26

Dragons RFC v Cardiff Rugby | 14.15 IRE & UK / 15.15 ITA / 16.15 SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Ospreys v Scarlets | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA | S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Munster v Leinster | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | TG4, Premiers Sports, SuperSport

R11 – Friday, December 30

Edinburgh Rugby v Glasgow Warriors | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, December 31

Zebre Parma v Benetton | 12.30 IRE & UK / 13.30 ITA / 14.30 SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Cell C Sharks v Vodacom Bulls | 14.45 IRE & UK / 15.45 ITA / 16.45 SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports, TG4

DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions | 17.00 IRE & UK / 18.00 ITA / 19.00 SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Sunday, January 1

Cardiff Rugby v Ospreys | 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Scarlets v Dragons RFC | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA | S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Ulster v Munster | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA | Premier Sports, TG4, SuperSport

Leinster v Connacht | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

R12 – Friday, January 6

Munster v Emirates Lions | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Dragons RFC v Vodacom Bulls | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, January 7

Benetton v Ulster | 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Edinburgh Rugby v Zebre Parma | 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Cardiff Rugby v Scarlets | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Connacht v Cell C Sharks | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA | RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Ospreys v Leinster | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | S4C, TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Sunday, January 8

Glasgow Warriors v DHL Stormers | 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

R13 – Friday, January 27

Ulster v DHL Stormers | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | BBC NI, RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Scarlets v Vodacom Bulls | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, January 28

Benetton v Munster | 14.30 IRE & UK / 15.30 ITA / 16.30 SA | TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Dragons RFC v Glasgow Warriors | 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Leinster v Cardiff Rugby | 17.00 IRE & UK / 18.00 ITA / 19.00 SA | RTÉ, S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Edinburgh Rugby v Cell C Sharks | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA | Premier Sports, Super Sport

Connacht v Emirates Lions | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Sunday, January 29

Zebre Parma v Ospreys | 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA | S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

R14 – Friday, February 17

Glasgow Warriors v Ulster | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Munster v Ospreys | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | TG4, BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, February 18

Emirates Lions v Cell C Sharks | 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Vodacom Bulls v DHL Stormers | 15.05 IRE & UK / 16.05 ITA / 17.05 SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Zebre Parma v Connacht | 15.05 IRE & UK / 16.05 ITA / 17.05 SA | TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, TG4

Scarlets v Edinburgh Rugby | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport, TG4

Cardiff Rugby v Benetton | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA | S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Leinster v Dragons RFC | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | RTÉ, S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

R15 – Friday, March 3

Glasgow Warriors v Zebre Parma | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Munster v Scarlets | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | RTÉ, BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, March 4

DHL Stormers v Cell C Sharks | 12.30 IRE & UK / 13.30 ITA / 14.30 SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Vodacom Bulls v Emirates Lions | 14.45 IRE & UK / 15.45 ITA / 16.45 SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Edinburgh Rugby v Leinster | 17.05 IRE & UK / 18.05 ITA / 19.05 SA | Premier Sports, TG4, SuperSport

Ospreys v Benetton | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA | S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Cardiff Rugby v Ulster | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Dragons RFC v Connacht | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | S4C, RTÉ Premier Sports, SuperSport

R16 – Friday, March 24

Zebre Parma v Cardiff Rugby | 19.10 IRE & UK / 20.10 ITA / 21.10 SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Leinster v DHL Stormers | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, March 25

Benetton v Emirates Lions | 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport, TG4

Ospreys v Dragons RFC | 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Connacht v Edinburgh Rugby | 15.05 IRE & UK / 16.05 ITA / 17.05 SA | TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Munster v Glasgow Warriors | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA | RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Scarlets v Cell C Sharks | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Ulster v Vodacom Bulls | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | BBC NI, RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

R17 – Friday, April 14

Cell C Sharks v Benetton | 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Glasgow Warriors v Scarlets | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, BBC Wales, SuperSport, TG4

Ulster v Dragons RFC | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, April 15

Emirates Lions v Leinster | 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA & SA | SuperSport TG4, Premier Sports

Vodacom Bulls v Zebre Parma | 15.05 IRE & UK / 16.05 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports, TG4

DHL Stormers v Munster | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA | SuperSport, RTÉ. Premier Sports

Connacht v Cardiff Rugby | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | RTÉ, S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Edinburgh Rugby v Ospreys | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

R18 - Friday, April 21

DHL Stormers v Benetton | 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports, TG4

Ulster v Edinburgh Rugby | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, April 22

Emirates Lions v Zebre Parma | 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports, TG4

Dragons RFC v Scarlets | 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Vodacom Bulls v Leinster | 15.05 IRE & UK / 16.05 ITA & SA | SuperSport, RTÉ/TG4, Premier Sports

Ospreys v Cardiff Rugby | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA | S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Cell C Sharks v Munster | 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA | SuperSport, RTÉ/TG4, Premier Sports

Glasgow Warriors v Connacht | 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, RTÉ/TG4, SuperSport

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