Some travel relief for SA teams as URC announces fixtures for 2023/24 season

In the earliest release of fixtures in the history of the competition, the URC announced its schedule for the 2023/24 campaign on Tuesday, and with it some travel relief for the South African teams.

The league's 23rd season kicks off with six matches on Saturday, 21 October, followed by two scheduled for Sunday, 22 October.

Champions Munster will kick off their title defence against the Sharks at Thomond Park (kick-off 17:15).

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The first fixture of the season, which consists of 144 games in the regular season, takes place in Italy when Ulster travel to Zebre Parma, while the Lions host last season's runners-up, the Stormers, in the first derby of the year.

In Wales, Cardiff host Benetton at Arms Park.

The Bulls take on the Scarlets at Loftus on the Sunday, before last season's play-off sides, Leinster and Glasgow Warriors, play in Scotstoun.

After a two-year window of home or away fixtures against non-Shield opponents, the sequencing has been refreshed.

The home and away sequence from this season will be reversed for the 2024/25 campaign to ensure a fair balance of home and away games against the same opponents over a two-year cycle. 

In a new approach aimed at reducing long-haul travel across the league, the South African teams will tour twice rather than three times.

This means a four-match tour to Europe in the early part of the season followed by a two-game tour after the Six Nations (a balance of two three-game tours will be implemented if future calendars allow for it).

Additionally, the earlier generation of fixtures will assist all teams in their cross-hemisphere travel with improved access to different seat classes and