Paul John’s side then travel to Rodney Parade to face Newport the following weekend before welcoming Bridgend to Sardis Road on September 27.
Newcomers Ebbw Vale host Llandovery in Round 1 before travelling west to face Neath. They then play their first two Principality Premiership Gwent derbies of the season – Newport at home on September 27 and Cross Keys away.
Last year’s finalists Cross Keys start away from home against Aberavon in Round 1 before hosting Bedwas at Pandy Park. Greg Woods’ men then travel to the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park before that home game against neighbours Ebbw Vale.
Carmarthen Quins, who finished the league in second place last season before losing out to Cross Keys in the semi-final play-off, host Newport in the opening round before facing Bridgend away from home. They then welcome regional neighbours Llanelli to Carmarthen Park to round off their September fixtures.
John said, “With the success we’ve had over the last couple of seasons, teams will again raise their game every week to try to beat us, but that’s a great challenge.
“The Principality Premiership is now a very good standard and it’s getting harder to win it every year.
“We can’t rest on our laurels, we have to improve our fitness and skill levels and be ready for the season ahead. We are two weeks into pre-season and the boys are training well.”
John has confirmed he will stay closely involved, but coaches Geraint Lewis and Gareth Wyatt will have more responsibility this season with John overseeing matters.
“The coaching and backroom team are basically unchanged and we have retained the vast majority of players too. It’s important we give players who are doing well for our feeder clubs a chance and we will obviously benefit from some Blues academy players too.”
As for the fixtures, John is hoping for a better start than last year. “It’s important we start well to avoid having to play catch up later on, that took its toll on us all last season.
“After a British & Irish Cup play-off against Cardiff, which will be much tougher this year as they’ve improved hugely, it doesn’t get much better than Neath at home to kick off the league season. Neath have recruited strongly both on and off the field and will want to put last year’s uncharacteristic blip behind them.
“Newport are strong under Sven (Cronk) and Craig (Warlow) and we haven’t beaten them away for a number of years, but it’s a new season and a new challenge.”
Ebbw Vale head coach Jason Strange said, “We understand the standard is going to be higher in the Premiership but we’re ready for that challenge. We are pleased with the way players have come back after the break. Their fitness testing was the best in the five years I’ve been here, with a few personal bests too.
“Our approach to the season is to concentrate on being the best we can and improving within ourselves.
“It’s great to have a home game to kick things off. We lost to Llandovery by a point in the cup last year so that will be in the back of our mind and I’m sure the supporters will look forward to that game. Then we have Neath away before welcoming Newport to Eugene Cross Park and with the great tradition of Gwent derbies, I’m sure that we will get a big crowd for that one too.”
It’s a case of unfinished business for Cross Keys head coach Greg Woods.
“It was a disappointing end to last season but that is driving us forward throughout summer. We started exceptionally well last year, and we know we need to target the first four or five games to make sure we’re in with a shout.
“The squad and management are virtually unchanged, we’re just trying to make sure we improve within ourselves to perform better in the bigger games when it matters most.
“Aberavon have recruited well over the summer and they are always difficult down there, then we have a first league Gwent derby to look forward to which is always a lottery in many way. And with Cardiff away, we have three tough opening fixtures, but that’s what it’s all about. We have to target our home games but we need to show that same mentality on the road too.
“It’ll be good to have the two British & Irish Cup play-offs against Gwent sides first. They will build the excitement levels and come September 13 we will be battle ready for the Principality.”
Steff Thomas, Carmarthen Quins rugby manager said, “After the success of last season, the boys are anxious to get back for what promises to be another cracking rugby season. September looks like a tough month with Newport at home, Bridgend away and then a home derby against Llanelli so we will have to make sure we hit the ground running.”
Principality Premiership Fixtures 2014/2015
Round 1 September 13
Ebbw Vale V Llandovery
Pontypridd V Neath
Carmarthen V Newport
Cardiff V Bridgend
Bedwas V Llanelli
Aberavon V Cross Keys
Round 2 September 20
Neath V Ebbw Vale
Llandovery V Aberavon
Cross Keys V Bedwas
Llanelli V Cardiff
Bridgend V Carmarthen
Newport V Pontypridd
Round 3 September 27
Cardiff V Cross Keys
Bedwas V Aberavon
Neath V Llandovery
Ebbw Vale V Newport
Pontypridd V Bridgend
Carmarthen V Llanelli
Round 4 October 4
Cross Keys v Ebbw Vale
Llanelli V Neath
Bridgend V Newport
Llandovery V Cardiff
Bedwas V Carmarthen
Aberavon V Pontypridd
Round 5 November 1
Neath V Cross Keys
Ebbw Vale V Aberavon
Pontypridd V Bedwas
Carmarthen V Cardiff
Bridgend V Llandovery
Newport v Llanelli
Round 6 November 7 or 9
Carmarthen V Ebbw Vale
Cardiff V Neath
Bedwas V Newport
Aberavon V Bridgend
Cross Keys V Llanelli
Llandovery V Pontypridd
Round 7 November 14 or 16
Llandovery V Cross Keys
Llanelli V Aberavon
Bridgend V Bedwas
Cardiff V Newport
Neath V Carmarthen
Ebbw Vale V Pontypridd
Round 8 November 21 or 23
Newport V Neath
Bedwas V Llandovery
Aberavon V Cardiff
Cross Keys V Carmarthen
Pontypridd V Llanelli
Bridgend V Ebbw Vale
Round 9 December 20
Carmarthen V Aberavon
Cardiff V Bedwas
Llandovery V Newport
Neath V Bridgend
Ebbw Vale V Llanelli
Pontypridd V Cross Keys
Round 10 December 26/27
Aberavon V Neath
Cross Keys V Newport
Carmarthen V Llandovery
Cardiff V Pontypridd
Bedwas v Ebbw Vale
Llanelli V Bridgend
Round 11 January 3
Aberavon V Newport
Neath V Bedwas
Ebbw Vale V Cardiff
Pontypridd v Carmarthen
Llandovery V Llanelli
Bridgend V Cross Keys
Round 12 January 17
Llandovery V Ebbw Vale
Neath V Pontypridd
Newport V Carmarthen
Bridgend V Cardiff
Llanelli V Bedwas
Cross Keys V Aberavon
Round 13 January 24 (British & Irish Cup QF)
Ebbw Vale V Neath
Aberavon V Llandovery
Bedwas V Cross Keys
Cardiff V Llanelli
Carmarthen V Bridgend
Pontypridd V Newport
Round 14 January 31
Cross Keys V Cardiff
Aberavon V Bedwas
Llandovery V Neath
Newport V Ebbw Vale
Bridgend V Pontypridd
Llanelli V Carmarthen
Round 15 February 7
Ebbw Vale V Cross Keys
Neath V Llanelli
Newport v Bridgend
Cardiff V Llandovery
Carmarthen V Bedwas
Pontypridd v Aberavon
Round 16 February 13/14/15
Cross Keys V Neath
Aberavon V Ebbw Vale
Bedwas V Pontypridd
Cardiff V Carmarthen
LLandovery V Bridgend
LlanellI V Newport
Round 17 February 27/28
Ebbw Vale V Carmarthen
Neath V Cardiff
Newport V Bedwas
Bridgend V Aberavon
Llanelli V Cross Keys
Pontypridd V Llandovery
Round 18 March 7
Cross Keys V Llandovery
Aberavon V Llanelli
Bedwas V Bridgend
Newport V Cardiff
Carmarthen V Neath
Pontypridd V Ebbw Vale
Round 19 March 21
Neath V Newport
Llandovery V Bedwas
Cardiff V Aberavon
Carmarthen V Cross Keys
Llanelli V Pontypridd
Ebbw Vale V Bridgend
Round 20 April 4 (Easter)
Neath V Aberavon
Newport V Cross Keys
Bridgend V Llanelli
Llandovery V Carmarthen
Pontypridd V Cardiff
Ebbw Vale V Bedwas
Round 21 April 18
Aberavon V Carmarthen
Bedwas V Cardiff
Newport V Llandovery
Bridgend V Neath
Llanelli V Ebbw Vale
Cross Keys V Pontypridd
Round 22 April 25
Newport V Aberavon
Bedwas V Neath
Cardiff V Ebbw Vale
Carmarthen V Pontypridd
Llanelli V Llandovery
Cross Keys V Bridgend
Swalec Cup Dates
10 January
21 February
28 March
11 April
3 May
British & Irish Cup
Round 1 October 11
Round 2 October 18
Round 3 October 25
Round 4 November 29
Round 5 December 6
Round 6 December 13
Quarter Finals January 24
Semi Finals March 14
Final April 4
Principality Premiership Play Off Matches
Semi-final Play-Off May 9
Final May 16
