Rivalries will be renewed, and old scores settled in five enthralling contests from across the Championship this Christmas, ranging from Limerick to Parma via Galway and Newport.
Saturday brings four enticing matches, with Zebre and Benetton kicking things off in Italy before Dragons host Cardiff Blues, Ospreys face Scarlets and Munster do battle with Leinster.
The 1872 Cup contest between Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh has been postponed, leaving Connacht and Ulster as Sunday’s sole game.
SAT – Zebre v Benetton
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma | KO 1pm UK | Live on DAZN, Free Sports, pro14.tv
Benetton are yet to get off the mark in this season’s Guinness PRO14 and currently prop up Conference B with just three points.
However, they will fancy their chances against rivals Zebre, who themselves have struggled for victories – with just one to their name so far.
Benetton have not won in the Championship since they beat Zebre in this very fixture back in August but they have come out on top in six of their last seven matches against their compatriots and each of their last six games at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.
Zebre have won just once in the last nine Guinness PRO14 rounds, a 23-17 home success against Ospreys last month.
SAT – Dragons v Cardiff Blues
Rodney Parade, Newport | KO 3pm UK | Live on S4C, Premier Sports 1, pro14.tv
Cardiff Blues dominate their head-to-head record with Dragons but face a tall task at Rodney Parade on Saturday afternoon.
Dragons are seeking a third straight Guinness PRO14 win for the first time since 2014/15, while the Blues have only won one of their last six league matches.
The Blues have not lost to Dragons in six years though, winning each of their last ten games against the Men of Gwent, and lead the overall head-to-head 25-8.
Both sides sit fourth in their respective conferences but it’s the Blues who can still dream of a top-two finish. They are just six points behind Connacht in Conference B, while Dragons are 22 points adrift of high-flying Leinster in Conference A.
SAT – Ospreys v Scarlets
TBC | KO 5.15pm | Live on Premier Sports 1, pro14.tv
We look set for a Christmas cracker. Ospreys are seeking a first win against Welsh opposition in five encounters, while Scarlets have won their last four.
The last five fixtures between the two has been won by the home side on the day, with Scarlets cruising to a comfortable 44-0 win the last time these two met on December 26 last year.
Both teams are third in their respective conferences having won three of their seven matches so far this season.
SAT – Munster v Leinster
Thomond Park, Limerick | KO 7.35pm UK | Live on eirSport, Premier Sports 1, pro14.tv
Perhaps the highlight of Round 9 comes from Limerick, where old rivals Munster and Leinster go head-to-head.
Neither side has lost in the Guinness PRO14 this season, with 14 wins and 11 bonus points between them in a so-far perfect campaign.
Munster have a score to settle. Their last Guinness PRO14 defeat came at the hands of Leinster in last season’s semi-final, while the men from Dublin are also the last team to beat them at Thomond Park.
That 13-6 defeat came on December 28 last year, while Leinster have enjoyed the upper hand in this rivalry recently, winning eight of the last nine encounters.
SUN – Connacht v Ulster
The Sportsground, Galway | KO 7.35pm UK | Live on TG4, eirSport, Premier Sports 1, pro14.tv
A second Irish derby completes Round 9 as Ulster pack up and head west to Galway for a clash with Connacht.
Both sides have been excellent this season, with Ulster winning all eight of their Guinness PRO14 matches so far to sit top of Conference A.
Connacht are also sitting pretty, with four wins from six placing them second in Conference B, while they have lost just once since Round 2.
Connacht’s record against Irish teams is not for the feint hearted, however, and the Men in Green have won just one of their last nine derby games.
That came against Ulster in August, one of three straight derby defeats for Dan McFarland’s side.
Ulster have not won at The Sportsground in five years, with the home side on the day winning each of the last four fixtures between these two teams.
