FRIDAY 16 September will see Franco Smith take charge of Glasgow for the first time in a competitive match when the Warriors travel to Treviso to play his old team Benetton in the very first match of this season’s United Rugby Championship. Edinburgh kick off their campaign the following day when the Dragons visit the DAM Health Stadium.
Having only issued “weekend of” fixtures last month, the URC yesterday announced dates and kick-off times for all 18 rounds of the regular season. As expected, the two 1872 Cup games either side of Christmas will both take place on Fridays. The Warriors will be at home on 23 December, then Edinburgh will welcome their rivals to BT Murrayfield on the 30th. Both matches kick off at 7.35pm.
The 18-game regular season goes on all the way to late April, when Edinburgh’s campaign concludes with a match in Belfast against Ulster while Glasgow are at home to Connacht.
URC 2022-23 (all kick-offs UK time)
SEPTEMBER
Fri 16 Benetton v Glasgow Warriors 5.30pm
Sat 17 Edinburgh v Dragons 7.35pm
Fri 23 Glasgow v Cardiff 7.35pm
Sat 24 Bulls v Edinburgh 2.30pm
OCTOBER
Sat 1 Stormers v Edinburgh 1pm, Ospreys v Glasgow 3.05pm
Fri 7 Edinburgh v Lions 7.35pm
Sat 8 Glasgow v Bulls 7.35pm
Sat 15 Sharks v Glasgow 3.05pm, Edinburgh v Benetton 5.15pm
Sat 22 Zebre v Edinburgh 1pm, Lions v Glasgow 3.05pm
Fri 28 Glasgow v Benetton 7.35pm
Sun 30 Cardiff v Edinburgh 3pm
NOVEMBER
Sat 26 Benetton v Edinburgh 1pm, Leinster v Glasgow 3.15pm
DECEMBER
Fri 2 Edinburgh v Munster 7.35pm
Sat 3 Zebre v Glasgow 1pm
Fri 23 Glasgow v Edinburgh 7.35pm
Fri 30 Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.35pm
JANUARY 2023
Sat 7 Edinburgh v Zebre 3pm
Sun 8 Glasgow v Stormers 3pm
Sat 28 Dragons v Glasgow 3pm, Edinburgh v Sharks 5.15pm
FEBRUARY
Fri 17 Glasgow v Ulster 7.35pm
Sat 18 Scarlets v Edinburgh 5.15pm
MARCH
Fri 3 Glasgow v Zebre 7.35pm
Sat 4 Edinburgh v Leinster 5.05pm
Sat 25 Connacht v Edinburgh 3.05pm, Munster v Glasgow 5.15pm
APRIL
Fri 14 Glasgow v Scarlets 7.35pm
Sat 15 Edinburgh v Ospreys 7.35pm
Fri 21 Ulster v Edinburgh 7.35pm
Sat 22 Glasgow v Connacht 7.35pm
Last year there was an outcry at the lack of Friday night rugby for Warriors fans. Well this year it is Edinburgh’s turn to lose out on Friday night games. Only two Friday night home games at the DAM. Glasgow have six in comparison. I do think that Friday night rugby has become a popular fixture in the week’s diary, with a majority of mid/late afternoon kick offs, the Saturday games may more directly compete with school, club and family commitments. I hope we have not jeopardised the hard won improvement in atmosphere built last season.