THE first weekend in October will see the return of domestic club rugby to the city and region and the reigning nine time champions Shannon have a glamour tie to open with as they travel across the city to Dooradoyle to face old rivals Garryowen.
Acquaintances will be renewed from last season’s semi-finalists as the tie kicks off the new look season where the two tier structure will dominate the top flight and the eight clubs in division 1A chase glory.
UL Bohemian will play host to Blackrock in the top flight as two other local derbies complete the round one fixtures with Dolphin hosting Cork Constitution and St Mary’s taking on last season’s beaten finalists, Clontarf.
Looking through the remaining fixtures in the top flight and UL Bohemian will host their first derby at the end of October when the face off against Shannon with the tie likely to be played in Coonagh as Munster are due to play at home against Ulster on that weekend in the Magners League.
Clontarf will have to wait until the middle of December next to try and overturn their defeat in last season’s final when they host the current champions. Â
The next Limerick derby comes with UL Bohemian taking on Garryowen at home in mid December with January 16 being the next time that the two sides meet.
Division 1B kicks off on the same weekend and Limerick’s only representative in the second tier, Young Munster will host Buccaneers for a 2.30pm kick off.
League division two takes the form of the traditional league and Old Crescent take the long haul to Belfast for their opener with Harlequins while Bruff travel to face Highfield and Thomond keep the home fires burning as they welcome Greystones to the city.
Derbies in division two are scheduled for October 24 with Old Crescent taking on Bruff at home and January 16 with Thomond hosting Bruff and March 27 with Thomond again at home as they host Old Crescent.
The newly-created AIB League Division 1B promises to be a hotly-contested section this season with the reward for the league winner being a place in the overall Division One play-offs and a crack at the title.
