The 10th season of the tournament will see the Magners League expanded to four nations as Italy joins Ireland, Scotland and Wales in a high profile 12-team cross-border competition designed to considerably enhance both playing standards and commercial viability for the competing countries.

The three Celtic Unions have unanimously agreed to the introduction of two new Italian super sides and the four-year agreement will see Benetton Treviso and Aironi Rugby, (whose players will be drawn from MPS Rugby Viadana, Banca Monte Rugby Parma, Plusvalore Gran Parma, BluGeo Colorno, Vibu Noceto, Reggio Emilia, Modena and Mantova), competing against defending champions Munster and the other nine Celtic teams on a home and away basis.

The move to welcome Italian sides comes at the end of a year-long review of the viability of expanding the tournament, the detailed analysis and due diligence undertaken by the sports consultancy arm of Deloittes and focusing on the basis of long term financial capacity to support the teams and commit to the league.

David Jordan, Director of Celtic Rugby, said: "This is another massive step forward for the Magners League and follows the decision to go to a top four Play-Off system to determine our champion team.

"As well as providing more fixtures for the teams already involved this will also bring both a major cash injection into the competition and greater exposure across Europe.

"The implementation of the Plays-Offs and the Magners League Grand Final this season has already seen a marked improvement in the competitiveness of the League and the arrival of two Italian teams will provide another boost to the competition.

Giancarlo Dondi, President of Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR), said: "I am very pleased that, after months of intense negotiations, an agreement that will see two Italian teams join the Magners League at the start of next season has been reached.

"I am sure that the Magners League will bring benefits to all Italian rugby and will have a positive impact on the competitiveness of our national team."

Connacht's Magners League home games against Edinburgh and Munster next month have been finalised.

Connacht will take on Edinburgh at the Sportsground on Good Friday, April 2, in a game which will kick off at 6pm.

Connacht's clash with Munster will take place on Sunday, April 18, in a match which will be shown live on Setanta and will kick-off at 5.05pm.

ROUND 15
Friday 2 April
Connacht v Edinburgh (Sportsground, 18:00)
Munster v Leinster (Thomond Park Stadium, 20:05). Live on Setanta.
Ospreys v Scarlets (Liberty Stadium, 19:05). Live on BBC Wales & Setanta Ireland.
Saturday 3 April
Ulster v Cardiff Blues (Ravenhill, 19:30). Live on S4C and Setanta Ireland.
To be confirmed:
Glasgow Warriors v Newport Gwent Dragons (Firhill Arena),

ROUND 16
Friday 16 April
Glasgow Warriors v Ulster (Firhill Arena, 19:05) Live on Setanta Ireland.
Leinster v Ospreys (RDS 19:05). Live on BBC Wales and Setanta 1.
Saturday 17 April
Scarlets v Cardiff Blues (Parc y Scarlets, 18:30). Live on S4C and Setanta 1.
Sunday 18 April
Connacht v Munster (Sportsground , 17:05). Live on Setanta Ireland.
Newport Gwent Dragons v Edinburgh (Rodney Parade, 17:05). Live on S4C and Setanta.

Ticket arrangements for the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final between Connacht and Bourgoin at the Sportsground on Saturday, April 10, have been finalised.
Tickets for the game will cost €25 but match tickets will available to season ticket holders and regular supporters at reduced rates.
Season ticket holders will be able to buy tickets up to March 3 as follows:

— Each season ticket holder is entitled to buy a maximum of five tickets at €20 each for adults.
— Family season ticket holders can buy one family ticket and one ground ticket or five single tickets.

Ticket prices for season ticket holders as follows:
Ground Tickets        €20
Concession        €15 (OAP, Student/Unwaged)
Child    (up to 18yrs)    €10

Anybody bringing children of any age to the game must have a ticket.  This is for both Health & Safety reasons and to comply with ERC rules.  As the gate is shared (the visiting team is entitled to a % of the gate) each person entering the ground must have a valid ticket.

At the Connacht v Glasgow game (5th March) and the Connacht v Dragons game (17th March) Connacht’s regular supporters will have the option of buying tickets at the following prices:

Ground Tickets        €20
Concession        €15
Child            €10
Supporters can buy a maximum of five tickets each.

On the 18th March remaining tickets will go on general release at the following prices:
Ground Tickets        €25
Concession        €20
Child            €10
Plus booking fee from Ticketmaster (postage and packing.admin etc)

Link to TicketMaster here: