Connacht, Munster and Leinster's opening United Rugby Championship games will be broadcast live on free-to-air television next weekend.
Munster’s home game against South African newcomers Cell C Sharks will be live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player on Saturday, 25 September with a 7.35pm kick-off.
RTÉ's URC Live will be presented by Jacqui Hurley and Daire O’Brien with a top-class line-up of panellists, as Donal Lenihan joins Hugh Cahill on commentary for the clash at Thomond Park.
Reigning champions Leinster begin their campaign earlier that day with a home match against the Vodacom Bulls at the Aviva, with TG4 showing the 5.15pm clash.
Connacht’s opening tie against Cardiff at the Sportsground is also live on TG4 on Friday, 24 September at 7.35pm, the same time as Ulster host Glasgow.
United Rugby Championship: How it works
RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ 2fm will have full live commentary of key games involving the Irish provinces throughout the season, as well as reports, analysis, and interviews throughout the season.
There will be extensive coverage on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app, including previews, reports, video highlights, features, analysis and the RTÉ Rugby Podcast.
This season the URC, formerly the Pro14 championship, takes in four new South African franchises with the Sharks, Bulls, DHL Stormers and Emirates Lions, who all featured in the Rainbow Cup, entering the fray.
Glasgow and Edinburgh are the Scottish representatives, while Ospreys, Scarlets, Dragons and Cardiff provide the Welsh interest.
Benetton, last season’s Rainbow Cup winners, and Zebre are the two Italian sides.
UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES
The season will consist of 18 regular rounds with the top eight of 16 teams in the league claiming play-off places.
RTÉ will broadcast live television, radio and online coverage of 26 games featuring the Irish provinces in the league, plus additional knockout matches.
There will also be extensive highlights and analysis each week on Against the Head on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
TG4’s Rugbaí Beo will broadcast 26 games involving the Irish provinces and an additional 16 games featuring international club sides.
The URC final will also be delivered free-to-air with RTÉ and TG4 broadcasting it live on alternate years.
Together the broadcasters will deliver over 150 hours of world class club rugby to Irish audiences free-to-air this season.
Declan McBennett, Group Head of Sport, RTÉ said: "Throughout the year RTÉ Sport has seen the very best of Irish athletes compete domestically and internationally against first class opposition at an elite level.
"Being in a position to provide free-to-air coverage of the provinces to our audience in the newly reconstituted URC adds a further dimension to that and allows us to ensure our best rugby players are seen, and seen to inspire future generations who want to one day wear their provincial and national jersey."
RTÉ / TG4 live televised fixtures
Friday 24 September
Cardiff v Connacht, TG4
Saturday 25 September
Leinster v Bulls, TG4
Munster v Sharks, RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player
Friday 1 October
Connacht v Bulls, TG4
Saturday 2 October
Dragons v Leinster, RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player
Munster v Stormers, RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player
Friday 8 October
Ulster v Benetton, TG4
Saturday 9 October
Leinster v Zebre, RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player
Connacht v Dragons, TG4
Sunday 10 October
Scarlets v Munster, RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player
Friday 15 October
Ulster v Lions, RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player
Saturday 16 October
Benetton v Ospreys, TG4
Leinster v Scarlets, TG4
Munster v Connacht, RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player
Friday 22 October
Scarlets v Benetton, TG4
Glasgow v Leinster, TG4
Saturday 23 October
Ospreys v Munster, RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player
Connacht v Ulster, TG4
Friday 26 November
Connacht v Ospreys, RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player
Saturday 27 November
Sharks v Scarlets, TG4
Bulls v Munster, TG4
Leinster v Ulster RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player
Friday 3 December
Leinster v Connacht, TG4
Saturday 4 December
Lions v Munster, RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player
Stormers v Cardiff, TG4
Sunday 26 December
Ulster v Connacht, TG4
Munster v Leinster, RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player
Saturday 1 January
Connacht v Munster, TG4
Ulster v Leinster, TG4
Friday 7 January
Leinster v Lions, TG4
Saturday 8 January
Connacht v Stormers, RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player
Munster v Ulster, RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player
