THE RABO DIRECT PRO 12 WELCOMES IN THE NEW SEASON

Here comes a kid with a guitar in his hand. Dreamin' of his record in number one spot. Everybody wants to be the man at the top. - Man at the Top (1983)

This Friday (6th of September) the Rabo Direct Pro 12 competition kicks off as all 12 sides from across the Celtic isles and Italy begin their 2013/2014 rugby campaign. The official launch of this year's competition took place in Belfast on the 27th of August but it wasn't all excitement and cheers as all 12 captains lined up either side of the Pro 12 trophy. With the league having had a less than vintage year of rugby last season the 2013/14 season is being billed by many as 'do or die'. With the league co-ordinators working to overcome the lack of supporters filling up stadium seats on match day as well as looking for a new sponsor after Rabo Direct terminated their three year association with the league, everyone is hoping that the Pro 12 is not going to sink in to oblivion like the setting of it's launch did once upon a time (the launch took place in Belfast's new Titanic Experience attraction).

Scarlets V Leinster  6/9/2013 KO: 19:05

The first of three games to take place on Friday is the Scarlets V Leinster at Parc Y Scarlets. Both teams met numerous times throughout last season and it's fair to say that even though the Scarlets got off on the better foot beating the Irish team 45-20 at the very start of the season, it was the Irish that had the last laugh thrashing the West Walians 32-5 back in February before going on to win the Pro 12 title. The Scarlets have a rather frustrating habit of starting the season with a bang (they won their first four matches last season) before fizzling out just as the competition heats up. This might have something to do with the control the WRU have over their players. The red outfit suffered numerous losses around the time leading up to, during and after the autumn internationals as their star players such as Jonathan Davies, George North and Ken Owens were all absent from the Scarlets' starting XV while on international duty. However frustrating this might be, the Irish and Scotts also suffer as a result of international call ups thus it can not be used as an excuse but it could be said that this set up does nothing to help the quality and success of the Pro 12 league. 

Image - Huw Evans Picture Agency

Having lost players such as North and Fenby towards the end of last season the strong Leinster squad made up of Heaslip, Cullen, Rob Kearney and O'Brien will fancy their chances against a continuously struggling Welsh side. Despite the lack of big international Welsh names in the Scarlets' squad and with the WRU stating that Lions player, Jonathan Davies, will miss around a few rounds of Pro 12 action at the beginning of the season the West Walians are making great steps in developing players through their academy and with more and more players being called up for Welsh selection throughout the season a large and strong squad is exactly what is needed to experience success in this league. Leinster's heaviest defeat in the Pro 12 was at the hands of their Friday opposition back in 2004 (20-51) but with 152 wins in comparison to the Scarlets' 107 it seems as though Leinster are the favourites as they walk out on to the field in Llanelli later this week. Welsh V Irish games are always exciting and let's hope that the Scarlets and Leinster start the new season on Friday with a great opener which will set the tone for the rest of the season. 

Dragons V Ulster 6/9/13 KO: 19:15

Kicking off just ten minutes after Scarlets & Leinster, the Dragons will take to the field at Rodney Parade to face last season's Pro 12 runners up - Ulster. With the club appointing a new Chief Executive, Gareth Davies, as well as collectively partaking in a massive sigh of relief with the confirmation of the re-signing of Lions and Wales star player, Toby Faletau and by announcing Wales 2012/13 break through player, Andrew Coombs, as captain it seems as though the Newport Dragons are in a much more positive place than ever heading in to a new and exciting season. Despite finishing 11th last year, Ulster should not think (not that they are) that Friday will be a walk over and hopefully it will be a good competitive game that will stand the Dragons in good stead heading in to a very promising, on paper at least, season.

However, there is no doubting that they face a very hard opening fixture as they go head to head against one of the very few teams in last year's Rabo Direct Pro 12 that played continuously high quality games. The Northern Irish team managed 11 consecutive wins and looked as if they were going to take the title with no worries - well, that was until Leinster came a knocking on the day of the final. Despite having a wobbly time with the Lions, Rory Best will surely be back to his usual good form come the new season and so will many of his fellow players who will play a key part in the side's success throughout the season. Youngsters Paddy Jackson and Andrew Trimble as well as Irish wing Tommy Bowe will be invaluable to the Ulstermen as they attempt to go one better and clinch only their second Pro 12 title in history. (Bowe & Best will return in 4 weeks) 

Glasgow V Blues 6/9/2013 KO: 19:35

Having finished in third place last season after losing to Leinster in the semi-final and missing out on a place in the final, Glasgow look all fired up and ready for the new season. The Warriors' captain, Alastair Kellock, has stated that last season's 'heartbreak' will drive them to 'surpass last year's achievements'. With the Scottish side signing Fijian sevens star Leone Nakarawa and with Lions fly-half Hogg returning to the side this season, the Glasgow Warriors are looking as if they are up for the challenge to lift their first ever Pro 12 trophy.

The Blues are home to not only some of the best players in Welsh rugby but also some of the best players in Britain, Europe and the World. With Warburton set to make his return just before the autumn internationals and with the newly turfed 4G synthetic pitch welcoming fellow Lions heroes Alex Cuthbert and Leah Halfpenny if not on Friday, in the next few weeks - the Blues look like one of the strongest sides in the competition. However, it's not all about the Lions players with Josh Navidi, Rhys Patchell and Lloyd Williams all making the Cardiff side real contenders for this year's championship. In 2011 the Blues managed 7 penalties against the Scottish side but it was Glasgow who had the better of the Blues last season as they successfully beat the Welshmen in both encounters with Glasgow convincingly winning 29-13 during their last meeting. However, a new season means new signings, new coaches and new mentalities thus when the whistle blows in Scotstoun stadium on Friday night it's all to fight for and a win is crucial to set the tone for the rest of the season, lose and the pressure will immediately build on the team's shoulders.

With rugby union having recently been engulfed by the massive success of the Lions it will be nice to have the focus back on club rugby and if Friday's fixtures pan out as one expects then we have an equally interesting and exciting season of club rugby ahead of us. Let's hope that the Pro 12 will provide continuous high quality rugby throughout the season - not only to improve the standard of the game but also in order to draw more crowds and interest in to what is really one of the most thrilling leagues in Europe.