The 2009-10 Magners League campaign will kick off on September 4 at the new Cardiff City Stadium as the Blues take on last season’s runners-up Edinburgh, while Glasgow host champions Munster.

Edinburgh will welcome three of the four Irish provinces to Murrayfield, including Lions-festooned champions Munster and Heineken Cup winners Leinster, during the opening jousts in the new Magners League campaign.

Edinburgh’s chief executive Nic Cartwright looked forward to an exciting start to the competition.

He said: "We start this season as we finished last – away to Cardiff Blues – though on this case we’ll be playing at their new stadium, which they’re sharing with Cardiff City Football Club.

"Then our first game at Murrayfield will be against Connacht on Friday 11 September and that will be the first chance for supporters to get behind our new coaching team of Rob Moffat and Tom Smith at Murrayfield.”