The Ospreys took the PRO12 in 2011-12 © PA Photos

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Tournaments/Tours: RaboDirect PRO12

Teams: Ireland | Italy | Scotland | Wales | Zebre

RaboDirect PRO12 title holders the Ospreys will begin the 2012-13 season with a trip to Treviso.

The Ospreys took the PRO12 title in dramatic fashion last year with a 31-30 win over Leinster at the RDS. And going into this season, they have opted to keep the same captain with Alun Wyn Jones once against skippering the side.

"He [Jones] brings effort and desire to the table and epitomises everything that is good about the team," coach Steve Tandy said of Jones. "I can't speak highly enough about the way he led the side last season.

"He's tireless in his work, puts the team first and commands the respect of the other players. He is a fantastic talent and a fantastic leader."

The first weekend of action - with the competition kicking off on the weekend of August 31 sees PRO12 new boys Zebre travel to Newport and Heineken Cup holders Leinster journey to the Scarlets. Elsewhere Connacht entertain the Cardiff Blues.

Rob Penney's time in charge of Munster starts with a trip to Edinburgh while fellow new coaches Gregor Townsend's Glasgow Warriors face Mark Anscombe's Ulster.

Round 2 sees the Cardiff Blues make an emotional return to the Arms Park where they entertain Edinburgh while Glasgow begin life at the Scotstoun Stadium against the Scarlets, who will be under new coach Simon Easterby

The first round of derbies occur on the weekend of September 14 with Cardiff travelling to the Dragons and Munster journeying to Ulster.

RaboDirect PRO12 Fixtures:

Round 1 - Weekend of August 31:
Benetton Treviso v Ospreys - Stade Monigo
Connacht v Cardiff Blues - Sportsground
Edinburgh v Munster - Murrayfield
Newport Gwent Dragons v Zebre - Rodney Parade
Scarlets v Leinster - Parc y Scarlets
Ulster v Glasgow Warriors - Ravenhill

Round 2 - Weekend of September 7:
Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh - Cardiff Arms Park
Glasgow Warriors v Scarlets - Scotstoun Stadium
Leinster v Newport Gwent Dragons - RDS
Munster v Benetton Treviso - TBC
Ospreys v Ulster - Liberty Stadium
Zebre v Connacht - Stadio XXV Aprile

Round 3 - Weekend of September 14:
Benetton Treviso v Leinster - Stadio Monigo
Connacht v Scarlets - Sportsground
Edinburgh v Zebre - Murrayfield
Newport Gwent Dragons v Cardiff Blues - Rodney Parade
Ospreys v Glasgow Warriors - Liberty Stadium
Ulster v Munster - Ravenhill

For a full list of the fixtures click here