Glasgow begin Magners campaign with a home run

GLASGOW Warriors have been handed three home fixtures in the opening four weeks of the 2010/11 Magners League following the announcement by Celtic Rugby of the weekends and order of opposition for the new domestic season.

Edinburgh, meanwhile, open their campaign away to Cardiff as they did last season, before entertaining heavyweights Munster at Murrayfield the following weekend.

Glasgow will start and finish the regular season against former European champions, Leinster, the first game being at Firhill on the weekend of 3/4/5 September.

Warriors assistant coach, Shade Munro, welcomed the curtain-raiser. "I think it will be a massive occasion," said the former Scotland international. "They were European champions last year and it's great that we've got them first-up at home."

Two Italian teams enter the Magners League for the first time this year, Aironi Rugby and Benetton Treviso, and the Warriors will play the former at Firhill on the weekend of 5/6/7 November.

The traditional 1872 Cup weekend has also been confirmed during the festive period and Glasgow will host their rivals first.

Edinburgh head coach Rob Moffat also welcomed the action-packed start to the season. He said: "We've got a number of tough games straight away in the Magners League and the Heineken Cup, but I see it as a real opportunity for us to set our stall out and show we mean business in both competitions. With another season under the players' belts, and a number of new additions that the coaches are really excited about, we're in a good position to make progress."