THE Dragons will be joined by South Africa’s Southern Kings in their conference of the revamped Guinness PRO14 Championship.

PRO12 chiefs have confirmed that an agreement has been signed to expand for the coming campaign, changing from a league format to a two conference model.

The Dragons will be in Conference B with the title-winning Scarlets, Leinster, Ulster, Edinburgh, Treviso and the Kings, who are based in Port Elizabeth. Bernard Jackman's side will play these teams home AND away.

Conference A sees the Cheetahs join Munster, the Ospreys, Cardiff Blues, Glasgow, Connacht and Zebre. The Dragons face the men from Bloemfontein, the Irish pair, Warriors and Parma team either home OR away.

The two divisions will be reset every season to reflect the rankings of the previous campaign.

The regular season will be 21 games with home and away derbies against the three Welsh teams protected.

The play-offs will increase to quarter-finals with the second and third-placed teams battling for the right to play the pair of leaders.

Fixtures for rounds 1-13 have been drafted and will be confirmed next week after consultation with broadcasters with the opening games on Friday, September 1.

Games in South Africa are fixed for Saturdays to allow visiting teams to have a seven-day turnaround. Those pencilled in for a pair of fixtures in the southern hemisphere will play them back-to-back on a 'mini tour'.

The Kings and Cheetahs cannot qualify for European tournaments at the moment.

Conference A

•             Munster (IRFU)

•             Ospreys (WRU)

•             Glasgow Warriors (SRU)

•             Cardiff Blues (WRU)

•             Connacht (IRFU)

•             Zebre Rugby Club (FIR)

•             Toyota Cheetahs (SA Rugby)

Conference B

•             Scarlets (WRU)

•             Leinster (IRFU)

•             Ulster (IRFU)

•             Edinburgh (SRU)

•             Treviso (FIR)

•             Dragons (WRU)

•             Southern Kings (SA Rugby)