THE Guinness PRO14 conferences will be reshuffled next season and the schedule will determine whether the Dragons give up home advantage for a Judgement Day derby.

The Rodney Parade region have launched their membership packages for next season with 10 league fixtures set to be played in Newport unlike this term’s nine.

It is possible that the Dragons could have three Rodney Parade derbies for the first time since 2011/12 and be the away side at Judgement Day, where they have never won.

South Wales Argus:

The PRO14 has been split into two seven-strong divisions since the introduction of the South African pair of the Kings and Cheetahs last season.

There will be a rejig of the conferences for the first time in 2019/20 with the groups decided by final standings in the current campaign.

The format will remain the same of two Welsh regions, a pair of Irish provinces and a club each from Scotland, Italy and South Africa.

The Dragons are Wales’ lowest seeds so, as things stand, will be pooled with Cardiff Blues rather than the Scarlets for next season, which will start in late September because of the World Cup.

The conference format means that teams play 21 fixtures – with Welsh teams having six derbies – and have an imbalance of home and away fixtures.

The Dragons currently play those in their Conference B twice (12 games), the two Welsh teams in Conference A twice (4 games) and the other Conference A teams once (5 games).

South Wales Argus:

That split has meant the Dragons have played in Newport just nine times in the PRO14 this season because they will give away home advantage for the Judgement Day finale with the Scarlets.

In 2017/18 they also played in Newport nine times, with the game against Edinburgh taken up to Ebbw Vale and the Scarlets entertained at Principality Stadium.

A new four-year deal for the regional double-header was announced in November with the two eastern teams – the Dragons and Cardiff Blues – no longer automatically losing a fixture on home turf.

The Scarlets and Ospreys will take turns to have a home game in the capital and the new arrangement will see the ‘hosts’ splitting 80 per cent of the profits and the ‘visitors’ getting 20 per cent.

South Wales Argus:

The WRU and regions will work with PRO14 chiefs to try and ensure that those with 11 home games are the nominated hosts on Judgement Day.

That raises the possibility of the Dragons having three Newport clashes with regional rivals for the first time since 2011/12, when they beat the Ospreys and Cardiff Blues after being edged out by the Scarlets.

The region launched their membership for 2019/20 yesterday with season ticket prices frozen.

For more information go to dragonsrugby.wales or contact the ticket office on 01633 674990.