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The eagerly-awaited fixtures for the 2009/10 Barclays Premier League season have now been released.

Champions Manchester United begin their quest for a fourth successive title at home to newly-promoted Birmingham City. It is a tough start for the Blues who won promotion by finishing runners-up in the Championship behind Wolverhampton Wanderers who are at home to West Ham United on the opening day. The other new-boys Burnley, making their bow in the Premier League, begin away to the club they will aim to emulate – Stoke City.

Last season’s runners-up Liverpool, will begin this campaign as they finished the last against Tottenham Hotspur but this time away. Third-placed Chelsea host Hull City while Arsenal travel to FA Cup finalists Everton. Big-spending Manchester City start away to Blackburn Rovers while Fulham are away to Portsmouth.

New Sunderland manager Steve Bruce will kick off at Bolton Wanderers while Roberto Martinez takes charge of Wigan Athletic for the first time at Aston Villa.
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Sky Sports have inadvertently leaked Arsenal’s opening Premier League fixtures for the 2009/2010 season:

The fixtures are as follows:
Aug 15 – West Ham (A)
Aug 22 – Burnley (H)
Aug 29 – Chelsea (H)
Sep 12 – Bolton (A)
Sep 19 – Liverpool (A)
Sep 26 – Man City (H)

Sat 30 May 15:00 @ Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace
Highveld XV v British & Irish Lions

Wed 3 Jun 19:10 @ Coca-Cola Park
Golden Lions v British & Irish Lions

Sat 6 Jun 15:00
Cheetahs v British & Irish Lions Vodacom Park

Wed 10 Jun 19:10 @ The ABSA Stadium
Sharks v British & Irish Lions

Sat 13 Jun 15:00 @ Newlands
Western Province v British & Irish Lions

Tue 16 Jun 15:00 @ Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Coastal XV v British & Irish Lions

Sat 20 Jun 15:00 @ The ABSA Stadium
South Africa v British & Irish Lions

Tue 23 Jun 19:10 @ Newlands
Emerging Springboks v British & Irish Lions

Sat 27 Jun 15:00 @ Loftus Versfeld
South Africa v British & Irish Lions

Sat 4 Jul 15:00 @ Coca-Cola Park
South Africa v British & Irish Lions

The GAA has confirmed that the Allianz Football League Division 1 and 2 finals will be played as a double header at Croke Park on Sunday 26 April. Cork will play Monaghan in the Division 2 decider at 2.00pm, while Derry and Kerry meet in Division 1 final at 4.00pm

The Division 3 and 4 finals will be played at Pearse Park in Longford on Saturday 25 April. Down play Tipperary in Division 3 at 6.30pm, while Antrim and Sligo meet in the Division 4 decider at 4.30pm.

The Division 1 hurling final between Kilkenny and Tipperary will be at Semple Stadium on Sunday 3 May at 4.00pm.
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