A NEW ERA began over the weekend as the inaugural Guinness Pro14 season kicked off, with the fresh arrivals from South Africa finding the going tough in their new surroundings.

Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

Southern Kings and Toyota Cheetahs both suffered heavy defeats, while it was a mostly positive weekend for the Irish provinces.

Ulster and Munster kicked things off on Friday night with comfortable victories over the Cheetahs and Benetton Treviso respectively. Leinster overcame Bernard Jackman’s Newport Gwent Dragons on Saturday afternoon, before Connacht suffered a narrow defeat to Glasgow Warriors in Kieran Keane’s first game in charge.

If you didn’t catch any of the action, here’s what you missed…

Munster 34-3 Benetton Treviso

Ulster 42-19 Toyota Cheetahs

Newport Gwent Dragons 16-39 Leinster

Connacht 12-18 Glasgow Warriors

Cardiff Blues 10-20 Edinburgh

Ospreys 22-13 Zebre

Scarlets 57-10 Southern Kings

Scintillating Saracens thrash Saints as London Irish return with thrilling Twickeham win

Cheetahs hurt by Ulster defeat but vow to learn their lessons ahead of Thomond trip