Five months on from their unforgettable final win, St. Mary's College will launch the defence of their Division 1A title away to Lansdowne, the newly-crowned Leinster Senior Cup winners.
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No club has retained the Energia All-Ireland League's top-flight crown since Shannon in the mid-2000s, although Cork Constitution and Clontarf have both gone close in recent years.
St. Mary's are led again by head coach Mark McHugh and captain Conor Dean, have some canny recruits up front in Stephen McLoughlin and Mark Hernan, and will be out to avenge their recent 34-19 Leinster Senior Cup final defeat to Lansdowne.
With Rhys Ruddock now heading up their coaching group, Lansdowne will want to hit the ground running, especially with three Dublin derbies to start off with. Ex-Ulster centre Wilhelm de Klerk has joined the headquarters club.
Following a 29-year absence, Old Wesley will mark their return to the All-Ireland League's top division with a first round trip to Clontarf, last season's beaten finalists.
Former Leinster Academy lock Billy Corrigan, who only turned 21 in the summer, captains an exciting Old Wesley side, while Clontarf kick off their 150th season with Andy Wood now the club's Head of Performance, and Karl Curran stepping up as head coach.
Mike Orchin-McKeever's first Division 1A match in charge of Ballynahinch sees them host UCD - 'Hinch have already booked an Ulster Senior Cup final place - and Temple Hill is the venue for a tasty opener between Terenure College and Cork Constitution.
Cork Con will want to start strongly after missing out on the play-offs last season for the first time in 11 years. Young Munster, meanwhile, will have home advantage against Old Belvedere, who now have now the recently-retired Ed Byrne as a player-coach.
Having finished only a point behind Old Wesley, Division 1B's Dublin University will fancy their chances of challenging hard for promotion again. They make the trip north to play City of Armagh this weekend.
Following a tough year in the top flight, Nenagh Ormond have a Munster derby first up at Highfield. Nenagh head coach Derek Corcoran has stepped back from playing senior rugby.
There is much excitement surrounding MU Barnhall's debut in the league's second tier, as they begin their campaign against Blackrock College at Stradbrook.
Look out for full-back Neil Byrne, who had a key influence when Barnhall's Under-20s won their first Fraser McMullen Cup last April, and ex-Connacht centre Shane Mallon, the Division 2A Player of the Year for 2025/26.
Luke Hickey is Blackrock's new head coach, with Declan Fassbender and Ian Madigan also part of the coaching ticket. 'Rock kicked off their season by winning the Leinster Senior League for the first time since 1991.
The Garryowen-Instonians game is shaping up to be a cracker, with both teams having finished in the top four last term. Skippered by talismanic centre Bryan Fitzgerald, Garryowen have won through to the Munster Senior Challenge Cup final.
Naas and UCC also meet at Forenaughts, the two sides having battled to avoid relegation just a few short months ago. Former Cork Con captain Niall Kenneally is transitioning into coaching, assisting new UCC boss Ger Burke.
Following their relegation, Queen's University begin life back in Division 2A with a new head coach in Jonny Graham, and a big test away to Shannon, who finished second to Barnhall last season.
Promoted clubs Galwegians and UL Bohemian are both on the road, travelling to Dungannon and Cashel, respectively, while Galway Corinthians, the Connacht Senior League winners, and Wanderers will face off out west.
Marcus Rea, who finished up at Ulster in the summer, has a new player-coach role with his home club Ballymena. Greystones are their round 1 opponents.
Meanwhile, history will be made on Saturday as Men's Divisions 2B and 2C have been restructured as Energia All-Ireland League 2BN (North) and 2BS (South), with the regional format designed to assist clubs' sustainability by reducing travel distances and overnight stays, and improve player welfare.
IrishRugby+ will bring you live coverage of Enniskillen's eagerly-awaited Division 2BN opener against Ulster rivals Rainey. A big crowd is guaranteed at Mullaghmeen for Skins' All-Ireland League bow.
With their Men's and Women's teams now both boasting AIL status, these are heady times for the Fermanagh club, whose close-knit, homegrown squads are hoping to continue where they left off last spring.
The newly-appointed Neil Doak will oversee Banbridge's bid to bounce back from relegation - they start with a trip to Malone - while in 2BS, there are two matches in the capital as Clonmel, last season's Division 2C winners, visit Monkstown, and Bective Rangers play Old Crescent.
There are six Munster clubs in the South Division, including Thomond and Midleton who will lock horns at Liam Fitzgerald Park. Keith Earls is an eye-catching addition to Thomond's coaching team as attack coach.
