Gloucester Rugby Heineken Cup fixtures
They will follow that up with a return to Biarritz a week later in a thorough test of their credentials on the opening two weekends of the competition.
The second match of the campaign will also mean a much-anticipated reunion with winger Iain Balshaw, provided he is fit and picked for the game.
The Cherry and Whites face Scottish side Glasgow in the traditional December double header, the away fixture on Friday, December 11 and the return nine days later on Sunday at Kingsholm.
Exact dates for the two January fixtures are yet to be confirmed, with Biarritz at home set for the weekend of 15/16/17 January and the Dragons at Rodney Parade on 22/23/24 January.
Bryan Redpath’s men will be dreaming of having qualification secured before the tough away trip to Wales, where they found out how difficult it was to win against Cardiff Blues last season.
The likelihood is they will need something from that game, although hopefully not the miracle they needed in Biarritz at the end of last season’s group stages.
Gloucester Heineken Cup fixtures:
Newport Gwent Dragons (h) Friday October 9 (8pm)
Biarritz (a) Saturday October 17 (2:35pm)
Glasgow (a) Friday December 11 (8pm)
Glasgow (h) Sunday December 20 (12.45pm)
Biarritz (h) 15/16/17 January
Newport Gwent Dragons (a) 22/23/24 January
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