Saints' defence starts at Sarries
Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:22
The next edition of the LV=Cup will see some mouthwatering match-ups in the pool stages, with defending champions, the Northampton Saints, set to meet Saracens in the opening round.
The LV= Cup, formerly known as the Anglo-Welsh Cup, pits the 12 Premiership Teams against the four Welsh regions, with the 16 teams being split into four Pools.
The four Pools each have three English side and one Welsh each, with the Premiership side allocated to the pools depending on their domestic finish last term.
Welsh regions have been allocated to the pools to avoid repeating fixtures from the Heineken and Amlin Challenge Cups.
"Last season's tournament produced some great rugby and in the final, one of the stand out games of the season," said LV= Cup Director Terry Burwell.
"We are very much looking forward to the second year of a competition structure that not only helps players, coaches and officials develop but also provides
more revenue potential for the English Premiership clubs and the Welsh regions.
"We have a committed broadcaster in Sky Sports for the next five years, plus coverage in Wales from S4C, and we would like to thank LV= for supporting the Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby, the Welsh Rugby Union and the teams themselves in the delivery of elite knockout rugby."
Teams in Pool 1 play teams in Pool 4 and teams in Pool 2 play teams in Pool 3. Each team plays four pool matches - two home and two away - with the top team from each pool qualifying for the semifinals.
Should the winner of the competition be an English club, they will qualify for the following season's Heineken Cup.
LV= Cup Pools for 2010/2011:
Pool 1
Leicester Tigers
London Wasps
Newcastle Falcons
Cardiff Blues
Pool 2
Saracens
London Irish
Leeds Carnegie
Dragons
Pool 3
Northampton Saints
Gloucester Rugby
Sale Sharks
Scarlets
Pool 4
Bath Rugby
Harlequins
Exeter Chiefs
Ospreys
Fixtures:
Round 1 (weekend of November 6, 2010)
Bath Rugby v Cardiff Blues
Exeter Chiefs v London Wasps
Newcastle Falcons v Ospreys
Leicester Tigers v Harlequins
Sale Sharks v London Irish
Saracens v Northampton Saints
Dragons v Gloucester Rugby
Scarlets v Leeds Carnegie
Round 2 (weekend of November 13, 2010)
Harlequins v Newcastle Falcons
London Wasps v Bath Rugby
Cardiff Blues v Exeter Chiefs
Ospreys v Leicester Tigers
Gloucester Rugby v Saracens
Leeds Carnegie v Sale Sharks
Northampton Saints v Dragons
London Irish v Scarlets
Round 3 (weekend of January 29, 2011)
Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers
London Wasps v Harlequins
Bath Rugby v Newcastle Falcons
Cardiff Blues v Ospreys
Leeds Carnegie v Gloucester Rugby
Sale Sharks v Dragons
London Irish v Northampton Saints
Scarlets v Saracens
Round 4 (weekend of February 5, 2011)
Leicester Tigers v Bath Rugby
Newcastle Falcons v Exeter Chiefs
Ospreys v London Wasps
Harlequins v Cardiff Blues
Gloucester Rugby v London Irish
Saracens v Sale Sharks
Northampton Saints v Leeds Carnegie
Dragons v Scarlets
Semifinals (weekend of March 12, 2011, venue TBC)
Final (weekend of March 19, 2011, venue TBC)