After its one year hiatus the Anglo-Welsh Cup is back for the 2016/17 season and will regain it’s place in the domestic season.
Although some people aren’t great fans of the competition in my opinion it has an important place in the domestic ladder and is making a welcome return. The Anglo-Welsh Cup allows the younger members of Premiership clubs and those of the peripheries of their squads to gain valuable game time and exposure.
The competition format remains the same as it previously was with the 12 Premiership clubs taking part alongside the four Welsh regions and all have been split into four Pools.
Teams in Pool 1 will play against the teams in Pool 4 and those placed in Pool 2 will duel with those in Pool 3. The four group rounds are split across the season with two occurring in November, one at the end of January and the second at the beginning of February.
The club that tops each Pool will progress into the Semi-Finals that will take place on the 11th March before the final is held seven days later on the 18th March.
BT Sport will have the television rights for the first time and we will start the new competition, and their exclusive coverage, with a trip to The Recreation Ground on 4th November where Bath Rugby will host Leicester Tigers. Below is a summary of the Pools and fixture dates which you can also download onto your smart phone or place in your computer's calendar from PremiershipRugby.com.
Anglo-Welsh Cup Pools
Pool 1
Bath Rugby
Saracens
Northampton Saints
Newport Gwent Dragons.
Pool 2
Exeter Chiefs
Sale Sharks
Worcester Warriors
Ospreys
Pool 3
Harlequins
Wasps
Bristol Rugby
Cardiff Blues
Pool 4
Newcastle Falcons
Leicester Tigers
Gloucester Rugby
Scarlets
Anglo-Welsh Fixtures
Round One
4th November - Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers. KO 7.45pm (BT Sport)
4th November - Worcester Warriors v Bristol Rugby. KO 7.45pm
4th November - Sale Sharks v Wasps. KO 8.15pm
5th November - Gloucester Rugby v Saracens. KO 3pm
5th November - Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs. KO 5.30pm (BT Sport)
6th November - Newcastle Falcons v Northampton Saints. KO 3pm
Round Two
11th November - Bristol Rugby v Sale Sharks. KO 7.45pm (BT Sport)
12th November - Leicester Tigers v Newport Gwent Dragons. KO 3pm
12th November - Saracens v Newcastle Falcons. KO 3pm
13th November - Wasps v Worcester Warriors. KO 3pm
13th November - Exeter Chiefs v Cardiff Blues. KO 3pm (BT Sport)
11th-13th November - Ospreys v Harlequins
11th-13th November - Scarlets v Bath Rugby
18th November - Cardiff Blues v Ospreys. KO 7.15pm
18th November - Newport Gwent Dragons v Scarlets. KO 7.30pm
Round 3 (TV selections TBC)
26/27/28 January - Scarlets v Saracens
26/27/28 January - Ospreys v Bristol Rugby
27th January - Sale Sharks v Cardiff Blues. KO 8.15pm
28th January - Bath Rugby v Gloucester Rugby. KO 3pm
28th January - Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints. KO 3pm
28th January - Exeter Chiefs v Wasps. KO 3pm
28th January - Worcester Warriors v Harlequins. KO 3pm
29th January - Newport Gwent Dragons v Newcastle Falcons. KO 3pm
Round 4 (TV selections TBC)
4th February - Gloucester Rugby v Newport Gwent Dragons. KO 3pm
4th February - Northampton Saints v Scarlets. KO 3pm
4th February - Saracens v Leicester Tigers. KO 3pm
4th February - Cardiff Blues v Worcester Warriors. KO 3pm
4th February - Harlequins v Sale Sharks. KO 3pm
5th February - Bristol Rugby v Exeter Chiefs. KO 3pm
5th February - Wasps v Ospreys. KO 3pm
5th February - Wasps v Ospreys. KO 3pm
