Ospreys learn LV= Cup opponents

The Ospreys will face Gloucester, Saracens, Newport Gwent Dragons and Bath in this season’s LV= Cup.

 

Reigning LV= Cup champions Exeter Chiefs will kick-off their title defence at Rodney Parade, home of Newport Gwent-Dragons.

 

The Chiefs lifted the LV= Cup trophy in front of a sell-out home crowd in March after Sandy Park was named as the Final venue in October 2013. Victory was secured with a 15-8 win over Premiership champions Northampton Saints, concluding a fantastic LV= rugby weekend in Exeter, which included a festival in the City Centre attended by more than 2,000 people.

 

In Pool 2, the Saints will open their 2014/15 LV= Cup campaign against Newcastle Falcons at Franklin's Gardens as they look to go one better following last year's Final defeat, while also in the same pool, Cardiff Blues will host Scarlets in a Welsh derby fixture.

 

Bath, who were knocked out of the competition in the semi-final stage, will host newly-promoted London Welsh at The Rec in the opening round. The teams last met in 2012/13, with each claiming victory in their respective home league fixtures.

 

In one of five Premiership head-to-heads during the opening weekend, Saracens will welcome London rivals and 2013 LV= Cup winners Harlequins to Allianz Park. London Irish will host Leicester Tigers, completing Round 1 of the competition which is credited for helping develop the next generation of international stars including LV= Breakthrough Player Award winners Jack Nowell, Jonny May and Ollie Devoto.

 

Commenting on the fixture announcement, Claire Jeromson, LV= Head of Sponsorship, said:

 

"This will be our sixth year as sponsors of the LV= Cup, and the competition has gone from strength to strength. Last year we saw some great rugby from some exciting new talent, and a memorable Final in Exeter. With the 2015 Rugby World Cup getting ever closer it's a great time for the young players to push through in the competition and make their mark this season.”

 

 

Pool 1

Saracens

Bath Rugby

Gloucester Rugby

Newport Gwent Dragons

 

Pool 2

Northampton Saints

Sale Sharks

London Irish

Cardiff Blues

 

Pool 3

Leicester Tigers

Wasps

Newcastle Falcons

Scarlets

 

Pool 4

Harlequins

Exeter Chiefs

London Welsh

Ospreys

 

2014/15 LV= Cup fixtures

 

Round 1 – 31 October/01/02 November

Bath Rugby v London Welsh

Gloucester Rugby v Ospreys

Newport Gwent Dragons v Exeter Chiefs

Saracens v Harlequins - Sunday November 2, KO 13:00. Live on Sky Sports

Cardiff Blues v Scarlets

London Irish v Leicester Tigers

Northampton Saints v Newcastle Falcons

Sale Sharks v Wasps

 

Round 2 – 07/08/09 November

Exeter Chiefs v Bath Rugby

Harlequins v Newport Gwent Dragons

London Welsh v Gloucester Rugby

Ospreys v Saracens

Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks - Sunday, November 9, KO 15:15. Live on Sky Sports

Newcastle Falcons v Cardiff Blues

Scarlets v Northampton Saints

Wasps v London Irish

 

Round 3 – 30/31 January/01 February 

Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester Rugby

Harlequins v Bath Rugby

London Welsh v Saracens

Ospreys v Newport Gwent Dragons

Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints

Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks

Scarlets v London Irish

Wasps v Cardiff Blues

 

Round 4 – 06/07/08 February 

Bath Rugby v Ospreys

Gloucester Rugby v Harlequins

Newport Gwent Dragons v London Welsh

Saracens v Exeter Chiefs

Cardiff Blues v Leicester Tigers

Northampton Saints v Wasps

London Irish v Newcastle Falcons

Sale Sharks v Scarlets

 

Semi Finals – 13/14/15 March

LV= Cup Final - 22 March (venue to be confirmed).

 

 

*Note from RFU on LV= Cup Round 1 fixture clash with GUINNESS PRO12 Round 7: “The WRU is currently in negotiations with the regions regarding the Participation Agreement for the upcoming season. Once those negotiations have concluded, they will address the potential clash for Welsh clubs in Round 1 of the LV= Cup, the dates of which were agreed by all LV= Cup stakeholders back in April 2014.”

 

Structure

English clubs have been allocated to the 4 Pools based on their finishing positions from the preceding season's Premiership competition.

The Welsh Regions have been allocated based on their standing in the Guinness Pro 12 and to avoid repeating fixtures resulting from the EPCR draws.

Teams in Pool 1 play teams in Pool 4; teams in Pool 2 play teams in Pool 3

The pool winner with the best playing record will be at home against the pool winner with the fourth best playing record in Semi Final 1.

The Pool Winner with the second best playing record will be at home against the pool winner with the third best playing record in Semi Final 2.