The Ospreys will kick-off their LV= Cup campaign this season by welcoming former Scarlets Head Coach Nigel Davies and his Gloucester team to Ospreylia on Friday 9th November, before facing Exeter Chiefs, Newport Gwent Dragons and reigning Aviva Premiership champions Harlequins.
The Anglo Welsh competition always throws up some intriguing contests none more so than the opening fixture which pitches the Ospreys, 2008 champions, against the 2011 winners from across the bridge.
It’s a repeat of last season’s campaign when the Ospreys again travel to Sandy Park to face Exeter Chiefs the following week, and when the competition returns at the end of January, the Dragons provide the opposition for the third time in four seasons of LV= Cup competition.
Last up for the Ospreys is a home game against Harlequins, the first time that the two teams have met since the region recorded a 24-23 win over the Quins at the Liberty Stadium in October 2009.
Title sponsors LV= continue their support of the competition and commenting on the new season fixtures, LV= Head of Sponsorship, Claire Jeromson, said:
“After the success of last year’s tournament, which culminated in a thrilling final, we are looking forward to another exciting competition, as the LV= Cup goes into its fourth year.
"The young talent being showcased by the clubs is very strong, as displayed by current champions Leicester Tigers, and this season looks set to be no different with some early big name clashes setting the tone for the rest of the season.”
Admission to both home LV= Cup fixtures is covered by an Ospreys season membership, currently on sale at the Liberty Stadium Ticket Office, with prices starting at just £185 which gives you access to all home games, with up to four kids free and a buy-one, get one free offer on membership still available.
The venue for the two home LV= Cup matches is to be confirmed at a later date.
Pool 1
Harlequins
Exeter Chiefs
Gloucester Rugby
Newport Gwent Dragons
Pool 2
Leicester Tigers
Sale Sharks
Worcester Warriors
Cardiff Blues
Pool 3
Saracens
London Irish
London Wasps
Scarlets
Pool 4
Northampton Saints
Bath Rugby
London Welsh
Ospreys
2012-13 LV= Cup Fixtures
Round 1 –November 9-11
Northampton Saints v Harlequins
London Welsh v Exeter Chiefs (Sunday November 11, KO 1600. S4C)
Bath Rugby v Newport Gwent Dragons
Ospreys v Gloucester Rugby (Friday November 9, KO 1945. Sky Sports HD)
London Irish v Sale Sharks
Cardiff Blues v London Wasps
Worcester Warriors v Scarlets
Saracens v Leicester Tigers
Round 2 –November 16-18
Harlequins v Bath Rugby
Exeter v Ospreys
Newport Gwent Dragons v Northampton Saints
Gloucester Rugby v London Welsh
Sale Sharks v Saracens
Leicester Tigers v London Irish
Scarlets v Cardiff Blues (Saturday November 17, KO 1830. S4C)
London Wasps v Worcester Warriors
Round 3 – January 25-27
Harlequins v London Welsh
Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs
Newport Gwent Dragons v Ospreys
Northampton Saints v Gloucester Rugby
Sale Sharks v Scarlets
Leicester Tigers v London Wasps
Saracens v Cardiff Blues
London Irish v Worcester Warriors
Round 4 –February 1-3
London Welsh v Newport Gwent Dragons
Gloucester Rugby v Bath Rugby
Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints
Ospreys v Harlequins
London Wasps v Sale Sharks
Scarlets v Leicester Tigers
Worcester Warriors v Saracens
Cardiff Blues v London Irish
Semi Finals –March 8/9/10
Final - March 17 (venue tbc)
The season schedule is starting to come together with Heineken Cup fixtures being confirmed by ERC on Thursday at noon.
Competition format:
The LV= Cup is a 16-team competition involving the 12 Aviva Premiership Rugby clubs and 4 Welsh regions
Played in four pools of four with three English clubs and one Welsh region in each pool.
English clubs have been allocated to the pools depending on their finish in last season's Aviva Premiership Rugby competition
Welsh regions have been allocated to the pools to avoid repeating fixtures from the Heineken and Amlin Challenge cups where possible
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 semi-finals.