Next week will see the launch of the all-new British & Irish Cup.
The tournament features 24 teams in total: 12 from the English Championship; six from the Welsh Principality Premiership; representatives from the three Irish provinces Ulster, Leinster and Munster; and three sides from Scotland.
The participants are drawn into four pools of six with the pool victors progressing to the semi-finals.
| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C | Pool D |
| Cornish Pirates | Bristol Rugby | Aberavon | Ayr |
| Exeter Chiefs | Coventry | Bedford Blues | Birmingham-Solihull |
| Leinster A | Heriot’s FP | Llanelli | Cardiff Rugby |
| Newport | Munster A | London Welsh | Doncaster |
| Plymouth Albion | Neath | Moseley | Pontypridd |
| The Thistles | Nottingham | Ulster Ravens | Rotherham Titans |
The teams will only play each other once during the “breaks” for the Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations. Ulster’s representatives, The Ravens, have been drawn at home for three of their five fixtures.
| Fri 20th Nov 09 | 19:30 | Bedford Blues | Ravenhill |
| Fri 27th Nov 09 | 19:30 | Moseley | Billesley Common |
| Fri 12th Feb 10 | 19:15 | Llanelli | Parc y Scarlets |
| Fri 26th Feb 10 | 19:30 | London Welsh | Ravenhill |
| Fri 12th Mar 10 | 19:30 | Aberavon | Ravenhill |
The Ravens will feature Ulster senior squad members as well as up and coming players from the Ulster Rugby Academy and are believed to be taking this competition very seriously with the whole coaching team getting involved. So who are The Ravens competition?
Bedford Blues are currently 5th in the English Championship having won five and lost five of their games to date. After a bright start they appear to have tapered off considerably losing their last three games on the trot. They play group rivals Moseley tonight (13th Nov) and have lost already this season to other group rivals London Welsh.
Moseley currently sit 7th in the English Championship also having won five and lost five matches this season. They had a poor start to the season losing their first three matches, won the next three and its been win a couple lose a couple since. They also lost to London Welsh this season. If you are going to Moseley next week you can view their match day offers and visitor information sheets.
Llanelli.
Llanelli currently sit seventh in the Principality Premier League having won six of their eleven fixtures, drawing one and losing four. In their last Three games they’ve won one, lost one and drawn one. They have played group rivals Aberavon twice already this season gaining the advantage with a home win and an away draw.
On the face of it London Welsh look the pick of the bunch of The Ravens opponents. They sit in 6th place in the English Championship having won six and lost four of their ten games to date. Those results would have put them in forth place if they hadn’t been deducted five points for going into administration earlier this year. They have beaten both moseley and Bedford Blues already this season.
Aberavon currently sit sixth in the Principality Premier League having won six, drawn two and losing four of their twelve fixtures to date. Again they had an impressive start to the season wining their fist four games but they have only won two of their last eight, drawing two and losing four. One of their draws and one of their defeats was against close rivals Llanelli.
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