British and Irish Cup round 2 preview – round 1 results and fixtures

BRITISH & IRISH CUP SET FOR ROUND 2

The newly created British & Irish Cup, involving teams from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, kicked-off last next weekend. In this, the second of a series of regular Media Updates that will be issued to keep everyone up to date on the tournament, you can hear from Munster coach Anthony Foley, Bedford Blues coach Mike Rayer and Leinster Academy Director Colin McEntee about their first impressions of the new tournament. Please feel free to use any of this copy ahead of Round 2.

NENAGH NEXT STOP FOR MUNSTER

Munster are expecting a crowd of around 4,000 to roar them on in their first home game in the British & Irish Cup against Bristol in Nenagh on Friday night.

And Munster coach Anthony Foley is expecting an even bigger step up against the former Heineken Cup and Guinness Premiership outfit than his young side experienced in their bonus point, 20-13 victory at Coventry on the opening weekend of the exciting new tournament.

“As a coach, I was very happy with the way the players acquitted themselves at Coventry – it was a step into the unknown for them and they handled the pressure very well,” said Foley.

“At this stage of the year these players are normally kicking their heels at the training ground, doing weights, drills and other skills work because of the Autumn internationals. So for them to have some meaningful, competitive action is fantastic.

“We didn’t really know what to expect from Coventry – or from our own team. They had to prepare for a team we knew little or nothing about, play at a venue they had never seen before and cope with the travelling.

“Mick Galwey, the former Munster captain, is part of our management team and he was likening the trip to our first away game in the Heineken Cup way back in November, 1995. There was a similar raw edge of excitement about the whole thing.

“Coventry were very competitive and very big and hard up front. They had a lovely outside half in Joe Carlisle and came back strongly at us in the second half.

“It was so different for the players playing against a side from England, rather than going up against players they know so well in another friendly against another Irish province.

“It was certainly a step up from that and we know that we will have to improve ahead of Friday’s fixture with Bristol. They had a good win at Neath, which is never an easy place to go, and will be looking to build on that.”

Nenagh Ormond RFC are celebrating their 125th anniversary this season and it will be the second time Munster have played a fixture at Ormond Park in recent years. They beat a Russian side in front of 3,000 fans before and are looking for similar backing against Bristol.

“With only one team to qualify for the semi-finals from each Pool it is vital to win your home games. That’s something we’ve learned over the years in the Heineken Cup,” said Foley, who skippered Munster to their first European triumph in Cardiff in 2006.

“Our Pool is particularly competitive with three English sides, Coventry, Bristol and Nottingham, as well as Neath and Heriot’s FP. We want to go as far as we can and the first target is to get out of this Pool.

“It’s going to be a great night at Nenagh and everyone connected with this team is looking forward to the next step in the British & Irish Cup.”

LONDON WELSH EXCITED ABOUT ‘COMING HOME’

You won’t find anyone at London Welsh taking their first truly competitive fixture in Wales for more than 20 years anything other than deadly seriously.

An opening day victory at Moseley, 38-27, was the perfect start to their campaign, but managing director John Taylor knows that will count for nothing at Aberavon on Friday night when they venture into ‘home’ territory for the first time.

“Because of our strong Welsh heritage and tradition we have agreed that we will target our two Welsh fixtures to try to show everyone that London Welsh is still a strong club,” said Taylor, who was one of the key components in the Exiles’ great sides of the seventies.

“I’ve been telling all the players what it used to be like travelling down to Wales to play in the old days. Over Easter we’d play Aberavon on the Saturday, Newport on the Monday and Pontypool on the Tuesday.

“The other big game was the Boxing day fixture with Llanelli at Stradey Park. They were great days for the club and the players and I think it is marvellous that the British & Irish Cup is giving the current squad the chance to play competitively in Wales once again.

“We’ll be putting out our best team possible and we know that it is going to take a huge effort to make it two out of two. Aberavon have got an exciting young side, are well coached and showed what they are capable of by beating Llanelli at Parc y Scarlets last weekend.

“For me, it will be nice to go back to the Talbot Athletic Ground and not have to worry about whether or not Omri Jones is going to try to take my head off or try to find a way to stop Max Wiltshire and Billy Mainwaring rampaging everywhere.

“This is a very important game for London Welsh and I believe the home fixture with Llanelli in the New Year will potentially be our biggest game at Old Deer Park this season.”

Skipper Nathan Bonner-Evans is unlikely to recover in time to lead the side, but two of the Wales World Cup Sevens winning side, Lee Beach and Aled Thomas, could well start.

Other familiar fasces to south Wales fans will be former Ospreys lock Mike Powell and centre Greg Evans, ex-Scarlets centre Paul Mackey, back row man Jon Mills, hooker Dan George and prop Dorian Williams, former Celtic Warriors scrum half Allen Chilten and ex-Dragons scrum half Rob Lewis.

“We still have a very strong Welsh contingent within our squad and this tournament is a huge opportunity for those players who have played regional rugby before to showcase their talents,” added Taylor.

“We know that the key to progressing in this competition is to pick up points on the road and we are targeting an away win at Aberavon.”

DEMPSEY SET FOR B&I CUP DEBUT

One of Leinster and Ireland’s modern greats, Girvan Dempsey, has been added to the Dubliner’s squad for their first home game in the British & Irish Cup against Cornish Pirates on Friday night.

The 33-year-old, 81 times capped full back will add some experience to a squad containing 13 Academy players which is aiming to follow up last weekend’s 16-13 away win at Plymouth Albion.

Leinster Academy Manager, Colin McEntee, was delighted at the grit shown by his side against the powerful English Championship outfit and is hoping for more of the same at Donnybrook.

“A number of the Academy players impressed and it was particularly pleasing to see that we were dominant up front. It was clear from watching our opponents in the B&I Cup that there weren’t going to be any easy games,” said McEntee.

“Winning away from home in any competition is no mean feat and we showed real grit to hang in there in the last few minutes. That was pleasing – as was the composure and maturity we displayed in the closing quarter to seal the win.

“With a few more players coming into the mix for Friday’s game we want to keep on improving. We know the Cornish Pirates are going to be tough opponents and the focus this week will be on driving forward.”

KING FULL OF PRAISE FOR HIS YOUNGSTERS

Aberavon coach Simon King is going to stick with his plan of investing in home spun youngsters as he tries to steer his side into the knock-out stages of the British & Irish Cup.

An opening day victory over arch-rivals Llanelli at Parc y Scarlets was achieved with seven Ospreys Academy players and 20 players out of the 22 who are from the Aberavon catchment areas.

“It was a great experience going down to Llanelli to play in a different tournament. There was a real edge to it and I believe that moving forward the British & Irish Cup is going to be a very good competition,” said King, who also coaches Wales Under 18.

“It was a real arm wrestle and the boot of Matthew Jarvis proved the difference as he kicked four penalties and a conversion in the 19-16 victory. I was really pleased with the way the youngsters stood up on the night.

“I truly believe that if the Regional Academies embrace this tournament then it will prove to be a great way for younger players to progress. It offers them a higher level of competition than they are used to in our Premiership and can help to move their game forward.

“We’ve got London Welsh next and that is going to be a great experience for us all. We’ve played them in pre-season friendlies in recent seasons, but this time it will be for real.

“They, like so many of the other teams in this tournament, are fully professional and that is going to give the players a marker by which to assess themselves.”

BEDFORD NOT BLUE AFTER OPENING DEFEAT

Bedford Blues coach Mike Rayer may have been concerned to see his side concede four tries in the first-half against Ulster Ravens at Ravenhill in their opening British & Irish Cup tie, but he was delighted at the whole experience.

“Ulster paid us the huge compliment of playing a really strong team and they dominated field position, territory and the scoreboard in the first half,” said Rayer.

“But for 45-50 minutes we were comfortable at their level and were competitive. That’s what pleased me most.

“It was a great experience for our players to have to get onto a plane and travel to a game and then play at a ground like Ravenhill. It really was something different and the tempo and pace at which they played was higher than anything we come up against in our own league.”

Having gone down to a 29-3 defeat in Ulster, Rayer’s Blues now switch their attentions, and colours, to the Scarlets of Llanelli. They were beaten 19-16 in their opening game at Parc y Scarlets by Aberavon and will be looking to similarly pick up their cup fortunes in round two.

“It’s going to be a big home fixture for us and there are plenty of links with Llanelli. They were the club who opened the floodlights at our ground and our President, Gareth Davies, is from Cefneithin,” added Rayer.

“Once again, we will know little or nothing about them, but that will give me the chance to assess my players capabilities of playing what they see in front of them.

“Llanelli have a long standing reputation for playing attractive rugby and we like to play a bit of rugby ourselves. It has all the makings of a great game.”

BRITISH & IRISH CUP

• POOL A: Cornish Pirates, Exeter Chiefs, Gael Force Leinster, Newport, Plymouth Albion,
• POOL B: Bristol Rugby, Coventry, Heriot’s, Munster, Neath, Nottingham
• POOL C: Aberavon, Bedford Blues, Llanelli, London Welsh, Moseley, Ulster
• POOL D: Ayr, Birmingham & Solihull, Cardiff, Doncaster Knights, Pontypridd, Rotherham Titans

ROUND 1 RESULTS

Friday, 20 November

• Pool A: Newport 21, Exeter Chiefs 14
• Pool B: Neath 11, Bristol Rugby 18, Coventry 13, Munster 20
• Pool C: Llanelli 16, Aberavon 19, Moseley 27, London Welsh 38, Ulster 29, Bedford Blues 3
• Pool D: Pontypridd 16, Cardiff 22 (played at Arms Park)

Saturday, 21 November

• Pool A: Plymouth Albion 13, Leinster 16
• Pool B: Heriot’s FP 0, Nottingham 5
• Pool D: Doncaster Knights 32, Ayr 7, Rotherham Titans 52, Birmingham & Solihull 10

Sunday, 22 November

• Pool A: Cornish Pirates 29, Gael Force 8

FIXTURES

ROUND TWO

Friday, 27 November

• Pool A: Leinster v Cornish Pirates (16:00), Newport v Plymouth Albion (19:30)
• Pool B: Coventry v Heriots FP (19:45), Munster v Bristol (19:30)
• Pool C: Aberavon v London Welsh (19:15), Moseley v Ulster (19:30)
• Pool D: Ayr v Rotherham Titans (20:00), Pontypridd v Doncaster Knights (19:30)

Saturday, 28 November

• Pool B: Exeter Chiefs v Gael Force (15:00)
• Pool C: Bedford Blues v Llanelli (15:00)
• Pool D: Birmingham & Solihull v Cardiff (14:00)

Sunday, 29 November

• Nottingham Rugby v Neath (15:00)

ROUND 3

Friday, 12 February

• Pool A: Newport v Gael Force (19:30)
• Pool C: Aberavon v Moseley (19:30), Llanelli v Ulster (19:15)

Saturday, 13 February

• Pool A: Exeter Chiefs v Leinster (15:00), Plymouth Albion v Cornish Pirates (15:00)
• Pool B: Munster v Nottingham
• Pool C: London Welsh v Bedford Blues (14:00)
• Pool D: Ayr v Birmingham & Solihull, Rotherham Titans v Pontypridd (14:00)

Sunday, 14 February

• Pool B: Heriots FP v Neath (14:00), Bristol Rugby v Coventry (13:00)
• Pool D: Doncaster Knights v Cardiff (15:00)

ROUND 4

Friday, 26 February

• Pool A: Leinster v Newport (15:00), Gael Force v Plymouth Albion (19:00)
• Pool C: Ulster v London Welsh (19:30)

Saturday, 27 February

• Pool B: Neath v Munster (14:00)
• Pool C: Bedford Blues v Aberavon (14:00), Llanelli v Moseley (14:30)
• Pool D: Ayr v Pontypridd (15:00), Cardiff v Rotherham Titans (14:30)

Sunday, 28 February

• Pool A: Cornish Pirates v Exeter Chiefs (14:00)
• Pool B: Bristol Rugby v Heriots FP (15:00), Nottingham v Coventry (15:00)
• Pool D: Doncaster Knights v Birmingham & Solihull

ROUND 5

Friday, 5 March

• Pool C: Moseley v Bedford Blues (19:30)

Saturday, 6 March

• Pool A: Plymouth Albion v Exeter Chiefs (15:00)
• Pool B: Munster v Heriots FP, Neath v Coventry (14:30)
• Pool D: Birmingham & Solihull v Pontypridd (15:00), Cardiff v Ayr (14:30), Rotherham Titans v Doncaster Knights (14:00)

Sunday, 7 March

• Pool A: Cornish Pirates v Newport (15:00), Gael Force v Leinster (19:00)
• Pool B: Nottingham v Bristol Rugby (15:00)
• Pool C: London Welsh v Llanelli (14:00)

Friday, 12 March

• Pool C: Ulster v Aberavon (19:30)

Semi-Finals: 24 April; Final: 15 May

THE CONCEPT

24 Teams

-12 English Championship clubs (Bedford, Birmingham & Solihull, Bristol Rugby, Cornish Pirates, Coventry, Doncaster Knights, Exeter Chiefs, London Welsh, Moseley, Nottingham, Plymouth Albion, Rotherham Titans)

- top 6 Welsh Principality Premiership clubs (Aberavon, Cardiff, Llanelli, Neath, Newport, Pontypridd)

- 3 Irish provinces (Munster, Leinster, Ulster)

- 3 Scottish teams – top two finishers in Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership Division 1 (champions Ayr and runners-up Heriot’s) and the Gael Force, a team drawn from Edinburgh and Glasgow and members of Scottish Rugby’s National Academy

Pool Stages

- 4 Pools of 6 playing once (5 matches)

- Pools based on travel/geography with the aim of maximising local interest and minimising cost to teams and supporters

- 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw, 1 bonus point for either a) scoring 4 or more tries or b) losing by 7 points or less

- Pool matches scheduled for November 27 and 28, February 13, February 27, March 13 (all dates to be confirmed)

- Pool winners progress to knockout stage

Semi Finals and Final

- 4 Pool winners progress to semi finals and final

- Semi finals scheduled for April 24, final for May 15