Anglo Welsh Cup

[tigerfeet13]

Spotted this on the Beeb.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 135166.stm

Really can't see why anyone will be bothered about this toutnament.

It was already unpopular with most GP clubs who regularly fielded 'experimental' teams.

The one positive is it won't take up weekends outside of the international periods in the group stages.

Having said that. I'll go to the home games. I've already paid for them in my season ticket after all.

[Rizzo]

Similar subject being discussed here

http://www.leicestertigers.com/forum/vi ... =1&t=27043

[Richard]

Similar subject being discussed here

http://www.leicestertigers.com/forum/vi ... =1&t=27043

Which tournament is being discused in that topic...the Anglo/celtic league featuring the championship sides..Nottingham, Coventry, etc...

this topic seems to have started for the edf..or what ever it is called now featuring premiership and welsh regional sides.... 2 different competitions

[Rizzo]

There were various posts about all sorts of Anglo-Welsh permutations, and the point (or not) of these competitions. People mix up the two and there are mentions of both, hence my linking it as a "similar" subject - not the same subject. Had it been the same, I would have either locked this or merged it.

[Btiger24]

The cross-pool competition will mean teams in Pool One will play teams in Pool Four and teams in Pool Two play teams in Pool Three.

Each team is guaranteed four pool matches - two home and two away - with the top teams from each pool qualifying for the semi finals.

Pool 1: Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Ospreys
Pool 2: London Irish, Gloucester, Newcastle Falcons, Scarlets
Pool 3: Harlequins, London Wasps, Worcester Warriors, Cardiff Blues
Pool 4: Bath, Northampton Saints, Leeds, Dragons

Round 1 (weekend of November 7, 2009)

Leeds v Leicester Tigers
Newport Gwent Dragons v Sale Sharks
Saracens v Bath
Ospreys v Northampton Saints
Gloucester v Cardiff Blues
London Irish v London Wasps
Worcester Warriors v Newcastle Falcons
Harlequins v Scarlets

Round 2 (weekend of November 14, 2009)

Leicester Tigers v Newport Gwent Dragons
Sale Sharks v Leeds
Bath v Ospreys
Northampton Saints v Saracens
Cardiff Blues v London Irish
London Wasps v Gloucester
Newcastle Falcons v Harlequins
Scarlets v Worcester Warriors

Round 3 (weekend of January 30, 2010)

Leicester Tigers v Bath
Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints
Newport Gwent Dragons v Ospreys
Leeds v Saracens
London Wasps v Scarlets
Cardiff Blues v Newcastle Falcons
Gloucester v Worcester Warriors
London Irish v Harlequins

Round 4 (weekend of February 6, 2010)

Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers
Bath v Sale Sharks
Ospreys v Leeds
Saracens v Newport Gwent Dragons
Scarlets v Cardiff Blues
Newcastle Falcons v London Wasps
Worcester Warriors v London Irish
Harlequins v Gloucester

Semi finals (weekend of March 13, 2010, venue TBC)

Final (weekend of March 20, 2010, venue TBC)

[Gate]

Could catch on. Next season, all the GP clubs could play all the Magners League and Top 14 clubs, most points tops the GP table. Quality away matches!

[Suz]

This does seem a bit odd. You are competing for a place in the semis against teams you don't even play.

I like this quote from the BBC:-

The teams have been seeded depending on their finish in last season's Guinness Premiership and Magners League and tournaments chiefs have tried to avoid fixture duplication with both leagues and the Heineken Cup

Surely only the Welsh teams are avoiding fixture duplication?

[dailywaffle]

GP clubs insisted on guaranteeing two home fixtures, thus the need to play 'out of pool' matches. I don't really have a problem with that, other than the theoretical possibility of:
1. a pool champion qualifying with a poor record (possibly winless), and
2. a pool runner up not qualifying with an undefeated record
I'd have had 3 x best pool winners plus 'next best team' in the SF's, in order to reduce the possibility of such an absurdity, but there we are.

No problem at all with watching development teams, much more of a problem seeing an HEC place up for grabs.

[sam16111986]

I hope we put out an experimental side personally. Be good to see some of the squad players get some game time. With the call ups as well we will lose a lot of the big names as well so we won't have much choice.

Stankovitch, Duffey, Cole
Blaze, Parling
Newby, Woods, B Deacon
Youngs, Twelvetrees
Allen, Vesty
Smith, J Murphy, Hamilton

Throw in a bench of mainly academy boys (except for the front row replacements) and we should comfortabley beat Leeds and the Dragons and at least give Saints and Sale (who will lose key players to call ups as well) a run for their money.

[WiggoTiger]

What worries me....no sponsor and the BBC have decided not to renew contract as SKY have the rights. Will these game just pass us by even more than they did before except they were on Terrestrial TV now and again!!!

Not sure they will be a success as we will field depleted team for games probably.

[WiggoTiger]

What worries me....no sponsor and the BBC have decided not to renew contract as SKY have the rights. Will these game just pass us by even more than they did before except they were on Terrestrial TV now and again!!!

Not sure they will be a success as we will field depleted team for games probably.

Everyone will field depleted teams for the group games but that gives fringe players a chance to stake a claim to a regular spot. It does not mean there will not be some good games.
Once through the group stages, the competition will be taken seriously as there is a HC spot up for grabs, never mind the trophy.
I for one enjoy the games against the Welsh.

I enjoy games against the Welsh, but I also like a decent crowd when we play games not half empty stadia. I feel that the customers will be dillusioned by this tournament again!!!

[rangrave]

I like the idea of two home and away fixtures - much fairer than the previous format. However I reckon with this new format - if I have interpreted it correctly it is possible for all teams in a group to win all matches or lose all matches which could make semi final qualification interesting and will avoid some of the meaningless matches we have endured in the past. Anyone else agree with my interpretation?

[dailywaffle]

.... However I reckon with this new format - if I have interpreted it correctly it is possible for all teams in a group to win all matches or lose all matches which could make semi final qualification interesting and will avoid some of the meaningless matches we have endured in the past. Anyone else agree with my interpretation?

Yes.

... other than the theoretical possibility of:
1. a pool champion qualifying with a poor record (possibly winless), and
2. a pool runner up not qualifying with an undefeated record
I'd have had 3 x best pool winners plus 'next best team' in the SF's, in order to reduce the possibility of such an absurdity, but there we are.....

The thought of a team with, say, a 1-3 record qualifying for the SF's of a competition offering a HEC spot is clearly a nonsense.