The 2007 EDF Energy Cup kicks off with Cardiff Blues, Sale Sharks, Leeds Carnegie and Saracens all in action on Friday evening. Reigning champions Leicester Tigers start their defence of the EDF Energy Cup against old rivals Bath Rugby at the Recreation Ground on Saturday.
EDF Energy Cup finalists the Ospreys, who lost 41-35 to Leicester Tigers at Twickenham, start their campaign against Worcester Warriors at Sixways Stadium on Saturday, a game that will be televised by the BBC.
The EDF Energy Cup will again be contested by the 12 Guinness Premiership clubs and the four Welsh Magners League regions.
Three rounds of matches will be played in the four-team group stages at club grounds before the EDF Energy Cup Semi-Finals and the EDF Energy Cup Final which will be held on Saturday March 22nd and Saturday April 12th, 2008, respectively.
Philippe Saint Andre, Director of Rugby of Sale Sharks, said: “We made the EDF Energy Cup Semi-Finals last season and it was a great experience.
“It will be tough this year as Cardiff Blues, Bath Rugby and Leicester Tigers are all good sides in our pool and we have only one home game, but we will be giving it our best shot at Cardiff on Friday evening before preparing for the Bath Rugby game at Edgeley Park on November 2nd.”
Ian McGeechan, Director of Rugby at London Wasps, said: “The EDF Energy Cup gives us a different challenge. It’s the first cross border encounter of the season and its good experience for the players to play against teams with different styles outside of the Guinness Premiership.
“It’s good to have the focus back on the clubs and the domestic stage because they were an instrumental part of the World Cup preparing the players for the tournament.”
Kevin Hopkins, Ospreys Director of Rugby, said: “We enjoyed the competition last season. It warmed up as it went on and our game against Leicester in the final was something special, even if the result wasn’t the one we wanted. We have two away games this time, which will be a challenge. But we are looking forward to giving it our best shot and we’ll see where that takes us.”
Terry Burwell, the Rugby Football Union’s Tournament & Competitions Director, said: “Following the climax of a fantastic Rugby World Cup we now turn our attentions to the EDF Energy Cup and what promises to be another weekend of thrilling, first class rugby.
“There are some exciting clashes kicking-off the tournament including the opportunity to see former Swansea coach Mike Ruddock’s new club, Worcester Warriors, entertaining the Swansea-based Welsh region the Ospreys. Leicester Tigers also kick-off their defence of the tournament against rivals Bath Rugby who are enjoying an impressive start to the new season.
“After two stirring EDF Energy Cup Finals at Twickenham and the excitement of the double-header EDF Energy Semi-Finals at the Millennium Stadium, we are eagerly awaiting the start of the 2007-2008 EDF Energy Cup.”
WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis said: “There is a real appetite in Wales for the EDF Energy Cup. Our Regions have been leading the way in the Magners League but the Anglo-Welsh games are a particular highlight in the Regional calendar. We are playing the world champions South Africa in November and so this opportunity to play against members of England’s great World Cup final team is particularly exciting.”
Louise Poole, EDF Energy’s Head of Brand, said: “We’re looking forward to a fantastic EDF Energy Cup. It’s definitely the competition for anyone who loves thrilling rugby.
“Per game it was the highest scoring top-level domestic competition last season, with an average of five tries a match. And with England’s heroics in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, I’m sure the Welsh sides will be doing all they can to beat their English counterparts.”
target=ioMain>Click Here for 2007-2008 EDF Energy Cup Fixtures
