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Fast start to LV = Cup

Fast start to LV = Cup

The 2013/14 LV= Cup starts with a bang – the competition kicking off with a pair of all Welsh clashes on the first two weekends.

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In the opening round of fixtures, the Scarlets go head-to-head with the Newport Gwent Dragons before a week later, the Ospreys host the Cardiff Blues. 

After all four Welsh regions finished third in their respective pools last year, each side will be looking to get their respective campaign off to a winning start as they look to qualify for the semi-finals.

Under new head coach Lyn Jones, the Dragons will travel to Parc y Scarlets in round one of the competition which takes place on the second weekend of November.

While the Scarlets and Dragons meet in west Wales, the Ospreys travel to the midlands to take on Leicester Tigers for an evening kick-off on Friday, November 8. After last season’s 39-22 Heineken Cup defeat at Welford Road, Steve Tandy’s men will be looking to avenge that result in a game screened live on Sky Sports.

In the final opening round fixture to involve a Welsh side, Cardiff Blues host Worcester Warriors on the new artificial pitch at Cardiff Arms Park.

The LV= Cup is a 16-team competition involving all four Welsh regions and the 12 English clubs from the Aviva Premiership.

Played in four pools of four with three English clubs and one Welsh region in each pool, the 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 sides in Pool 4 while those in Pool 2 take on teams from Pool 3.

With only the top team from each pool qualifying for the semi-finals, all four Welsh teams will be desperate to start with a bang.

Claire Jeromson, LV= Head of Sponsorship, said: “Over the course of the last four seasons, we have seen the LV=Cup grow into an incredibly exciting competition and it has been a privilege to be part of that, as title sponsors.

“In a busy rugby calendar, the chance to see some of the most promising young players given their opportunity to break through into the first team for their squads is incredibly important.

“As domestic rugby continues to grow and become more competitive, we are looking forward to seeing what this season’s LV=Cup holds in store.”

The highlight of the second round of fixtures sees a second Welsh derby as the Ospreys host the Blues. Elsewhere that weekend, the Dragons host London Wasps at Rodney Parade while the Scarlets get a taste of the artificial pitch at Allianz Park with a visit to Saracens.

After the completion of the pool stages at the beginning of February, the top four teams from each pool will contest the semi-finals in the second weekend of March.

The final, at a venue yet to be decided, will take place two weeks later.

2013-14 LV= Cup

Pool 1
Saracens
Gloucester Rugby
London Irish
Newport Gwent Dragons

Pool 2
Leicester Tigers
Exeter Chiefs
Sale Sharks
Cardiff Blues

Pool 3
Harlequins
Bath Rugby
Worcester Warriors
Ospreys

Pool 4
Northampton Saints
London Wasps
Newcastle Falcons
Scarlets

FOR A FULL LIST OF LV = CUP FIXTURES CLICK HERE

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