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New look for the Anglo-Welsh Cup

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Leicester Tigers will face Bath Rugby and Northampton Saints as well as Leeds Carnegie and the Dragons in the 2009/10 Anglo-Welsh Cup.

The newly-structured competition will see the 12 Guinness Premiership clubs and four Welsh regions play over four weekends, followed by the knockout stages.

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

The pool stages of the competition are included in Tigers season ticket packages, which means an extra fixture this season as there was only one home tie in 2008/09.

Tigers’ home dates in 2009/10 are against perennial rivals Bath Rugby and Newport Gwent Dragons, with away trips to Northampton Saints and Leeds Carnegie.

Terry Burwell, Rugby Football Union tournaments and competitions director, said: "We are delighted that, together with Premier Rugby Ltd and the Welsh Rugby Union, we have come up with a structure that will not only help players, coaches and officials develop, but also provides more revenue potential for the Guinness Premiership clubs and the Welsh regions.

"We have a committed broadcaster in SkySports for the next five years and, together with PRL and the WRU, are actively seeking a title sponsor."

PRL commercial director Jon Varney said: "When we were discussing the format of the new Anglo-Welsh tournament we tried to build on the success of the preceding one, but also take the opportunity to make some small changes to make the tournament even more attractive to clubs, supporters, viewers and sponsors.

"The financial structure will reward winning teams and that, as well as the European place on offer for an English winner, will make the tournament well worth winning."

WRU group chief executive Roger Lewis said: "There is a rich history and heritage surrounding Anglo-Welsh encounters stretching back many years.

"The Welsh Rugby Union is delighted that the RFU and PRL have secured the future of this great competition. We are all committed to seeing it flourish.

"It is vitally important for the supporters from both our nations to get the opportunity to see games of the highest standard and this competition serves to deliver that and ensure our talented young players improve by playing against top class opposition."

Cardiff Blues lifted the trophy last season after beating Gloucester 50-12 at Twickenham in the final, while Tigers reached the previous two finals, beating the Ospreys in 2007 and then finishing runners-up to the same opponents 12 months later.

Teams have been seeded depending on their finish in last season's Guinness Premiership and Magners League, and best efforts have been made to avoid fixture duplication with both leagues, as well as the Heineken Cup, in 2009/10.

The format
Pool 1 (play against teams in Pool 4): Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Ospreys
Pool 2 (play against teams in Pool 3): London Irish, Gloucester Rugby, Newcastle Falcons, Scarlets
Pool 3 (play against teams in Pool 2): Harlequins, London Wasps, Worcester Warriors, Cardiff Blues
Pool 4 (play against teams in Pool 1): Bath Rugby, Northampton Saints, Leeds Carnegie, Dragons

Fixtures
Round 1 (weekend of November 7, 2009)
Leeds Carnegie v Leicester Tigers
Newport Gwent Dragons v Sale Sharks
Saracens v Bath Rugby
Ospreys v Northampton Saints
Gloucester Rugby v 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 Carnegie
Bath Rugby v Ospreys
Northampton Saints v Saracens
Cardiff Blues v London Irish
London Wasps v Gloucester Rugby
Newcastle Falcons v Harlequins
Scarlets v Worcester Warriors

Round 3 (weekend of January 30, 2010)
Leicester Tigers v Bath Rugby
Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints
Newport Gwent Dragons v Ospreys
Leeds Carnegie v Saracens
London Wasps v Scarlets
Cardiff Blues v Newcastle Falcons
Gloucester Rugby v Worcester Warriors
London Irish v Harlequins

Round 4 (weekend of February 6, 2010)
Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers
Bath Rugby v Sale Sharks
Ospreys v Leeds Carnegie
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)