Premiership Rugby Cup Fixtures

Skipper Kai Horstmann holds aloft the Anglo-Welsh Cup after Exeter Chiefs won it for the second time with victory over Bath last season at Kingsholm. Picture: www.jmpuk.com

By Mark Stevens
16/7/18

Exeter Chiefs will kick-off the defence of the newly-named Premiership Rugby Cup with a televised clash against Newcastle Falcons.

Devon’s finest will make the long trek to Kingston Park on Sunday, October 28 to face the Falcons in a 3pm kick-off, which will be screened live by BT Sport.

It’s the opening fixture of four for the Chiefs, who will also face rivals Bath, Bristol Bears and Harlequins in the competition, which this season will not have any involvement from the Welsh regions and will comprise three pools of four teams each.

Round Two will see the Chiefs entertain Bath at Sandy Park on Saturday, November 3 (1pm) in the first of two successive home games, before Harlequins visit a week later on Saturday, November 10 (1pm).

Both games have been given earlier kick-off times to ensure they do not clash with England’s Autumn internationals against South Africa and New Zealand.

Exeter’s final game against Bristol comes as part of the new ‘Derby Day weekend, which will see six games split across two weekends, allowing a mid-season break for all top-flight clubs.

• New competition to be called Premiership Rugby Cup

• Prize money in every match for the winning team

• Four rounds followed by semi-final and Final

• Final to be staged at the home ground of the highest seeded team

“The Cup has been a highly successful competition in recent years in helping develop the best new Premiership and England players, in front of big crowds and TV audiences,” said Premiership Rugby Chief Executive, Mark McCafferty. “The pathway for young players is now clear linking the Under-18s League, the Premiership Rugby Shield and now the Premiership Rugby Cup into one strong route towards Gallagher Premiership Rugby, European competitions and Test matches.

“Many Test players including Owen Farrell, George Ford and Maro Itoje all made their senior debuts in the previous Anglo-Welsh Cup and some of the most recent Breakthrough Players of the Year have been Jack Nowell, Jonny May and Adam Radwan.

“In addition, the competition has seen many different club coaches taking responsibility for the Cup team and developing their experience and skills in charge. This focus on new playing and coaching talent will continue in the new Cup format with young players and coaches experiencing the challenge of bigger crowds and TV exposure.

“An audience of more than 1.3m watched live coverage of the Cup on BT Sport last season, a 37% increase year on year. This competition is fundamental to developing young players for Gallagher Premiership Rugby and European action in front of big crowds at matches with a more intense atmosphere.”