Worcester Warriors have today discovered the club’s opponents in this season’s LV= Cup competition – that includes a big clash on home soil with Welsh giants Ospreys.
Richard Hill’s men have been placed in Pool 4 of the 16-team competition and will this season face fixtures against sides in Pool 1. Each team plays four pool matches – two home and two away – with the top team from each pool qualifying for the semi-finals.
Worcester welcome London Wasps, who last year staged their third round fixture against Harlequins in the grounds of the Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi, on the opening weekend of the 2011/12 tournament in October.
Warriors face away trips to Bath Rugby and Aviva Premiership champions Saracens before welcoming Ospreys in early February.
Commenting on the new season, the Rugby Football Union’s Rugby Operations Director Rob Andrew said: “The LV= Cup offers a genuine opportunity for young players to come forward and contest for silverware, and it has proven an effective development pathway for players moving up to the elite. The tournament is a unique cross-border competition and with a place in Europe for an English winner, the LV= Cup is fast becoming a fixture calendar highlight for both clubs and supporters alike.”
Insurance, retirement and investment group LV= has confirmed it will continue its title sponsorship of the competition for a further four years which, in addition to the two previous seasons, will see the company commit to a total of six years as title sponsor.
David Smith, LV= HR and Communications Director said: “We are delighted to continue our title sponsorship of the LV= Cup for a third year as we look to strengthen our commitment in rugby. The tournament provides a unique platform to engage with rugby fans and promote the LV= brand. The last two seasons have produced some fantastic rugby and the tournament is fast establishing itself as a hotbed for young talent. We’re very much looking forward to the forthcoming season and would like to wish all teams the best of luck.”
2011/12 LV= Cup
Pool 1
Saracens
Bath Rugby
London Wasps
Ospreys
Pool 2
Leicester Tigers
London Irish
Sale Sharks
Cardiff Blues
Pool 3
Gloucester Rugby
Harlequins
Newcastle Falcons
Scarlets
Pool 4
Northampton Saints
Exeter Chiefs
Worcester Warriors
Dragons
Round 1 – 14/15/16 October
Northampton Saints v Saracens
Worcester Warriors v London Wasps
Dragons v Bath Rugby
Exeter Chiefs v Ospreys
Newcastle Falcons v Cardiff Blues
Harlequins v London Irish
Gloucester Rugby v Sale Sharks
Scarlets v Leicester Tigers (Saturday October 15, Sky Sports HD, KO 1800)
Round 2 – 21/22/23 October
Saracens v Exeter Chiefs
London Wasps v Dragons
Bath Rugby v Worcester Warriors
Ospreys v Northampton Saints (Saturday October 22, Sky Sports HD, KO 1800)
London Irish v Newcastle Falcons
Sale Sharks v Harlequins
Leicester Tigers v Gloucester Rugby
Cardiff Blues v Scarlets
Round 3 – 27/28/29 January
Ospreys v Dragons
London Wasps v Exeter Chiefs
Saracens v Worcester Warriors
Bath Rugby v Northampton Saints
Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks
Harlequins v Leicester Tigers
Scarlets v London Irish
Gloucester Rugby v Cardiff Blues
Round 4 – 3/4/5 February
Exeter Chiefs v Bath Rugby
Worcester Warriors v Ospreys
Northampton Saints v London Wasps
Dragons v Saracens
Cardiff Blues v Harlequins
Leicester Tigers v Newcastle Falcons
London Irish v Gloucester Rugby
Sale Sharks v Scarlets
Semi-finals (9/10/11 March, venue TBC)
Final (16/17/18 March, venue TBC)