Monday, 23 July 2012

Ospreys get home advantage for LV= Cup starter

THE Ospreys will get next season’s LV= Cup under way with a home clash against Gloucester in front of the Sky cameras.

Dai Young takes his London Wasps side to former club Cardiff Blues on the opening weekend while the Dragons go to Bath and Scarlets travel to Worcester Warriors.

Reigning champions Leicester Tigers start the defence of their title away to Saracens and London Welsh host Exeter Chiefs, a game which is live on S4C.

Ospreys and London Welsh were drawn in Pool Four and will play the four clubs in Pool One – Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester and the Dragons.

Meanwhile, the Blues in Pool Two take on Scarlets, Saracens, London Irish and Wasps in Pool Three during the round-robin stages.

The Tigers lifted the trophy last season following a convincing win over 2009 victors Northampton Saints at Sixways Stadium. Tries from Steve Mafi and Scott Hamilton plus 12 points from the boot of George Ford secured the crown.

Sponsors LV= continue their support of the competition which last year saw 10,000 supporters turn out for the final at Sixways, as well as the introduction of the LV= Breakthrough Player award, presented to Jonny May. 

The 12 English clubs have been allocated to pools depending on their finish in last season's Aviva Premiership while the Welsh regions were placed where they are to avoid repeating fixtures from the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup where possible.

Pool 1

Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester, Newport Gwent Dragons

Pool 2  

Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks, Worcester Warriors, Cardiff Blues

Pool 3

Saracens, London Irish, London Wasps, Scarlets

Pool 4

Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, London Welsh, Ospreys

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