Scarlets to kick-off LV= Cup campaign at Sixways

Scarlets will take on Worcester Warriors, Sale Sharks, Cardiff Blues and current title holders Leicester Tigers in the 2012-13 LV= Cup campaign.

Worcester Warriors last faced the Scarlets in the LV= Cup in November 2009 when the Welsh region secured a 32-17 victory at Parc y Scarlets. The two teams will come face to face ahead of the LV= Cup campaign as the Scarlets look to build on their positive and intense pre-season training and conditioning programmes with a friendlyto Richard Hill’s Worcester Warriors on Saturday August 18that Sixways Stadium.

An all-Welsh affair will be staged at Parc y Scarlets as the Scarlets welcome Cardiff Blues to heart and soul rugby country in round 2 on Saturday 17th November before a return journey up North to take on Sale Sharks after last season’s snowy encounter!

Tigers lifted the 2011-12 LV= Cup – which now enters its fourth season – following a convincing win over 2009 winners Northampton Saints at Sixways Stadium and the Scarlets will welcome the current champions to Parc y Scarlets in February (Round 4), the Tigers’ first return to West Wales since Scarlets’ convincing 31-3 victory in last season’s LV= Cup campaign.

Title 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.

Commenting on the new season fixtures, LV= Head of Sponsorship, Claire Jeromson, said “After the success of last year’s tournament, which culminated in a thrilling final, we are looking forward to another exciting competition, as the LV= Cup goes into its fourth year.

“The young talent being showcased by the clubs is very strong, as displayed by current champions Leicester Tigers, and this season looks set to be no different with some early big name clashes setting the tone for the rest of the season.”

Pool 1

Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester Rugby, 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

2012-13 LV= Cup Fixtures

Round 1 –November 9-11

• Northampton Saints v Harlequins
• London Welsh v Exeter Chiefs (Sunday November 11, KO 1600. S4C)
• Bath Rugby v Newport Gwent Dragons
• Ospreys v Gloucester Rugby (Friday November 9, KO 1945. Sky Sports HD)
• London Irish v Sale Sharks
• Cardiff Blues v London Wasps
• Worcester Warriors v Scarlets
• Saracens v Leicester Tigers

Round 2 –November 16-18

• Harlequins v Bath Rugby
• Exeter v Ospreys
• Newport Gwent Dragons v Northampton Saints (Friday November 16, KO 1945. Sky Sports HD)
• Gloucester Rugby v London Welsh
• Sale Sharks v Saracens
• Leicester Tigers v London Irish
• Scarlets v Cardiff Blues (Saturday November 17, KO 1830. S4C)
• London Wasps v Worcester Warriors

Round 3 – January 25-27

• Harlequins v London Welsh
• Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs
• Newport Gwent Dragons v Ospreys
• Northampton Saints v Gloucester Rugby
• Sale Sharks v Scarlets
• Leicester Tigers v London Wasps
• Saracens v Cardiff Blues
• London Irish v Worcester Warriors

Round 4 –February 1-3

• London Welsh v Newport Gwent Dragons
• Gloucester Rugby v Bath Rugby
• Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints
• Ospreys v Harlequins
• London Wasps v Sale Sharks
• Scarlets v Leicester Tigers
• Worcester Warriors v Saracens
• Cardiff Blues v London Irish

Semi Finals –March 8/9/10

Final – March 17 (venue tbc)

Competition format:

The LV= Cup is a 16-team competition involving the 12 Aviva Premiership Rugby clubs and 4 Welsh regions

• Played in four pools of four with three English clubs and one Welsh region in each pool
• English clubs have been allocated to the pools depending on their finish in last season’s Aviva Premiership Rugby competition
• Welsh 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 teams in Pool 4 and teams in Pool 2 play teams in Pool 3
• Each team plays four pool matches – two home and two away – with the top team from each pool qualifying for the semi-finals.