Wasps prepare for Gloucester battle in the LV=Cup
Your guide to the new Anglo Welsh tournament, The LV=Cup, as Wasps prepare to face Gloucester in Round 2 at Adams Park on Sunday
This season London Wasps have welcomed the announcement of LV= as the new title sponsors of The LV= Cup. Now in its fourth season, the newly named Anglo Welsh competition, is played between the 12 Guinness Premiership clubs and the four Welsh regions. The competition derives from the RFU Senior Knockout Cup, which has been played since 1972 and has been previously called the John Player, Pilkington, Tetley’s Bitter, Powergen and EDF Energy cups. Wasps have lifted the title three times as winners of the Tetley Bitter Cup in 1999, 2000 and the Powergen Cup in 2006.
This season a new format is introduced with teams from four seeded pools playing four first round matches, with the winners of each group qualifying for the semi-final and the winners of that reaching The LV= Cup Final.
A competiton which gives players and supporters alike, the chance to experience rugby against some of the best Welsh opponents, The LV= Cup winners also qualify for the 2010/11 Heineken Cup. Cardiff Blues are the current title holders following their 50-12 victory over Gloucester Rugby at Twickenham Stadium in April 2009, a side that feature alongside Wasps in Pool 3.
2009/10 Pools
Pool 1
Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks,Saracens, Ospreys
Pool 2
London Irish, Gloucester Rugby, Newcastle Falcons, Scarlets,
Pool 3
Harlequins, London Wasps, Worcester Warriors, Cardiff Blues
Wasps Fixtures
Sunday 8th November, KO 3PM, v London Irish (A), W24-20
Sunday 15th November, KO 3PM, v Gloucester (H)
Sunday 31st January, KO 3PM, v Scarlets (H)
Sunday 7th February, KO 3PM, v Newcastle Falcons(A)
Pool winners
The pool winners will be decided by the following criteria:
- The pool winner will be the club with the highest number of match points in each pool.
- The pool winners will be ranked 1 to 4 by reference to the number of match points earned in the pools
- If two or more clubs in the same pool end the pool stage equal on match points, then the order in which they have finished will be
determined by: - The greater number of matches won by the club
- If the number of matches won is equal, the club with the greater total number of tries scored
- If the total number of tries scored is equal, the club with the greater points difference (points scored for, less points scored against)
- If the points difference is equal, the club with the fewer number of red cards. If the number of red cards is the same, by the toss a coin.
Points scoring
The points scoring system for the pool stages will be as follows:
- Four match points for a win
- Two match points for a draw
- A bonus match point for scoring four tries or more
- A bonus match point for losing by a margin of seven points or less
This weekend’s Fixtures: Round Two
Friday, November 13, 19:45, Sale Sharks v Leeds Carnegie
Saturday, November 14, 12:30, Bath Rugby v Ospreys
Saturday, November 14, 13:00, Northampton Saints v Saracens
Saturday, November 14, 15:00, Leicester Tigers v Newport Gwent Dragons
Saturday, November 14, 15:00, Scarlets v Worcester Warriors
Sunday, November 15, 13:45, Cardiff Blues v London Irish
Sunday, November 15, 15:00, London Wasps v Gloucester Rugby
Sunday, November 15, 15:00, Newcastle Falcons v Harlequins
How they Stand – London Wasps v Gloucester Rugby
London Wasps have lost just one of their last six matches in all competitions: 9-15 at home to Leeds in the Premiership on 1 November. Following Wasps 24-20 victory at London Irish in the LV= Cup on Sunday the Londoners have now won their last three Anglo-Welsh tournament matches.
Gloucester Rugby have lost their last five games in all competitions, whilst Gloucester’s only away victory in 2009 was 26-10 at Leeds in the Premiership on 4 October.
The two teams have already met this season with Wasps winning 35-6 at Kingsholm in the Premiership on 24 October.
Get behind your team!
Tickets for Sunday's clash are on sale buy online here or call the ticket office on 0844 2252990.
Show your support on home turf as the men in black and gold push for an beaten run in the LV= Cup and a chance to push for honours in this exciting and new look competition - with not only exhilerating rugby and silverware on offer but a place in next season's Heineken Cup!
