LV= Cup fixtures announced
By Mark Stevens
Exeter Chiefs will entertain reigning LV= Cup holders Harlequins in their opening game of the 2013/14 competition.
The Londoners, who lifted the title by beating Sale Sharks at Sixways last season, will visit Sandy Park on Saturday, 9 November (3pm), The Chiefs will then travel to old adversaries Bath for a televised encounter on Sunday, November 17 (3pm) – the first of three scheduled encounters between the two clubs next term.
The LV= Cup competition will then take a break until the New Year when the Chiefs will resume battle with a home encounter against the Ospreys over the weekend of January 24-26, before their final group game will see them make the trip to Worcester Warriors between January 31 and February 2.
Last season the Chiefs blossomed in the competition, using their group games as the opportunity to blood a number of their rising stars to senior rugby. Among those to shine was England Under-20s starlet Jack Nowell, who was crowned the LV= Cup Breakthrough Player Award.
Commenting on the fixtures, Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter said: “Once again it’s another very exciting group of LV= Cup fixtures for us.
“Over the years we have used the competition to not only utilise our full playing squad, but at the same time blood a number of our young players into the rigours of first team rugby.
“Just last year the LV= Cup offered players like Jack Yeandle, Jack Nowell, Damian Welch, Henry Slade and Dave Ewers the chance to really force themselves into the first team reckoning and then go on and play key roles within our Premiership season.
“Again we hope to see that emergence of players within the senior group in what we know will be a very competitive set of fixtures for us.”
RFU Professional Rugby Director Rob Andrew added: “We have seen the LV= Cup develop as a crucial competition for up and coming new talent over the past few seasons as evident through players such as Jack Nowell, who was crucial in England U20’s Junior World Championship triumph.
“I’m sure the competition will again identify some promising young talent this season, and ones that we will undoubtedly see on the international stage in the years to come.”
2013-14 LV= Cup
Pool 1: Saracens Gloucester Rugby London Irish Newport Gwent Dragons.
Pool 2: Leicester Tigers Exeter Chiefs Sale Sharks Cardiff Blues.
Pool 3: Harlequins Bath Rugby Worcester Warriors Ospreys.
Pool 4: Northampton Saints London Wasps Newcastle Falcons Scarlets.
Fixtures
Round 1 – 8, 9 & 10 November
London Wasps v Saracens
Northampton Saints v Gloucester Rugby
Newcastle Falcons v London Irish
Scarlets v Newport Gwent Dragons
Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins
Leicester Tigers v Ospreys (Friday November 8, KO 19:45, Live on Sky Sports)
Sale Sharks v Bath Rugby
Cardiff Blues v Worcester Warriors
Round 2 – 15, 16 & 17 November
London Irish v Northampton Saints
Newport Gwent Dragons v London Wasps
Saracens v Scarlets
Gloucester Rugby v Newcastle Falcons
Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs (Sunday November 17, KO 15:00 Sky Sports)
Worcester Warriors v Leicester Tigers
Harlequins v Sale Sharks
Ospreys v Cardiff
Round 3 – 24, 25 & 26 January
Scarlets v Gloucester Rugby
London Wasps v London Irish
Saracens v Newcastle Falcons
Newport Gwent Dragons v Northampton Saints
Bath Rugby v Cardiff Blues
Exeter Chiefs v Ospreys
Harlequins v Leicester Tigers
Sale Sharks v Worcester Warriors.
Round 4 – 31 January, 1 & 2 February
Gloucester Rugby v London Wasps
London Irish v Scarlets
Newcastle Falcons v Newport Gwent Dragons
Northampton Saints v Saracens
Leicester Tigers v Bath Rugby
Worcester Warriors v Exeter Chiefs
Cardiff Blues v Harlequins
Ospreys v Sale Sharks
Semi Finals – 7, 8 & 9 March
The pool winner with the best playing record will be at home against the pool winner with the fourth best playing record in Semi Final 1.
The Pool Winner with the second best playing record will be at home against the pool winner with the third best playing record in Semi Final 2.
LV= Cup Final – 16 March
Final venue to be confirmed.
For more information visit www.exeterchiefs.co.uk
