THE Anglo-Welsh Cup is to be replaced by a new Premiership Rugby Cup from next season.
The new competition will include the 12 Premiership sides, split into three pools of four teams, rejecting calls to include Championship clubs who are themselves losing the B&I Cup.
The new cup will kick off with the first two pool rounds on the last weekend of October and the second two at the end of January.
One of the second two rounds will see Derby Day clashes for the 12 teams before the cup moves into the knockout phase with the three pool winners and the best runner up moving into the semi-finals.
“The cup has been a highly successful competition in helping develop the best new Premiership and England players,” said Premiership Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty.
“We’re sad our friends in the Welsh Regions will not be involved next season but the focus on new talent will continue in the new cup format with young players and coaches experiencing the challenge of bigger crowds and TV exposure.”
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