Bedford Blues have just one league game remaining of the 2022/23 season, this coming Saturday against old rivals, Coventry at Goldington Road, but plans are already afoot for next season with the announcement of a new cup competition.
The new style Premiership Cup will involve all of the Championship clubs in a 24-team competition that will run in two sections in September and October and then February and March 2024 in what is a major shake up of domestic rugby.
Exeter Chiefs narrowly beat London Irish 24-20 in this season’s Premiership Cup, while Ealing, Jersey, Doncaster Knights and Cornish Pirates will contest the Championship Cup semi-finals in the first weekend of May.
Next season however, they’ll all be thrown together in what is seen as an exciting prospect, not least for those in English rugby’s second tier who will be able to test themselves against the best.
“The Championship performs a crucial role”
It is no secret that Championship clubs have felt perturbed by some recent decisions made by the powers that be in the RFU, ranging from funding cuts to delays over relegation matters, but this decision will go a little way into restoring some collaboration.
“It is many years since the Premiership and Championship Clubs clashed in a Cup competition”, said Phil Winstanley, Premiership Rugby’s Director.
“The Championship performs a crucial role within the English game and we’re looking forward to renewing some rivalries of old.
“With the Rugby World Cup taking place in France, this competition will no doubt provide the best, young English talent with an opportunity to stake a claim in squads before the start of the Gallagher Premiership campaign.”
The Gallagher Premiership Rugby clubs will face the RFU Championship sides in a pool stage consisting of 24 teams, split into four pools of six.
The pool stages will take place over five consecutive weekends from the weekends in September and October, with the semi-finals in February and the final over the weekend of 15-17 March.
The pools will be based on league standings at the end of the current 2022/23 season, with Bedford Blues guaranteed a fourth place finish in the Championship, regardless of the result of Saturday’s final game against third placed Coventry.
Mike Rayer’s side failed to qualify from the pool stage of this year’s Championship Cup, although it provided ample opportunity for the Director of Rugby to rotate his squad, saving his strongest names for a big final month in the league.
However, with the potential of facing the likes of Saracens, Leicester Tigers and even Northampton Saints – who have been in collaboration with the Blues for a few years now – there is a great opportunity for Bedford’s finest to take on the big names of the Premiership.
Steve Lloyd, Chair of the Championship Clubs Committee said, “The new Cup format is the result of great collaboration between the Championship, RFU and Premiership Rugby.
“The clubs are delighted with the opportunity a different format brings as well as the experience of playing Premiership sides and the opportunity to welcome new fans into our clubs and grow our audiences.”
Tickets are still available for Bedford Blues’ final league game of the season against Coventry on Saturday and can be purchased here.
