EDF Energy Cup

Sport	Rugby union
Founded	1971
Number of teams	16
Country	England  Wales A scrum Rugby union (often referred to as rugby, union or football) is a variant of rugby football. ... See also: 1970 in sports, other events of 1971, 1972 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Auto Racing Stock car racing: Richard Petty won the Daytona 500 NASCAR Championship - Richard Petty Indianapolis 500 - Al Unser, Sr. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England_(bordered). ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification    - by Athelstan AD927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi   - Water (%) Population... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_(bordered). ... Motto: (Welsh for Wales for ever) Anthem: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau Capital Cardiff Largest city Cardiff Official language(s) English, Welsh Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM Unification    - by Gruffudd ap Llywelyn 1056  Area    - Total 20,779 km² (3rd...
Current champions	London Wasps

The EDF Energy Cup, also known as the Anglo-Welsh Cup an the English & Welsh rugby union knock-out cup competition featuring all 12 Guinness Premiership clubs and all 4 Welsh Regions. London Wasps (formerly known as Wasps FC or The Wasps) is an English rugby union team. ... Électricité de France (EDF) is the main electricity generation and distribution company in France. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification    - by Athelstan AD927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi   - Water (%) Population... Motto: (Welsh for Wales for ever) Anthem: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau Capital Cardiff Largest city Cardiff Official language(s) English, Welsh Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM Unification    - by Gruffudd ap Llywelyn 1056  Area    - Total 20,779 km² (3rd... A scrum Rugby union (often referred to as rugby, union or football) is a variant of rugby football. ... The Guinness Premiership is the present name for the leading rugby union league competition for English clubs. ...

Prior to the 2005-06 season, the competition was open to all English clubs. Bath have won it ten times, twice as many as the second most successful club, Leicester Tigers. Bath Rugby is an English rugby union team that plays in the Guinness Premiership league. ... Leicester Football Club (nicknamed Leicester Tigers) is an English rugby union club that plays in the Guinness Premiership. ...

Sponsorship

The Powergen Cup (centre) seen in the London Irish clubhouse at Sunbury in 2002. Photo by Paul Warrender.

• John Player Cup
  • (1972-1988)
• Pilkington Cup
  • (1989-1997)
• Tetley's Bitter Cup
  • (1998-2000)
• Powergen Cup
  • (2001-2005)
• EDF Energy Cup
  • (2006-)

The Powergen Cup (centre) in the Sudbury room in 2002 after London Irish won the cup. ... The Powergen Cup (centre) in the Sudbury room in 2002 after London Irish won the cup. ... Pilkington Glass is a well-known British glass manufacturer. ... Tetleys Brewery in Leeds Tetleys is the name of a brewery and the ale produced by it. ... Powergen was an electric generating company in the United Kingdom. ... Électricité de France (EDF) is the main electricity generation and distribution company in France. ...

1971-2005

Known as the John Player Cup, the first competition took place in 1972, and Gloucester were crowned inaugural champions, defeating Moseley in the final, 17 to 6. Coventry won two titles in succession in 1973 and 1974, and after Bedford's championship win in 1975, Gosforth also won two in succession, in 1976 and 1977. Glooucester won their second title in 1978. The competition was then dominated by Leicester, who won three championships in a row, until Gloucester won their third title in 1982. Leicester were again in the final in 1983, but lost to Bristol. Leicester's record run was then broken by Bath from 1984-87, who won the John Player Cup four times in a row, until Harlequins won their first in 1988.

The name of the cup was changed to the Pilkington Cup for the 1989 tournament. Bath picked up from where they left of in the late 1980s, going onto win another six times from 1989-1997. The Harlequins won their second title in 1991, and Leicester added to their three championships in 1993 and again in 1997. The cup changed is name again after Leicesters' 1997 victory, becoming the Tetley's Bitter Cup for the 1998 season. The Saracens won their first title, defeating Wasps FC in 1998. The Wasps were again in the final in 1999, and defeated Newcastle to claim their first championship. The Wasps also won the 2000 competition.

In 2001 the name of the tournament was changed to the Powergen Cup. Newcastle won the first Powergen Cup, defeating the Harlequins 30-27. The London Irish won it for their first time the following season, and Gloucester won it for the first time since 1982. Newcastle won in 2004, and in 2005 the Leeds Tykes defeated Bath to win it for the first time.

Anglo-Welsh Cup

Starting in 2005-06, the cup featured a new format including only the twelve teams from the Guinness Premiership and the four regional Welsh clubs. Teams from National Division One and below now play for the Powergen National Trophy. The Guinness Premiership is the present name for the leading rugby union league competition for English clubs. ... National Division One is the second tier of the English Rugby Union leagues. ... The Powergen National Trophy is a new competition for of the 118 clubs of the Rugby Football Union from National Division One and below. ...

In place of the knock-out format, the 16 sixteen clubs are placed in four pools with 3 English clubs and 1 Welsh club. The pool stages of the Anglo-Welsh Cup tournament feature one game against each team. The winners of each of the four groups progress to the semi-finals. The pools will stay as they are for the following season as well, with home and away fixtures reversed and the club relegated from the Guinness Premiership's place taken by the club promoted from National Division One.

In addition to increased TV revenue (the revised Powergen Cup has already inked a handsome new broadcasting agreement with the BBC) and a possible boost to matchday income, the Powergen Cup will also offer its winner qualification to the even more lucrative Heineken Cup club competition. As base compensation all 16 Powergen clubs are guaranteed £250,000 each, with a prize fund of up to £200,000 available to the semi-finalists.^[1] The Heineken Cup sponsored by Heineken (known as the H Cup in France due to alcohol advertising laws) is an annual rugby union competition involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the Six Nations: England, France, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Italy. ...

The Welsh clubs' inclusion initially caused them to be expelled from the Celtic League. Celtic League officials were angered that the Welsh Clubs had apparently consented to Powergen Cup fixtures on the same weekend of Celtic League matches. The political fallout resulted in the expulsion of the Welsh clubs from the league. Eventually, a compromise was reached, and the Welsh clubs were readmitted. The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving regional sides from Ireland, Scotland and Wales, seen by many as the third major league in Europe, after the English Guinness Premiership and the French TOP 14. ...

The Scarlets playing Bath at the Millennium Stadium.

Many rugby union commentators see the Powergen Cup as a boon to Wales as it reinforces their regional club structure begun in 2003 when Wales began the regional structure common to southern hemisphere powers such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. (See the Observer, "Fine for the Welsh, but at what cost to England?", 25 Sept. 2005). But the benefits are less apparent to the English clubs, especially as the breakdown between Twickenham and the Guinness Premiership clubs intensifies. The Millennium Stadium (Welsh: Stadiwm y Mileniwm) in Cardiff is the national stadium of Wales, used primarily for rugby union and association football. ...

Interest in the Powergen Cup was high during the first two rounds. Over 100,000 spectators attend matches, while the television audience peaked at 1.2 million on BBC2 for the Newcastle Falcons v. Llanelli Scarlets match.[1] Overall, the 2005-2006 cup drew a 12% attendance boost in the group stages over the previous year's competition.^[2] The Newcastle Falcons is a rugby union team currently playing in the Zurich Premiership. ... The Llanelli Scarlets are a Rugby Union team from Wales, playing in the Celtic League and European Rugby Cup/European Rugby Shield. ... The Powergen Cup is a rugby union knockout-competition involving clubs from England and Wales. ...

Unfortunately, Powergen decided to withdraw all of its rugby sponsorship after the conclusion of the 2005-2006 cup competitions. This decision was made after its parent company, German utility E.ON became a founding partner and lead sponsor of the FA and the new Wembley Stadium, and Powergen will thus align its corporate sponsorships along with its corporate parent.^[3] The Powergen Cup is a rugby union knockout-competition involving clubs from England and Wales. ... E.ON AG (NYSE: EON)(LSE: EON) is a German energy company, one of the 30 members of the DAX index of major German companies. ... The Football Association (The FA) is the governing body of football in England (and the Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man). ... Wembley Stadium is a football stadium located in Wembley, London. ...

On August 1, 2006 the RFU announced that the new sponsor of the Anglo-Welsh Cup would be EDF Energy, one of Great Britain's largest distributors of electricity and gas.^[4] EDF Energy will also take over sponsorship of the Powergen National Trophy as well as the primarily amateur and youth club competitions, the Intermediate Cup, the Junior Vase and a new Senior Vase competition. EDF Energy logo EDF Energy is an energy company that provides gas and electricity to homes throughout the United Kingdom. ...

EDF Energy's sponsorship of the Anglo-Welsh event follows on their previous investment in rugby union, including sponsorship of the 2007 World Cup and the French Top 14. The pools (or groups) for the Powergen Cup were decided on a regional basis, comprising of three English sides geographically close to one another, and one Welsh club again divided as far as possible by their location. Pools for 2005-06 and 2006-07 Powergen Cups are as follows:- The Ligue Nationale de Rugby (English: National Rugby League) is the name of the national professional rugby union league of France. ... The Powergen Cup is a rugby union knockout-competition involving clubs from England and Wales. ...

Pools

Pool A: Gloucester, Bristol, Bath, Ospreys Gloucester Rugby Club is an English rugby union team which plays in the Guinness Premiership. ... Bristol Rugby are the first class rugby club in Bristol, England. ... Bath Rugby is an English rugby union team that plays in the Guinness Premiership league. ... The Ospreys (Welsh: Y Gweilch), formerly the Neath-Swansea Ospreys[1] (Gweilch Castell-Nedd Abertawe), are a Rugby Union team from Wales, playing in the Celtic League, Powergen Cup and European Rugby Cup/European Rugby Shield. ...

Pool B: London Irish, Wasps, Saracens, Cardiff Blues London Irish are a rugby union club in England. ... London Wasps (formerly known as Wasps FC or The Wasps) is an English rugby union team. ... Saracens Rugby Union Football Club is an English rugby union team located in Watford, Hertfordshire. ... Cardiff Blues (Welsh Gleision Caerdydd) are a Rugby Union team from Wales, playing in the Celtic League and European Rugby Cup/European Rugby Shield. ...

Pool C: Sale Sharks, Newcastle Falcons, NEC Harlequins, Llanelli Scarlets Sale Sharks are a professional Rugby Union team who play in England in the Guinness Premiership. ... The Newcastle Falcons is a rugby union team currently playing in the Zurich Premiership. ... The Harlequin Football Club (The Harlequins or Quins for short) is an English rugby union team who will play in the top level of English rugby, the Guinness Premiership, for 2006-07, having secured their return from National Division One at the first opportunity. ... The Llanelli Scarlets are a Rugby Union team from Wales, playing in the Celtic League and European Rugby Cup/European Rugby Shield. ...

Pool D: Leicester Tigers, Worcester Warriors, Northampton Saints, Newport Gwent Dragons Leicester Football Club (nicknamed Leicester Tigers) is an English rugby union club that plays in the Guinness Premiership. ... Worcester are an English rugby union team who play in the Guinness Premiership. ... Northampton Saints is an English rugby union club from Northampton that currently plays in Englands top league, the Guinness Premiership. ... The Newport Gwent Dragons (Welsh: Dreigiau Gwent Casnewydd) are a Rugby Union team from Wales, playing in the Celtic League and European Rugby Cup/European Rugby Shield. ...

Note: NEC Harlequins replaced Leeds Tykes for the 2006-07 season when Leeds were relegated from the Premiership and Harlequins were promoted from National Division 1.

List of winners

By year

John Player Cup

• 1972 Gloucester 17 - 6 against Moseley
• 1973 Coventry 27 - 15 against Bristol
• 1974 Coventry 26 - 6 against London Scottish
• 1975 Bedford 28 - 12 against Rosslyn Park
• 1976 Gosforth 23 - 14 against Rosslyn Park
• 1977 Gosforth 27 - 11 against Waterloo
• 1978 Gloucester RFC 6 - 3 against Leicester
• 1979 Leicester 15 - 12 against Moseley
• 1980 Leicester 21 - 9 against London Irish
• 1981 Leicester 22 - 15 against Gosforth
• 1982 Gloucester RFC and Moseley (shared) 12 - 12
• 1983 Bristol 28 - 22 against Leicester
• 1984 Bath 10 - 9 against Bristol
• 1985 Bath 24 - 15 against London Welsh
• 1986 Bath 25 - 17 against Wasps FC
• 1987 Bath 19 - 12 against Wasps FC
• 1988 Harlequins 28 - 22 against Bristol

Gloucester Rugby Club is an English rugby union team which plays in the Guinness Premiership. ... Moseley Rugby Football Clubor Moseley RFC, or Moseley Rugby Club is a Rugby Union club based in south Birmingham, founded 1873. ... Coventry Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club in the town of Coventry, England. ... Coventry Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club in the town of Coventry, England. ... London Scottish Football Club is a Rugby Union team in England. ... Bedford Blues is a rugby union club in the town of Bedford, England. ... Rosslyn Park Football Club is a rugby union team. ... The Newcastle Falcons is a rugby union team currently playing in the Zurich Premiership. ... Rosslyn Park Football Club is a rugby union team. ... The Newcastle Falcons is a rugby union team currently playing in the Zurich Premiership. ... Waterloo Football Club is an English Rugby Union team based at St Anthonys Road, Blundellsands, Crosby in the north of Liverpool. ... Gloucester Rugby Club is an English rugby union team which plays in the Guinness Premiership. ... Leicester Football Club (nicknamed Leicester Tigers) is an English rugby union club that plays in the Guinness Premiership. ... Moseley Rugby Football Clubor Moseley RFC, or Moseley Rugby Club is a Rugby Union club based in south Birmingham, founded 1873. ... Leicester Football Club (nicknamed Leicester Tigers) is an English rugby union club that plays in the Guinness Premiership. ... Leicester Football Club (nicknamed Leicester Tigers) is an English rugby union club that plays in the Guinness Premiership. ... The Newcastle Falcons is a rugby union team currently playing in the Zurich Premiership. ... Gloucester Rugby Club is an English rugby union team which plays in the Guinness Premiership. ... Moseley Rugby Football Clubor Moseley RFC, or Moseley Rugby Club is a Rugby Union club based in south Birmingham, founded 1873. ... Bristol Rugby are the first class rugby club in Bristol, England. ... Bath Rugby is an English rugby union team that plays in the Guinness Premiership league. ... Bath Rugby is an English rugby union team that plays in the Guinness Premiership league. ... At senior lever, London Welsh has played rugby in England since 1885 when it was originally formed. ... Bath Rugby is an English rugby union team that plays in the Guinness Premiership league. ... Bath Rugby is an English rugby union team that plays in the Guinness Premiership league. ... The Harlequin Football Club (The Harlequins or Quins for short) is an English rugby union team who currently play in the second level of English rugby, National Division One, but have secured a return to the Guinness Premiership at the first opportunity. ...

Pilkington Cup

• 1989 Bath 10 - 6 against Leicester
• 1990 Bath 48 - 6 against Gloucester
• 1991 Harlequins 25 - 13 against Northampton
• 1992 Bath 15 - 12 against Harlequins
• 1993 Leicester 23 - 16 against Harlequins
• 1994 Bath 21 - 9 against Leicester
• 1995 Bath 36 - 16 against Wasps FC
• 1996 Bath 16 - 15 against Leicester
• 1997 Leicester 9 - 3 against Sale

Bath Rugby is an English rugby union team that plays in the Guinness Premiership league. ... Bath Rugby is an English rugby union team that plays in the Guinness Premiership league. ... The Harlequin Football Club (The Harlequins or Quins for short) is an English rugby union team who currently play in the second level of English rugby, National Division One, but have secured a return to the Guinness Premiership at the first opportunity. ... Bath Rugby is an English rugby union team that plays in the Guinness Premiership league. ... Leicester Football Club (nicknamed Leicester Tigers) is an English rugby union club that plays in the Guinness Premiership. ... Bath Rugby is an English rugby union team that plays in the Guinness Premiership league. ... Bath Rugby is an English rugby union team that plays in the Guinness Premiership league. ... Bath Rugby is an English rugby union team that plays in the Guinness Premiership league. ... Leicester Football Club (nicknamed Leicester Tigers) is an English rugby union club that plays in the Guinness Premiership. ...

Tetley's Bitter Cup

• 1998 Saracens 48 - 18 against Wasps FC
• 1999 Wasps FC 29 - 19 against Newcastle
• 2000 London Wasps 23 - 31 against Northampton

Saracens Rugby Union Football Club is an English rugby union team located in Watford, Hertfordshire. ... London Wasps (formerly known as Wasps FC or The Wasps) is an English rugby union team. ... London Wasps (formerly known as Wasps FC or The Wasps) is an English rugby union team. ...

Powergen Cup

• 2001 Newcastle 30 - 27 against Harlequins
• 2002 London Irish 38 - 7 against Northampton
• 2003 Gloucester RFC 40 - 22 against Northampton
• 2004 Newcastle 37 - 33 against Sale
• 2005 Leeds 20 - 12 against Bath

The Newcastle Falcons is a rugby union team currently playing in the Zurich Premiership. ... London Irish are a rugby union club in England. ... Gloucester Rugby Club is an English rugby union team which plays in the Guinness Premiership. ... The Newcastle Falcons is a rugby union team currently playing in the Zurich Premiership. ... Leeds Tykes is an English rugby union club, based in Leeds, that currently competes in the Guinness Premiership, the highest level of the sport in England. ...

Powergen Anglo Welsh Cup

• 2006 London Wasps 26 - 10 against Llanelli Scarlets

The Powergen Cup is a rugby union knockout-competition involving clubs from England and Wales. ... London Wasps (formerly known as Wasps FC or The Wasps) is an English rugby union team. ...

EDF Energy (Anglo Welsh) Cup

• 2007

By number won

Bath Rugby is an English rugby union team that plays in the Guinness Premiership league. ... Leicester Football Club (nicknamed Leicester Tigers) is an English rugby union club that plays in the Guinness Premiership. ... Gloucester Rugby Club is an English rugby union team which plays in the Guinness Premiership. ... The Newcastle Falcons is a rugby union team currently playing in the Zurich Premiership. ... London Wasps (formerly known as Wasps FC or The Wasps) is an English rugby union team. ... Coventry Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club in the town of Coventry, England. ... The Harlequin Football Club (The Harlequins or Quins for short) is an English rugby union team who currently play in the second level of English rugby, National Division One, but have secured a return to the Guinness Premiership at the first opportunity. ... Bedford Blues is a rugby union club in the town of Bedford, England. ... Bristol Rugby are the first class rugby club in Bristol, England. ... London Irish are a rugby union club in England. ... Saracens Rugby Union Football Club is an English rugby union team located in Watford, Hertfordshire. ... Leeds Tykes is an English rugby union club, based in Leeds, that currently competes in the Guinness Premiership, the highest level of the sport in England. ...

See also

• 2005-06 Powergen Cup
• Powergen National Trophy
• English Rugby Union teams
• Guinness Premiership
• Heineken Cup
• European Challenge Cup
• European Shield

The Powergen Cup is a rugby union knockout-competition involving clubs from England and Wales. ... The Powergen National Trophy is a new competition for of the 118 clubs of the Rugby Football Union from National Division One and below. ... The English Rugby Union league is divided up into five divisions - the Premiership, Divisions One and Two, and Divisions Three South and North. ... The Guinness Premiership is the present name for the leading rugby union league competition for English clubs. ... The Heineken Cup sponsored by Heineken (known as the H Cup in France due to alcohol advertising laws) is an annual rugby union competition involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the Six Nations: England, France, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Italy. ... The European Challenge Cup in rugby union, known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003, is the sister competition to the Heineken Cup. ... In 2004/5 the twelve teams who failed to progress from the qualifying round of the European Challenge Cup were joined in the draw for the European Shield by Bucuresti (Romania), UCM Madrid (Spain), Bera Bera (Spain) and Lisboa Rugby Club (Portugal). ...

References

1. ^ Cup resurrects Anglo-Welsh contests of old days. The Times. Retrieved on 30 September 2006.
2. ^ EDF Energy to sponsor UK’s premier cup competition. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved on 30 September 2006.
3. ^ Powergen to end cup sponsorships. BBC. Retrieved on 30 September 2006.
4. ^ Anglo-Welsh Cup gets new sponsor. BBC. Retrieved on 30 September 2006.

September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 92 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 92 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 92 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 92 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Official Tournamant Website
• Official Fixtures, Results and Live Broadcasts
• English rugby news from the BBC
• Powergen Cup news from Planet Rugby (warning: Popups)