Anglo Welsh Cup Competition – ‘Room for improvement’

Most of the focus this weekend will be on the last round of the 6 Nations. But never one to follow the crowd Chris Lane takes a look at the competition that is all too often forgotten. the Anglo-Welsh LV= Cup

Whist International rugby stars are walking out of the tunnel at the Aviva stadium and Murrayfield for the final round of this year’s Six Nations tournament this weekend, players from the West country and North East will be eagerly anticipating the first domestic cup final of the season. Franklins Gardens will host the Final of the Anglo Welsh Cup competition this year contested between Gloucester Rugby and Newcastle Falcons on Sunday afternoon.

The competition currently known as the under the alias of current sponsors ‘LV Cup’ was formally a knockout competition open to all English rugby clubs. In a format similar to football fans the cup dragged Premiership rugby teams to the smallest, oldest, poorest clubs in the land and on the other hand gave those clubs their big cup day out in front of big crowds and the cameras.

It was decided by the men in suits that in 2006 a competition steeped in history and prestige that was seen as some of the highlights of the fixture list by many lower league and top flight clubs alike would be changed.

Frowned upon by the majority of English rugby fans the competition was reintroduced with a different format for the 06/07 season. The new Anglo Welsh Cup introduced the four Welsh regions into the competition and presented a new challenge for Premiership clubs. A new group structure stripped the competition of it’s gripping knockout feature when pools were formed, many thought the cup was ill fated before even giving it a chance.

Although probably more aptly named The Anglo Welsh ‘tournament’ all the teams at the start of the season are only 5 games away from Heineken Cup Rugby. The lucrative prize of a place in Europe is the glue holding the competition together, with a prize worth so much money to a rugby club, the cup is still worth turning up on a Saturday afternoon for!
Since joining the Welsh sides have not by any means struggled in the competition with the Ospreys and Cardiff lifting the cup and in the previous 3 years. Being a Gloucester fan I have experienced Anglo Welsh games, often the skill levels are good and national pride gives a nice edge to the games but I still question whether clubs fully commit to the competition in its new format!?

New Talent

What I do know is many of the top clubs pushing for domestic league and European honours use this competition as a breeding ground for young talent. The majority of rounds are held in international windows testing the strength and depth in squad and academy structures. Players get a chance to impress at their clubs where opportunities may be limited, because the competition is not seen as a ‘priority’ within the group stages you see names from previous years that now appear on the back of international rugby shirts around the world.

The classic cup upset is few and far between in the new Anglo Welsh competition in a rugby world where the Ospreys are seen as on par with Leicester Tigers and no longer inferior. Major factors include being almost guaranteed European rugby for all Magners league teams seeing them battling top English clubs year after year.

Having said that Newport Gwent dragons have won 2 of 3 meetings between themselves and Gloucester this season in the same competition including a famous victory at Kingsholm where they are unbeaten in this years Aviva premiership!.. Not bad for a region who possess only 3 current internationals and can clean but not jerk in a height restricted gym facility. The reality is in a competition where that result should go down in the history books and hang above the bar at Rodney parade for generations, it will be forgotten next season because it is Gloucester who have booked a place in the LV cup Final this Sunday.

As rugby fans we must learn to embrace change because majority of the time decisions will be made that affect the teams you and i support, with reasons that may not be in the interest of your club. The Anglo Welsh Cup is cemented into the fixture list now and figures suggest that the rugby public are starting to embrace the competition. Total viewings at both grounds and on Sky sports are rising every year with an average 12% rise in attendance at the gates of clubs in this years group stages.

That very statistic can be seen as a success for the RFU and the WRU and in truth it is down to hard work on their part in partnership with the clubs and sponsors. At Gloucester Anglo Welsh tickets prices are lowered to accommodate a wider sporting cliental, group discounts are bringing in new rugby fans, schools are given hundreds of tickets and top flight rugby is being enjoyed by a wider audience.

I know clubs have schemes to fill the stands but the Anglo Welsh cup is on the up with the first rugby game to be played outside of the UK happened this year when Wasps moved their fixture with Harlequins to Abu Dhabi. The possibilities are endless with this new competition that is just about finding it’s feet in the domestic fixture list so as rugby fans we need to get behind and support.

I was one with major doubts 4 years ago but i have seen something now in a tournament that can really benefit and develop all 16 rugby clubs involved.