Anglo-Welsh Cup
Anglo-Welsh Cup battle lines drawn
ESPN Staff
July 23, 2012
Geordan Murphy celebrates with the Anglo-Welsh Cup, Leicester v Northampton, Anglo-Welsh Cup Final, Sixways, Worcester, England, March 18, 2012
Leicester will hope to replicate their 2011-2012 Anglo-Welsh Cup success © Getty Images
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Tournaments/Tours: Anglo-Welsh Cup
Teams: England | Wales

The draw for the 2012-13 Anglo-Welsh Cup has taken place with holders Leicester opening their campaign against fellow Aviva Premiership side Saracens.

The slightly convoluted system sees those in Pool 1 play the teams in Pool 4 while Pool 2 teams will face Pool 3. So if Leicester are to replicate their success last season, they will have to get past Saracens, London Wasps, London Irish and the Scarlets.

Other notable match-ups see Bath facing rivals Gloucester and London Welsh opening their campaign with a tough match against the Exeter Chiefs at the Kassam Stadium. For the Exiles, the draw means that their second-row Adam Brown could line up against his former side the Dragons, something he is relishing. "That's the fixture that stands out for me," said Brown. "It's a game I'm looking forward to as I've still got a lot of close friends playing there.

"All the teams we're playing this year are going to challenge us a team. It's going to be a step up intensity and ability. But you want to play at the highest level you can and challenge yourself. Everyone in the squad is excited but we know we've got a lot of work to do if we're going to prove we can play at this level, but there's definitely a buzz around the place."

Pool 1: Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester Rugby, Newport Gwent Dragons

Pool 2: Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks, Worcester Warriors, Cardiff Blues

Pool 3: Saracens, London Irish, London Wasps, Scarlets

Pool 4: Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, London Welsh, Ospreys

2012-13 Fixtures:

Round 1 -November 9-11:
Northampton Saints v Harlequins
London Welsh v Exeter Chiefs (Sunday November 11, KO 1600. S4C)
Bath Rugby v Newport Gwent Dragons
Ospreys v Gloucester Rugby (Friday November 9, KO 1945. Sky Sports HD)
London Irish v Sale Sharks
Cardiff Blues v London Wasps
Worcester Warriors v Scarlets
Saracens v Leicester Tigers

Round 2 -November 16-18:
Harlequins v Bath Rugby
Exeter v Ospreys
Newport Gwent Dragons v Northampton Saints (Friday November 16, KO 1945. Sky Sports)
Gloucester Rugby v London Welsh
Sale Sharks v Saracens
Leicester Tigers v London Irish
Scarlets v Cardiff Blues (Saturday November 17, KO 1830. S4C)
London Wasps v Worcester Warriors

Round 3 - January 25-27:
Harlequins v London Welsh
Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs
Newport Gwent Dragons v Ospreys
Northampton Saints v Gloucester Rugby
Sale Sharks v Scarlets
Leicester Tigers v London Wasps
Saracens v Cardiff Blues
London Irish v Worcester Warriors

Round 4 -February 1-3:
London Welsh v Newport Gwent Dragons
Gloucester Rugby v Bath Rugby
Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints
Ospreys v Harlequins
London Wasps v Sale Sharks
Scarlets v Leicester Tigers
Worcester Warriors v Saracens
Cardiff Blues v London Irish

Semi Finals -March 8/9/10

Final - March 17 (venue tbc)

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