Cardiff Blues skipper Paul Tito lifts the Anglo-Welsh Cup last season © Getty Images

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Tournaments/Tours: Anglo-Welsh Cup 2009-10

Teams: England | Wales

The dates and kick-off times for the new-look Anglo-Welsh competition have been confirmed by tournament officials.

Cardiff Blues will kick off their title with a re-run of last season's final against Gloucester. The Blues, who beat the Cherry and Whites 50-12 at Twickenham in April, will go head-to-head at Kingsholm on November 6.

The newly structured competition will see the 12 Guinness Premiership clubs and four Welsh Regions play over four weekends, followed by the semi-finals and finals. Each team will be guaranteed two home and two away inter-pool fixtures, with the top teams from each pool qualifying for the knockout stages.

Elsewhere, Premiership champions Leicester will kick off their campaign against newly-promoted Leeds Carnegie at Headingley on November 8 while Ospreys, winners in 2007 and 2008, will open their account at home to Northampton Saints on November 6.

Speaking earlier this year at the launch of the tournament, Terry Burwell, Rugby Football Union Tournaments and Competitions Director, said: "We are delighted that together with Premier Rugby Ltd and the Welsh Rugby Union we have come up with a structure that will not only help players, coaches and officials develop but also provides more revenue potential for the Guinness Premiership clubs and the Welsh regions.

"There is a massive appetite for Cup rugby in England and Wales. The average attendance at pool matches over the past three seasons has been 8506 and the final averaged 60,000. There is plenty to look forward to with pool matches such as Gloucester Rugby against Cardiff Blues and Leicester Tigers against Newport Gwent Dragons in the first two rounds this coming season."

WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis also endorsed the new look competition. "There is a rich history and heritage surrounding Anglo-Welsh encounters stretching back many years," he said. "The Welsh Rugby Union is delighted that the RFU and PRL have secured the future of this great competition. We are all committed to seeing it flourish and grow from the strong base it has already created.

"It is vitally important for the supporters from both our nations to get the opportunity to see games of the highest standard and this competition serves to deliver that and ensure our talented young players improve by playing against top class opposition."

2009-10 Anglo-Welsh Cup Fixtures:

Round One
Friday, November 6, 19:30, Newport Gwent Dragons v Sale Sharks
Friday, November 6, 19:30, Ospreys v Northampton Saints
Friday, November 6, 19:45, Gloucester Rugby v Cardiff Blues
Saturday, November 7, 12:30, Worcester Warriors v Newcastle Falcons
Sunday, November 8, 13:45, Harlequins v Scarlets
Sunday, November 8, 15:00, Saracens v Bath Rugby
Sunday, November 8, 15:00, London Irish v London Wasps
Sunday, November 8, 15:00, Leeds Carnegie v Leicester Tigers

Round Two
Friday, November 13, 19:45, Sale Sharks v Leeds Carnegie
Saturday, November 14, 13:00, Bath Rugby v Ospreys
Saturday, November 14, 13:00, Northampton Saints v Saracens
Saturday, November 14, 15:00, Leicester Tigers v Newport Gwent Dragons
Saturday, November 14, 15:00, Scarlets v Worcester Warriors
Sunday, November 15, 13:45, Cardiff Blues v London Irish
Sunday, November 15, 15:00, London Wasps v Gloucester Rugby
Sunday, November 15, 15:00, Newcastle Falcons v Harlequins

Round Three
Friday, January 29, 19:30, Newport Gwent Dragons v Ospreys
Friday, January 29, 19:30, Leeds Carnegie v Saracens
Friday, January 29, 19:45, Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints
Saturday, January 30, 15:00, Leicester Tigers v Bath Rugby
Saturday, January 30, 15:00, Gloucester Rugby v Worcester Warriors
Sunday, January 31, 15:00, London Wasps v Scarlets
Sunday, January 31, 15:00, Cardiff Blues v Newcastle Falcons
Sunday, January 31, 15:00, London Irish v Harlequins

Round Four
Thursday, February 4, 19:30, Ospreys v Leeds Carnegie
Saturday, February 6, 14:15, Bath Rugby v Sale Sharks
Saturday, February 6, 15:00, Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers
Saturday, February 6, 15:00, Scarlets v Cardiff Blues
Saturday, February 6, 15:00, Worcester Warriors v London Irish
Sunday, February 7, 15:00, Saracens v Newport Gwent Dragons
Sunday, February 7, 15:00, Newcastle Falcons v London Wasps
Sunday, February 7, 15:00, Harlequins v Gloucester Rugby

Pool 1: Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Ospreys
Pool 2: London Irish, Gloucester Rugby, Newcastle Falcons, Scarlets
Pool 3: Harlequins, London Wasps, Worcester Warriors, Cardiff Blues
Pool 4: Bath Rugby, Northampton Saints, Leeds Carnegie, Dragons