Anglo-Welsh Cup
Anglo-Welsh Cup fixtures confirmed
ESPNscrum Staff
August 2, 2011
Gloucester's Luke Narraway leads the celebrations, Gloucester v Newcastle Falcons, Anglo-Welsh Cup, Franklin's Gardens, Northampton, England, March 20, 2011
Gloucester will hope to reclaim their Anglo-Welsh title in the 2011-12 season © Getty Images
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The battle lines have been drawn for the 2011-12 Anglo-Welsh Cup with defending champions Gloucester opening their campaign against Sale at Kingsholm in the opening weekend of the competition.

Gloucester took the 2011 Anglo-Welsh Cup in dominant fashion defeating Newcastle at 34-7 at Franklin's Gardens. And - in a World Cup year - Cherry and Whites' coach Bryan Redpath has eyed the competition as a chance to blood their youngsters.

"The LV= Cup has been an integral part of our season in recent times," Redpath said. "We've made the final three years in a row and last season's win secured our place in Europe.

"We've seen many young players develop as a result of playing in the tournament and having that pathway available is the foundation of any successful club.

"Our first fixture against Sale Sharks certainly won't be an easy start to the tournament. Following our win at Franklin's Gardens, we are also now involved in the Heineken Cup and we will have to be on top form in terms of our fitness and attitude if we want to be successful in both competitions."

Elsewhere in the opening weekend, Premiership champions Saracens travel to Northampton to take on the Saints while Premiership newcomers will start at Sixways against London Wasps. The first all-Welsh tie is in Round 2 with Cardiff entertaining the Scarlets.

2011/12 Anglo-Welsh Cup
Pool 1
Saracens
Bath Rugby
London Wasps
Ospreys

Pool 2
Leicester Tigers
London Irish
Sale Sharks
Cardiff Blues

Pool 3
Gloucester Rugby
Harlequins
Newcastle Falcons
Scarlets

Pool 4
Northampton Saints
Exeter Chiefs
Worcester Warriors
Dragons

Round 1 - October 14/15/16
Northampton Saints v Saracens
Worcester Warriors v London Wasps
Dragons v Bath Rugby
Exeter Chiefs v Ospreys
Newcastle Falcons v Cardiff Blues
Harlequins v London Irish
Gloucester Rugby v Sale Sharks
Scarlets v Leicester Tigers (October 15, Sky Sports, 1800)

Round 2 - October 21/22/23
Saracens v Exeter Chiefs
London Wasps v Dragons
Bath Rugby v Worcester Warriors
Ospreys v Northampton Saints (October 22, Sky Sports, 1800)
London Irish v Newcastle Falcons
Sale Sharks v Harlequins
Leicester Tigers v Gloucester Rugby
Cardiff Blues v Scarlets

Round 3 - January 27/28/29
Ospreys v Dragons
London Wasps v Exeter Chiefs
Saracens v Worcester Warriors
Bath Rugby v Northampton Saints
Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks
Harlequins v Leicester Tigers
Scarlets v London Irish
Gloucester Rugby v Cardiff Blues

Round 4 - February 3/4/5
Exeter Chiefs v Bath Rugby
Worcester Warriors v Ospreys
Northampton Saints v London Wasps
Dragons v Saracens
Cardiff Blues v Harlequins
Leicester Tigers v Newcastle Falcons
London Irish v Gloucester Rugby
Sale Sharks v Scarlets

Semi-Finals (9/10/11 March, venue TBC)
Final (16/17/18 March, venue TBC)

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