The Rugby Football Union have announced that the Tetley's Bitter Cup will be played for next season but there will not be a British Isles Cup.

The conclusion on the fate of the two knock-out cup competitions came at 5pm after negotiations with the game's rulers and clubs from the EFDR and ESDR and as next season's fixture list was released.

In the Premiership clubs will be awarded points on a Super 12-style basis with four points for a win, two for a draw, one for a team which loses by seven points or less and one point for any team which scores four tries or more in a match.

There will also be end of season play-offs for the top eight clubs concluding with a grand-final at Twickenham and the winners will qualify for the Heineken Cup.

Francis Baron, the Chief Executive of the Rugby Football Union, hinted that today's announcements did not rule out a British Isles Cup in the future.

"The discussions regarding the British Isles Cup will continue in the forthcoming months involving all relevant parties.

"We acknowledged in April it would be logistically difficult to introduce a British Isles Cup in the new season and it has not been practical to do so.

"This decision will have no impact on the final round of discussions with the senior clubs, which are nearing conclusion."

He added that he was looking forward to building on the success of last year's Tetley's Bitter Cup which will feature all clubs from the EFDR and ESDR.

The future of the cup had been in doubt with a British Isles Cup, included in the Rob Andrew proposals for the new season, mooted as a replacement.

"The full support of the RFU, all its clubs and Tetley's Bitter will be given to the tournament," said Baron.

Reports that the British Cup was scrapped at the interverntion of Heineken, the sponsors of the European Cup, were denied by a spokesman for the company this morning.

The league fixtures have thrown up some interesting opening day clashes.

Allied Dunbar Premiership champions Leicester begin their defence at Wasps on August 19 while arch-rivals NEC Harlequins and London Irish get the chance work out some of their differences back at The Stoop.

Rotherham's first game in the top flight will be at home to Bristol.