Falcons Fly to Parade to kick start EDF Energy Cup
Newport Gwent Dragons kick start their EDF Energy campaign against Newcastle Falcons at Rodney Parade before travelling to meet Guinness Premiership rivals London Wasps and Gloucester Rugby away from home in Pool A of the competition.
The EDF Energy Cup, in its fourth year, is contested by the 12 Guinness Premiership clubs and the four Welsh Magners League regions and promises big names and great rugby as the Dragons strive for a place in the quarter-finals.
Newport Gwent Dragons Chief Executive Gethin Jenkins is looking forward to hosting Guinness Premiership rivals Newcastle Falcons following a narrow 29-24 defeat when the teams met in the same competition last season. He said:
“The tournament has been a huge success over the past three years and we look forward to some exciting clashes with our English counterparts in the pool stages of the competition.
“Hosting Newcastle Falcons at home will be a great start to the Dragons campaign and will make for an exciting occasion for the fans at Rodney Parade as we try to outclass a Newcastle Falcons team that beat us narrowly last time round.
“The Dragons have been training extremely hard so far this summer for what I’m sure will be a competitive and thrilling season ahead.”
EDF Energy Cup Tournament Director Terry Burwell said:
“The EDF Energy Cup has provided some fantastic rugby over the last three years and we are anticipating more this season.”
In the competition, three rounds of matches will be played in the four-team group stages at club grounds before the EDF Energy Cup semi-finals and final which will be held on the weekends of March 28 and April 18 respectively – shown live on BBC television.
EDF Energy Cup 2008/09
Pool A
Newport-Gwent Dragons
London Wasps
Gloucester Rugby
Newcastle Falcons
Pool B
Cardiff Blues
Bath Rugby
Sale Sharks
Leicester Tigers
Pool C
Ospreys
Harlequins
Worcester Warriors
London Irish
Pool D
Llanelli Scarlets
Northampton Saints
Saracens
Bristol Rugby
Round 1: Weekend of October 4
Pool A Gloucester Rugby v London Wasps
Pool A Dragons v Newcastle Falcons
Pool B Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers
Pool B Sale Sharks v Blues
Pool C Ospreys v Harlequins
Pool C Worcester Warriors v London Irish
Pool D Northampton Saints v Bristol Rugby
Pool D Saracens v Scarlets
Round 2: Weekend of October 25
Pool A Newcastle Falcons v London Wasps
Pool A Gloucester Rugby v Dragons
Pool B Blues v Leicester Tigers
Pool B Sale Sharks v v Bath Rugby
Pool C Harlequins v London Irish
Pool C Ospreys v Worcester Warriors
Pool D Saracens v Northampton Saints
Pool D Scarlets v Bristol Rugby
Round 3 Weekend of November 1
Pool A Newcastle Falcons v Gloucester Rugby
Pool A London Wasps v Dragons
Pool B Blues v Bath Rugby
Pool B Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks
Pool C London Irish v Ospreys
Pool C Worcester Warriors v Harlequins
Pool D Northampton Saints v Scarlets
Pool D Bristol Rugby v Saracens
