Some famous names of Welsh and Scottish rugby will renew old friendships and rivalries in cross-border matches between Indigo Group Premiership sides and Scottish Super6 teams at the end of the season - with Ebbw Vale set to represent Gwent.
The top six sides from last season’s Premiership will play all six new Scottish Super6 teams on a home or away basis.
Watsonians, Heriot's, Stirling County and Boroughmuir will be well-known names to Welsh supporters and are included in Scottish Rugby’s new semi-professional competition, while Melrose and Ayr have rebranded and will play as Southern Knights and Ayrshire Bulls respectively.
Following the conclusion of the Indigo Group Premiership and inaugural Fosroc Super6 in Scotland, the new cross-border competition will take place on consecutive weekends from April through to May, with each team hosting three games on home turf and all sides playing each other once.
Ebbw Vale, Pontypridd and Aberavon begin at home to Southern Knights, Ayrshire Bulls and Stirling County respectively on the weekend of April 25, while Cardiff, Llandovery and Merthyr travel to Watsonians, Heriots and Boroughmuir Bears.
Jonathan Jones, chair of Ebbw Vale and the Premiership clubs said, “We’re really excited about this opportunity of cross-border competition against these Scottish teams. It is a welcome new addition to our season for everyone involved. As a club we have an old friendship with Watsonians which we are looking forward to renewing – the supporters are already looking at which match – or matches – they can organise trips to!”
On the announcement Fosroc Super6 Tournament Director Stephen Gemmell said, “We’re delighted to be able to announce these fixtures alongside the WRU. The tournament will provide our six teams with quality opposition against their experienced Welsh counterparts and will make for some intense, physical and, I am sure, entertaining rugby.
“Our clubs have enjoyed similar cross border matches in the old B&I Cup and these new fixtures are a great addition to our Super6 calendar and will provide a significant challenge for the players and coaches of all of our teams.”
Cross-border fixtures 2020
Week 1 - April 25th
- Watsonians Rugby v Cardiff
- Heriots Rugby v Llandovery
- Boroughmuir Bears v Merthyr
- Ebbw Vale v Southern Knights
- Pontypridd v Ayrshire Bulls
- Aberavon v Stirling County
Week 2 - May 2nd
- Watsonians Rugby v Ebbw Vale
- Heriots Rugby v Aberavon
- Ayrshire Bulls v Llandovery
- Cardiff v Boroughmuir Bears
- Pontypridd v Stirling County
- Merthyr v Southern Knights
Week 3 - May 9th
- Watsonians Rugby v Pontypridd
- Heriots Rugby v Cardiff
- Stirling County v Merthyr
- Ebbw Vale v Ayrshire Bulls
- Llandovery v Southern Knights
- Aberavon v Boroughmuir Bears
Week 4 - May 16th
- Southern Knights v Aberavon
- Boroughmuir Bears v Pontypridd
- Stirling County v Llandovery
- Cardiff v Ayrshire Bulls
- Merthyr v Watsonians Rugby
- Ebbw Vale v Heriots Rugby
Week 5 - May 23rd
- Southern Knights v Cardiff
- Ayrshire Bulls v Merthyr Stirling
- County v Ebbw Vale
- Aberavon v Watsonians Rugby
- Pontypridd v Heriots Rugby
- Llandovery v Boroughmuir Bears
Week 6 - May 30th
- Southern Knights v Pontypridd
- Boroughmuir Bears v Ebbw Vale
- Ayrshire Bulls v Aberavon
- Llandovery v Watsonians Rugby
- Merthyr v Heriots Rugby
- Cardiff v Stirling County
We’re really excited about this opportunity of cross-border competition against these Scottish teams...
