2014–15 British and Irish Cup
2014–15 British and Irish Cup | |
---|---|
Tournament details | |
Countries | England Ireland Wales |
Tournament format(s) | Round-robin and knockout |
Date | 10 October 2014 — 3 April 2015 |
Tournament statistics | |
Teams | 20 |
Matches played | 67 |
Attendance | 111,051 (1,657 per match) |
Highest attendance | 7,640 Bristol 50–34 Connacht Eagles (12 October 2014) |
Lowest attendance | 150 Ulster Ravens 25–12 Aberavon (13 December 2014) |
Top point scorer(s) | Douglas Flockhart (Doncaster Knights) 89 points |
Top try scorer(s) | Cian Kelleher (Leinster A) 9 tries |
Final | |
Venue | Castle Park, Doncaster |
Attendance | 3,115 |
Champions | Worcester Warriors (1st title) |
Runners-up | Doncaster Knights |
The 2014–15 British and Irish Cup is the sixth season of the annual rugby union competition for second tier, semi-professional clubs from Britain and Ireland. Leinster A are the defending champions having won the 2013–14 final against Yorkshire Carnegie 44–17 at Donnybrook on 23 May 2014. There has been four different winners and five different losing finalists of the competition in the five seasons of its existence.
The format of the competition has been changed once again, with the Scottish withdrawing from the competition because of an increase, from four to six, in the number of the group matches before Christmas. Scottish Rugby felt that Scottish teams would not be able to compete fully in both the British and Irish cup and the BT Premiership; the premier competition for clubs in Scotland.[1] The Welsh teams selection is based on regional play-offs involving the 2013–14 Premier Division clubs at the start of the season. This process yielded Pontypridd to represent the Cardiff Blues Region, Cross Keys to represent the Dragons Region, Aberavon to represent the Ospreys Region, and Carmarthen Quins to represent the Scarlets Region.
Matches in the competition proper were played on the same weekends as the European Rugby Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup. First round matches began on 10 October 2014 and the final was held on 3 April 2015. Worcester Warriors beat Doncaster Knights 35 – 5 in the final held at Castle Park, Doncaster; the home ground of the Knights.[2]
Participating teams and locations[]
The allocation of teams is as follows:
- – twelve clubs from RFU Championship
- – four Irish provinces represented by 'A' teams
- – four clubs from the Welsh Premier Division
Welsh qualification[]
The Welsh teams are selected, based on regional play-offs involving the twelve clubs from the 2013–14 Premier Division and played at the start of the season. Teams gained home advantage depending upon their finishing position at the end of last season.[3]
Cardiff Blues Region[]
The two constituent clubs of the Cardiff Blues played in a one-off game to determine the region's representative in the Cup.
Dragons Region[]
The four teams that make up the Newport Gwent Dragons each played in semi-finals, with the winner of each progressing to play off for the opportunity to represent the region.
30 August 2014
14:30 |
Cross Keys | 16 – 13 | Ebbw Vale |
---|---|---|
Cross Keys Ebbw Vale |
Pandy Park
Attendance: 500 Referee: Neil Hennessy (WRU) |
6 September 2014
|
Cross Keys | 31 – 12 | Newport |
---|---|---|
Cross Keys Newport |
Pandy Park
Attendance: 300 Referee: Sean Brickell (WRU) |
Ospreys Region[]
With three teams making up the Ospreys region, Aberavon and Neath faced each other first, with the winner going into the final play-off with Bridgend.
Scarlets Region[]
Like the Ospreys, the Scarlets region has three constituent clubs, so two teams played each other in a preliminary game for the chance to face the third team in the deciding match.
30 August 2014
|
Llandovery | 28 – 15 | Llanelli |
---|---|---|
Llandovery Llanelli |
Church Bank
Attendance: 600 Referee: Rhys Thomas (WRU) |
Competition format[]
The competition format is a pool stage followed by a knockout stage. The pool stage consists of five pools of four teams playing home and away matches. The top side in each pool, plus the three best runners-up, will progress to the knockout stage. The eight quarter-finalists will be ranked, with teams ranked 1-4 having home advantage. The four winning quarter-finalists will progress to the semi-final draw. Matches will take place on the same weekends as the European Rugby Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup cups.[3]
Pool stages[]
Pool 1[]
Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bristol | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 181 | 119 | 62 | 3 | 0 | 27 | ||
Pontypridd | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 158 | 115 | 43 | 2 | 1 | 19 | ||
London Scottish | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 110 | 129 | –19 | 0 | 3 | 7 | ||
Connacht Eagles | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 111 | 197 | –86 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||
Source : BBC Updated: 13 December 2014 Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match |
18 October 2014
15:00 |
(BP) London Scottish | 18 – 22 | Bristol |
---|---|---|
Scottish Bristol |
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,608 Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU) |
29 November 2014
15:00 |
London Scottish | 17 – 7 | Connacht Eagles |
---|---|---|
Report |
Richmond Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,296 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
13 December 2014
14:00 |
London Scottish | 17 – 25 | Pontypridd |
---|---|---|
Richmond Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,640 Referee: Sean Gallagher |
Pool 2[]
Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rotherham Titans | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 204 | 104 | 100 | 4 | 1 | 25 | ||
Yorkshire Carnegie | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 208 | 110 | 98 | 4 | 0 | 24 | ||
Ulster Ravens | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 121 | 162 | –41 | 1 | 3 | 8 | ||
Aberavon | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 89 | 246 | –157 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||
Source : BBC Updated: 13 December 2014 Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match |
10 October 2014
20:00 |
Yorkshire Carnegie | 3 – 20 | Rotherham Titans |
---|---|---|
Carnegie Rotherham |
Silver Royd, Scalby
Attendance: 864 Referee: Jamie Leahy (RFU) |
18 October 2014
14:00 |
(BP) Ulster Ravens | 17 – 22 | Yorkshire Carnegie |
---|---|---|
Ulster Carnegie |
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 600 Referee: Craig Evans (IRFU) |
24 October 2014
19:00 |
(2BP) Ulster Ravens | 29 – 31 | Rotherham Titans (BP) |
---|---|---|
Ulster Rotherham |
Deramore Park
Attendance: 500 Referee: Ben Whitehouse |
25 October 2014
14:30 |
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie | 85 – 0 | Aberavon |
---|---|---|
Carnegie Aberavon |
Brantingham Park, Brantingham
Attendance: 482 Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU) |
29 November 2014
14:00 |
(BP) Rotherham Titans | 52 – 17 | Ulster Ravens |
---|---|---|
7 December 2014
14:30 |
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie | 27 – 19 | Ulster Ravens |
---|---|---|
Report |
Laund Hill, Huddersfield
Attendance: 650 |
13 December 2014
14:00 |
Ulster Ravens | 25 – 12 | Aberavon |
---|---|---|
Delamore Park
Attendance: 150 Referee: Fergus Kilby |
Pool 3[]
Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Worcester Warriors | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 189 | 94 | 95 | 3 | 0 | 27 | ||
Munster A | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 149 | 112 | 37 | 1 | 2 | 19 | ||
Moseley | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 95 | 172 | –77 | 1 | 1 | 10 | ||
Nottingham | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 109 | 164 | –55 | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||
Source : BBC Updated: 13 December 2014 Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match |
11 October 2014
15:00 |
Munster A | 27 – 21 | Moseley (BP) |
---|---|---|
Munster |
Clonmel Rugby Club, Clonmel
Attendance: 550 Referee: Craig Evans |
11 October 2014
15:00 |
(BP) Nottingham | 19 – 26 | Worcester Warriors |
---|---|---|
Nottingham Worcester |
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 756 Referee: John Meredith |
18 October 2014
15:00 |
Moseley | 22 – 14 | Nottingham |
---|---|---|
Moseley Nottingham |
Billesley Common
Attendance: 250 Referee: David Procter (RFU) |
18 October 2014
15:00 |
Worcester Warriors | 27 – 23 | Munster A (BP) |
---|---|---|
Worcester Munster |
Sixways Stadium
Attendance: 6,916 Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU) |
24 October 2014
20:00 |
Nottingham | 12 – 23 | Munster A |
---|---|---|
Nottingham Munster |
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,119 Referee: Rhys Thomas (WRU) |
25 October 2014
15:00 |
Moseley | 0 – 39 | Worcester Warriors (BP) |
---|---|---|
Worcester |
Billesley Common
Attendance: 1,483 Referee: Matthew O'Grady |
29 November 2014
15:00 |
Munster A | 23 – 16 | Nottingham (BP) |
---|---|---|
Temple Hill, Cork
Attendance: 435 Referee: D Jones |
29 November 2014
15:00 |
(BP) Worcester Warriors | 31 – 12 | Moseley |
---|---|---|
Sixways Stadium
Attendance: 4,738 Referee: David Proctor |
5 December 2014
19:30 |
(BP) Munster A | 18 – 23 | Worcester Warriors |
---|---|---|
Temple Hill, Cork
Attendance: 600 Referee: Rhys Thomas |
13 December 2014
14:00 |
Moseley | 13 – 35 | Munster A (BP) |
---|---|---|
Billesley
Attendance: 944 Referee: John Meredith |
13 December 2014
14:00 |
(BP) Worcester Warriors | 43 – 22 | Nottingham |
---|---|---|
Sixways Stadium
Attendance: 6,560 Referee: Darren Gamage |
Pool 4[]
Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Doncaster Knights | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 204 | 122 | 82 | 5 | 0 | 29 | ||
Bedford Blues | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 180 | 154 | 26 | 3 | 2 | 17 | ||
Cornish Pirates | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 187 | 189 | –2 | 4 | 4 | 16 | ||
Cross Keys | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 119 | 225 | –106 | 2 | 1 | 7 | ||
Source : BBC Updated: 13 December 2014 Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match |
11 October 2014
14:30 |
(2BP) Cross Keys | 32 – 37 | Doncaster Knights (BP) |
---|---|---|
Cross Keys Doncaster |
Pandy Park
Attendance: 401 Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU) |
12 October 2014
15:00 |
(BP) Cornish Pirates | 28 – 34 | Bedford Blues (BP) |
---|---|---|
Pirates Bedford |
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,289 Referee: Andy Rawson (RFU) |
- This match finished with a 35 – 34 victory to Cornish Pirates. However, in the 72nd minute the match went to uncontested scrums as Pirates were unable to provide a front-row replacement for injured prop Tyler Gendall. Pirates should have reduced to 14 men on the pitch, in accordance with the regulations but, instead, Gendall was replaced with fly-half Bertie Hokpin (who scored the winning try) and continued with 15 men. The Organising Committee decided to award the match to Bedford with a 28 – 34 scoreline, the score at the time that the scums went uncontested.[7] Pirates are considering an appeal.[8] Pirates' appeal failed to overturn the decision.[9]
18 October 2014
14:30 |
(BP) Doncaster Knights | 27 – 25 | Cornish Pirates (BP) |
---|---|---|
Doncaster Pirates |
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,374 Referee: Rhys Thomas (WRU) |
18 October 2014
15:00 |
(BP) Bedford Blues | 22 – 23 | Cross Keys |
---|---|---|
Bedford Cross Keys |
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,425 Referee: Stuart Gaffikin (IRFU) |
25 October 2014
14:30 |
(BP) Doncaster Knights | 36 – 20 | Bedford Blues |
---|---|---|
Doncaster Bedford |
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,182 Referee: John Meredith (RFU) |
26 October 2014
15:00 |
(BP) Cornish Pirates | 34 – 33 | Cross Keys (BP) |
---|---|---|
Pirates Cross Keys |
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,320 Referee: Andrew Jackson (RFU) |
28 November 2014
19:45 |
(BP) Bedford Blues | 15 – 17 | Doncaster Knights |
---|---|---|
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,002 Referee: Andrew Small |
28 November 2014
19:45 |
Cross Keys | 21 – 30 | Cornish Pirates (BP) |
---|---|---|
Pandy Park
Attendance: 650 Referee: Sean Gallagher |
6 December 2014
15:00 |
(2BP) Cornish Pirates | 30 – 31 | Doncaster Knights (BP) |
---|---|---|
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,149 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
13 December 2014
14:00 |
(BP) Bedford Blues | 41 – 40 | Cornish Pirates (2BP) |
---|---|---|
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,218 Referee: Matthew O'Grady |
13 December 2014
14:00 |
(BP) Doncaster Knights | 54 – 0 | Cross Keys |
---|---|---|
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,421 Referee: Stuart Graffikin |
Pool 5[]
Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leinster A | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 229 | 115 | 114 | 3 | 1 | 24 | ||
Carmarthen Quins | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 126 | 169 | –43 | 1 | 0 | 17 | ||
Jersey | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 109 | 128 | –19 | 1 | 1 | 10 | ||
Plymouth Albion | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 121 | 173 | –52 | 2 | 3 | 9 | ||
Source : BBC Updated: 13 December 2014 Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match |
11 October 2014
15:00 |
(2 BP) Plymouth Albion | 24 – 31 | Leinster A |
---|---|---|
Plymouth Leinster |
Brickfields
Attendance: 1,047 Referee: David Proctor (RFU) |
17 October 2014
19:30 |
Leinster A | 26 – 6 | Jersey |
---|---|---|
Leinster Jersey |
Donnybrook
Attendance: 720 Referee: Matthew O'Grady (RFU) |
18 October 2014
14:30 |
Carmarthen Quins | 29 – 16 | Plymouth Albion |
---|---|---|
Carmarthen Plymouth |
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 400 Referee: Jamie Leahy (RFU) |
25 October 2014
14:30 |
Carmarthen Quins | 26 – 24 | Leinster A (BP) |
---|---|---|
Carmarthen Leinster |
Carmarthen Park
Attendance: 200 Referee: David Procter (RFU) |
25 October 2014
15:00 |
(BP) Plymouth Albion | 16 – 22 | Jersey |
---|---|---|
Plymouth Jersey |
Brickfields
Attendance: 875 Referee: Greg Macdonald (RFU) |
29 November 2014
13:00 |
(BP) Leinster A | 67 – 12 | Carmarthen Quins |
---|---|---|
Donnybrook
Attendance: 739 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
6 December 2014
15:00 |
(BP) Jersey | 21 – 22 | Leinster A (BP) |
---|---|---|
St Peter
Attendance: 1,695 Referee: Simon Rees |
6 December 2014
15:00 |
(BP) Plymouth Albion | 16 – 18 | Carmarthen Quins |
---|---|---|
Brickfields
Attendance: 1,023 Referee: Nigel Correll |
13 December 2014
14:00 |
(BP) Leinster A | 59 – 26 | Plymouth Albion (BP) |
---|---|---|
Donnybrook
Attendance: 827 Referee: Ben Whitehouse |
Knock-out stage[]
Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
24 January 2015 – Castle Park | ||||||||||
Doncaster Knights | 38 | |||||||||
14 March 2015 – Castle Park | ||||||||||
Munster A | 17 | |||||||||
Doncaster Knights | 27 | |||||||||
23 January 2015 – Ashton Gate | ||||||||||
Bristol | 22 | |||||||||
Bristol | 41 | |||||||||
3 April 2015 – Castle Park | ||||||||||
Yorkshire Carnegie | 28 | |||||||||
Doncaster Knights | 5 | |||||||||
24 January 2015 – Sixways Stadium | ||||||||||
Worcester Warriors | 35 | |||||||||
Worcester Warriors | 24 | |||||||||
13 March 2015 – Sixways Stadium | ||||||||||
Pontypridd | 10 | |||||||||
Worcester Warriors | 15 | |||||||||
24 January 2015 – Clifton Lane | ||||||||||
Leinster A | 13 | |||||||||
Rotherham Titans | 32 | |||||||||
Leinster A | 51 | |||||||||
Quarter-finals[]
23 January 2015
19:45 |
Bristol | 41 – 28 | Yorkshire Carnegie |
---|---|---|
Bristol |
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 3,467 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
24 January 2015
14:00 |
Doncaster Knights | 38 – 17 | Munster A |
---|---|---|
Munster |
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,174 Referee: Dan Jones |
24 January 2015
14:00 |
Rotherham Titans | 32 – 51 | Leinster A |
---|---|---|
Leinster |
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,167 Referee: Craig Evans |
Semi-finals[]
13 March 2015
19:45 |
Worcester Warriors | 15 – 13 | Leinster A |
---|---|---|
Leinster |
Sixways Stadium
Attendance: 3,760 Referee: Craig Evans |
14 March 2015
14:00 |
Doncaster Knights | 27 – 22 | Bristol |
---|---|---|
Bristol |
Castle Park
Attendance: 785 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
Final[]
Total season attendances[]
- Does not include Welsh qualification matches.
Club | Home Games |
Total | Average | Highest | Lowest | % Capacity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aberavon | 3 | 1,530 | 510 | 830 | 250 | 17% |
Bedford Blues | 3 | 6,645 | 2,215 | 2,425 | 2,002 | 37% |
Bristol Rugby | 4 | 21,475 | 5,369 | 7,640 | 3,467 | 25% |
Carmarthen Quins | 3 | 800 | 267 | 400 | 200 | 5% |
Connacht Eagles | 2[n 1] | 459 | 230 | 250 | 209 | 3% |
Cornish Pirates | 3 | 3,758 | 1,253 | 1,320 | 1,149 | 36% |
Cross Keys | 3 | 1,251 | 417 | 650 | 200 | 14% |
Doncaster Knights | 6 | 9,051 | 1,509 | 3,115 | 785 | 30% |
Jersey | 3 | 5,653 | 1,884 | 2,204 | 1,695 | 38% |
Leinster A | 3 | 2,286 | 762 | 827 | 720 | 13% |
London Scottish | 3 | 4,544 | 1,515 | 1,640 | 1,296 | 34% |
Moseley | 3 | 2,677 | 892 | 1,483 | 250 | 30% |
Munster A | 3 | 1,585 | 528 | 600 | 435 | 52% |
Nottingham Rugby | 3 | 2,444 | 815 | 1,119 | 569 | 13% |
Plymouth Albion | 3 | 2,945 | 982 | 1,047 | 875 | 12% |
Pontypridd | 3 | 9,900 | 3,300 | 5,800 | 1,500 | 42% |
Rotherham Titans | 4 | 4,081 | 1,020 | 1,167 | 827 | 41% |
Ulster Ravens | 3 | 1,150 | 383 | 600 | 150 | 19% |
Worcester Warriors | 5 | 26,579 | 5,316 | 6,916 | 3,760 | 44% |
Yorkshire Carnegie | 3 | 1,996 | 665 | 864 | 482 | 36% |
- ^ No attendance found for the game between Connacht Eagles and Pontypridd so Connacht only had 2 home game attendances listed.
Individual statistics[]
- Note if players are tied on tries or points the player with the lowest number of appearances will come first. Also note that points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals.
Top points scorers[]
|
Top try scorers[]
|
Notes[]
- ^ Jersey is listed in the English section because they play in the English RFU Championship.
References[]
- ^ "Scots pull out of B&I Cup". The RUGBYPaper. Greenways Publishing. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ^ "Worcester Warriors win 2014/15 British & Irish Cup final". England Rugby. Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
- ^ a b c "2014-15 British and Irish Cup fixtures". Rugby Week. Archived from the original on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ^ Smart, Chris (31 August 2014). "B&I Cup round-up". The RUGBYPaper. No. 311.
- ^ a b c d e "British & Irish Cup". The RUGBYPaper. No. 325. Rugby Paper Ltd. 7 December 2014. pp. 28–29 & 38.
- ^ a b c d e "British & Irish Cup". The RUGBYPaper. No. 326. Rugby Paper Ltd. 14 December 2014. pp. 28–29 & 38.
- ^ "Cornish Pirates v Bedford Blues". Bedford Blues. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Cornish Pirates To Seek Legal Advice". Cornish Pirates. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Cornish Pirates fail to overturn British & Irish Cup punishment". BBC. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ^ "British & Irish Cup". The RUGBYPaper. No. 332. Rugby Paper Ltd. 25 January 2015. pp. 26–27 & 36.
- ^ "British & Irish Cup 14/15 Leading top scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 5 April 2015.
- ^ "British & Irish Cup 14/15 Leading try scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 5 April 2015.
External links[]
- British and Irish Cup
- 2014–15 rugby union tournaments for clubs
- 2014–15 RFU Championship
- 2014–15 in Irish rugby union
- 2014–15 in Welsh rugby union
- 2014–15 in British rugby union