2009–10 British and Irish Cup

The 2009–10 British and Irish Cup was the first season of the annual rugby union competition for second tier, semi-professional clubs from Britain and Ireland. First round matches began on Friday 20 November 2009 and the final was held on Sunday 16 May 2010.

2009–10 British and Irish Cup
Tournament details
Countries England
Ireland Ireland
 Scotland
 Wales
Tournament format(s)Round-robin and knockout
DateNovember 2009 – May 2010
Tournament statistics
Teams24
Matches played63
Attendance103,545 (1,644 per match)
Tries scored321 (5.1 per match)
Final
VenueRecreation Ground, Camborne
Attendance4,240
ChampionsEngland Cornish Pirates (1st title)
Runners-upIreland Munster A
← 2008-09 (Previous)
(Next) 2010–11 →

The first competition was heavily criticised, with one reporter describing it as 'dismal'.[1]

A total of 24 teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales competed in the inaugural competition. Cornish Pirates lifted the cup, defeating Munster A 23–14 in the final.

Teams

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The allocation of teams was as follows:

  England   Ireland   Scotland   Wales

Competition format

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The teams were divided into four pools of six, playing over five weekends during the Autumn International and Six Nations windows. The four pool winners contested a knock-out stage, with semi-finals on 24 and 25 April and the final on 16 May.[2][3]

Pool stages

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Pool A

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Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T TB LB Pts
  Cornish Pirates 5 4 0 1 112 66 +46 15 2 1 19
  Leinster A 5 4 0 1 89 65 +24 9 1 1 18
  Newport 5 3 1 1 81 54 +27 10 1 1 16
  Exeter Chiefs 5 2 0 3 82 82 0 12 1 1 10
  Plymouth Albion 5 1 1 3 55 58 −3 5 0 2 8
  Gael Force 5 0 0 5 35 129 −94 6 1 0 1
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 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
20 November 2009
19:30
Newport  21 – 14  Exeter
Stats
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 798

21 November 2009
16:30
Plymouth Albion  13 – 16  Leinster A
Stats
Brickfields Stadium
Attendance: 2,208

22 November 2009
14:00
Cornish Pirates  29 – 8  Gael Force
Stats
Camborne Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,370

27 November 2009
16:00
Leinster A  12 – 10  Cornish Pirates
Stats
Donnybrook
Attendance: 1,670

27 November 2009
19:30
Newport  3 – 3  Plymouth Albion
Stats
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 593

28 November 2009
15:00
Exeter  15 – 0  Gael Force
Stats
Sandy Park
Attendance: 2,478

12 February 2010
19:30
Newport  27 – 5  Gael Force
Stats
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 705

13 February 2010
15:00
Exeter  10 – 22  Leinster A
Stats
Sandy Park
Attendance: 3,505

13 February 2010
15:00
Plymouth Albion  9 – 13  Cornish Pirates
Stats
Brickfields Stadium
Attendance: 2,413

26 February 2010
18:00
Leinster A  6 – 10  Newport
Stats
Donnybrook
Attendance: 780

26 February 2010
19:00
Gael Force  0 – 25  Plymouth Albion
Stats
Bridgehaugh, Stirling
Attendance: 69

28 February 2010
14:00
Cornish Pirates  34 – 17  Exeter
Stats
Camborne Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,564

6 March 2010
15:00
Plymouth Albion  5 – 26  Exeter
Stats
Brickfields Stadium
Attendance: 2,766

7 March 2010
15:00
Cornish Pirates  26 – 20  Newport
Stats
Camborne Recreation Ground
Attendance: 3,650

10 March 2010
19:00
Gael Force  22 – 33  Leinster A
Stats
Bridgehaugh, Stirling
Attendance: 300

Pool B

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Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T TB LB Pts
  Munster A 5 5 0 0 111 41 +70 14 2 0 22
  Bristol 5 4 0 1 122 74 +48 14 2 0 18
  Nottingham 5 3 0 2 81 59 +22 11 1 1 14
  Neath 5 2 0 3 93 98 −5 12 2 1 11
  Coventry 5 1 0 4 126 144 −18 20 2 2 8
  Heriot's FP 5 0 0 5 54 171 −117 7 0 1 1
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 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
20 November 2009
19:30
Neath  11 – 18  Bristol
Stats
The Gnoll
Attendance: 1,500

20 November 2009
19:45
Coventry  13 – 20  Munster A
Stats
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 2,066

21 November 2009
15:00
Heriot's FP  0 – 5  Nottingham
Stats
Goldenacre
Attendance: 650

27 November 2009
19:30
Munster A  18 – 6  Bristol
Stats
Nenagh RFC
Attendance: 1,200

27 November 2009
19:45
Coventry  57 – 12  Heriot's FP
Stats
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 806

29 November 2009
15:00
Nottingham  14 – 3  Neath
Stats
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 2,087

12 February 2010
19:00
Munster A  18 – 3  Nottingham
Stats
Waterford RSC
Attendance: 3,500

13 February 2010
14:00
Bristol  40 – 15  Coventry
Stats
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,461

14 February 2010
14:00
Heriot's FP  21 – 38  Neath
Stats
Goldenacre
Attendance: 500

27 February 2010
14:00
Neath  12 – 21  Munster A
Stats
The Gnoll
Attendance: 1,250

28 February 2010
14:00
Bristol  37 – 14  Heriot's FP
Stats
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,521

28 February 2010
15:00
Nottingham  43 – 17  Coventry
Stats
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,263

6 March 2010
14:00
Neath  29 – 24  Coventry
Stats
The Gnoll
Attendance: 1,000

7 March 2010
15:00
Nottingham  16 – 21  Bristol
Stats
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,046

12 March 2010
19:30
Munster A  34 – 7  Heriot's FP
Stats
Musgrave Park

Pool C

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Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T TB LB Pts
  Ulster Ravens 5 4 1 0 165 62 +103 22 3 0 21
  London Welsh 5 4 0 1 137 78 +59 18 3 1 20
  Bedford Blues 5 3 0 2 92 94 −2 11 1 0 13
  Aberavon 5 2 0 3 51 131 −80 4 0 1 9
  Llanelli 5 1 1 3 106 117 −11 11 1 1 8
  Moseley 5 0 0 5 69 138 −69 10 1 0 1
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 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
20 November 2009
19:15
Llanelli  16 – 19  Aberavon
Stats
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 600

20 November 2009
19:30
Moseley  27 – 38  London Welsh
Stats
Billesley Common
Attendance: 563

20 November 2009
19:30
Ulster Ravens  29 – 3  Bedford Blues
Stats
Ravenhill
Attendance: 1,132

27 November 2009
19:15
Aberavon  7 – 36  London Welsh
Stats
Talbot Athletic Ground
Attendance: 712

27 November 2009
19:30
Moseley  21 – 32  Ulster Ravens
Stats
Billesley Common
Attendance: 750

28 November 2009
15:00
Bedford Blues  36 – 24  Llanelli
Stats
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,553

12 February 2010
19:15
Llanelli  21 – 21  Ulster Ravens
Stats
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 500

13 February 2010
14:00
London Welsh  26 – 13  Bedford Blues
Stats
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 810

23 February 2010
19:30
Aberavon  10 – 0  Moseley
Stats
Talbot Athletic Ground
Attendance: 362

26 February 2010
19:30
Ulster Ravens  21 – 17  London Welsh
Stats
Ravenhill
Attendance: 739

27 February 2010
14:00
Bedford Blues  17 – 15  Aberavon
Stats
Goldington Road
Attendance: 1,230

27 February 2010
14:30
Llanelli  35 – 21  Moseley
Stats
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 580

5 March 2010
19:30
Moseley  0 – 23  Bedford Blues
Stats
Billesley Common
Attendance: 520

6 March 2010
14:00
London Welsh  20 – 10  Llanelli
Stats
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,650

12 March 2010
19:30
Ulster Ravens  62 – 0  Aberavon
Stats
Ravenhill
Attendance: 793

Pool D

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Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T TB LB Pts
  Doncaster 5 5 0 0 163 58 +105 22 5 0 25
  Cardiff 5 4 0 1 147 124 +23 20 3 0 19
  Rotherham 5 2 0 3 147 127 +20 19 3 1 12
  Ayr 5 2 0 3 132 111 +21 14 1 2 11
  Pontypridd 5 2 0 3 99 124 −25 12 1 1 10
  Birmingham & Solihull 5 0 0 5 76 220 −144 9 0 1 1
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 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
20 November 2009
19:15
Pontypridd  16 – 22  Cardiff
Stats
Sardis Road
Attendance: 921

21 November 2009
14:00
Rotherham  52 – 10  Birmingham & Solihull
Stats
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 876

22 November 2009
14:00
Doncaster  32 – 7  Ayr
Stats
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,496

27 November 2009
20:00
Ayr  28 – 13  Rotherham
Stats
Millbrae
Attendance: 1,370

28 November 2009
14:00
Birmingham & Solihull  20 – 51  Cardiff
Stats
Sharmans Cross Road
Attendance: 377

13 February 2010
14:00
Rotherham  33 – 23  Pontypridd
Stats
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 789

13 February 2010
16:00
Ayr  49 – 14  Birmingham & Solihull
Stats
Millbrae
Attendance: 780

14 February 2010
15:00
Doncaster  34 – 10  Cardiff
Stats
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,124

27 February 2010
14:00
Cardiff  34 – 27  Rotherham
Stats
Cardiff Arms Park

27 February 2010
14:00
Doncaster  41 – 8  Birmingham & Solihull
Stats
Castle Park
Attendance: 783

27 February 2010
15:00
Ayr  21 – 22  Pontypridd
Stats
Millbrae
Attendance: 1,290

3 March 2010
19:30
Pontypridd  11 – 24  Doncaster
Stats
Sardis Road

6 March 2010
14:00
Rotherham  22 – 32  Doncaster
Stats
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,427


6 March 2010
14:30
Cardiff  30 – 27  Ayr
Stats
Cardiff Arms Park

Knock-out stages

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Qualifiers

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The four pool winners proceeded to the knock out stages.

Grp Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T TB LB Pts
D   Doncaster 5 5 0 0 163 58 +105 22 5 0 25
B   Munster A 5 5 0 0 111 41 +70 14 2 0 22
C   Ulster Ravens 5 4 1 0 165 62 +103 22 3 0 21
A   Cornish Pirates 5 4 0 1 112 66 +46 15 2 1 19
Source: [citation needed]
 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
25 April 2010 - Camborne
 
 
  Cornish Pirates 43
 
16 May 2010 - Camborne
 
  Doncaster 5
 
  Cornish Pirates 23
 
24 April 2010 - Thomond Park
 
  Munster A 14
 
  Munster A 27
 
 
  Ulster Ravens 3
 

Semi-finals

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24 April 2010
15:30
Munster A  27 – 3  Ulster Ravens
Try: J Manning (2), D Williams, S Archer
Con: D Cusack (2/4)
Pen: D Cusack (1)
Report
Stats
Pen: J McKinney (1)
Thomond Park, Limerick
Attendance: 24,112

25 April 2010
15:00
Cornish Pirates  43 – 5  Doncaster
Try: Davies, Bentley, Morgan, Cattle, Jackson, McGlone
Con: Bently (5/6)
Pen: Bently
ReportTry: Armitage
Recreation Ground, Camborne
Attendance: 2,327
Referee: Llyr Ap Geraint Roberts

Final

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16 May 2010
18:00
Cornish Pirates  23 – 14  Munster A
Try: Winn, McAtee
Con: Bentley (2/2)
Pen: Bentley (3)
Report
Stats
Try: Barnes
Pen: Cusack (3)
Recreation Ground, Camborne
Attendance: 4,240
Referee:   Leighton Hodges

Geography

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Team Stadium Capacity City/Area/Country
  Aberavon Talbot Athletic Ground 3,000 Aberavon, Neath Port Talbot, Wales
  Ayr Millbrae Unknown Alloway, South Ayrshire, Scotland
  Bedford Blues Goldington Road 4,684 Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
  Birmingham & Solihull Sharmans Cross Road 3,500 Solihull, West Midlands, England
  Bristol Memorial Stadium 12,100 Bristol, England
  Cardiff Cardiff Arms Park 13,500 Cardiff, Wales
  Cornish Pirates Recreation Ground 9,000 Camborne, Cornwall, England
  Coventry Butts Park Arena 4,000 Coventry, West Midlands, England
  Doncaster Castle Park 3,075 Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England
  Exeter Chiefs Sandy Park 7,300 (10,744 by the end of the season) Exeter, Devon, England
  Gael Force Bridgehaugh 4,000 Stirling, Scotland
  Heriot's FP Goldenacre Unknown Edinburgh, Scotland
  Leinster A Donnybrook 7,000 Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
  Llanelli Parc y Scarlets 14,870 Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales
  London Welsh Old Deer Park 5,850 London, England
  Moseley Billesley Common 3,000+ (650 seated) Birmingham, West Midlands, England
  Munster A Musgrave Park 8,300 Cork, County Cork, Ireland
  Neath The Gnoll 7,500 Neath, Neath Port Talbot, Wales
  Newport Rodney Parade 10,500 Newport, Wales
  Nottingham Meadow Lane 19,588 Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
  Plymouth Albion The Brickfields 6,500 Plymouth, Devon, England
  Pontypridd Sardis Road 7,861 Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales
  Rotherham Clifton Lane 2,500 Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England
  Ulster Ravens Ravenhill Stadium 12,125 Belfast, Ulster, Northern Ireland

References

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  1. ^ Brian Dick (25 February 2010). "Taxing times for clubs struggling in rugby's Championship". Birmingham Post. Archived from the original on 3 November 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  2. ^ "New British & Irish Cup announced". RTÉ Sport. 6 May 2009. Archived from the original on 9 May 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
  3. ^ "Home unions devise British & Irish Cup". The Daily Telegraph. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
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