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

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.

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

The allocation of teams was as follows:

England England Ireland Ireland Scotland Scotland Wales Wales

Competition format

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

Pool A

Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TB LB Pts
England Cornish Pirates 54011126646152119
Ireland Leinster A 540189652491118
Wales Newport 5311815427101116
England Exeter Chiefs 520382820121110
England Plymouth Albion 51135558-35028
Scotland Gael Force 500535129-946101
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
20 November 2009
19:30
Newport Wales21 14England Exeter
Stats
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 798

21 November 2009
16:30
Plymouth Albion England13 16Ireland Leinster A
Stats
Brickfields Stadium
Attendance: 2,208

22 November 2009
14:00
Cornish Pirates England29 8Scotland Gael Force
Stats
Camborne Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,370

27 November 2009
16:00
Leinster A Ireland12 10England Cornish Pirates
Stats
Donnybrook
Attendance: 1,670

27 November 2009
19:30
Newport Wales3 3England Plymouth Albion
Stats
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 593

28 November 2009
15:00
Exeter England15 0Scotland Gael Force
Stats
Sandy Park
Attendance: 2,478

12 February 2010
19:30
Newport Wales27 5Scotland Gael Force
Stats
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 705

13 February 2010
15:00
Exeter England10 22Ireland Leinster A
Stats
Sandy Park
Attendance: 3,505

13 February 2010
15:00
Plymouth Albion England9 13England Cornish Pirates
Stats
Brickfields Stadium
Attendance: 2,413

26 February 2010
18:00
Leinster A Ireland6 10Wales Newport
Stats
Donnybrook
Attendance: 780

26 February 2010
19:00
Gael Force Scotland0 25England Plymouth Albion
Stats
Bridgehaugh, Stirling
Attendance: 69

28 February 2010
14:00
Cornish Pirates England34 17England Exeter
Stats
Camborne Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,564

6 March 2010
15:00
Plymouth Albion England5 26England Exeter
Stats
Brickfields Stadium
Attendance: 2,766

7 March 2010
15:00
Cornish Pirates England26 20Wales Newport
Stats
Camborne Recreation Ground
Attendance: 3,650

10 March 2010
19:00
Gael Force Scotland22 33Ireland Leinster A
Stats
Bridgehaugh, Stirling
Attendance: 300

Pool B

Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TB LB Pts
Ireland Munster A 55001114170142022
England Bristol 54011227448142018
England Nottingham 5302815922111114
Wales Neath 52039398-5122111
England Coventry 5104126144-1820228
Scotland Heriot's FP 500554171-1177011
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
20 November 2009
19:30
Neath Wales11 18England Bristol
Stats
The Gnoll
Attendance: 1,500

20 November 2009
19:45
Coventry England13 20Ireland Munster A
Stats
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 2,066

21 November 2009
15:00
Heriot's FP Scotland0 5England Nottingham
Stats
Goldenacre
Attendance: 650

27 November 2009
19:30
Munster A Ireland18 6England Bristol
Stats
Nenagh RFC
Attendance: 1,200

27 November 2009
19:45
Coventry England57 12Scotland Heriot's FP
Stats
Butts Park Arena
Attendance: 806

29 November 2009
15:00
Nottingham England14 3Wales Neath
Stats
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 2,087

12 February 2010
19:00
Munster A Ireland18 3England Nottingham
Stats
Waterford RSC
Attendance: 3,500

13 February 2010
14:00
Bristol England40 15England Coventry
Stats
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,461

14 February 2010
14:00
Heriot's FP Scotland21 38Wales Neath
Stats
Goldenacre
Attendance: 500

27 February 2010
14:00
Neath Wales12 21Ireland Munster A
Stats
The Gnoll
Attendance: 1,250

28 February 2010
14:00
Bristol England37 14Scotland Heriot's FP
Stats
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,521

28 February 2010
15:00
Nottingham England43 17England Coventry
Stats
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,263

6 March 2010
14:00
Neath Wales29 24England Coventry
Stats
The Gnoll
Attendance: 1,000

7 March 2010
15:00
Nottingham England16 21England Bristol
Stats
Meadow Lane
Attendance: 1,046

12 March 2010
19:30
Munster A Ireland34 7Scotland Heriot's FP
Stats
Musgrave Park

Pool C

Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TB LB Pts
Ireland Ulster Ravens 541016562103223021
England London Welsh 54011377859183120
England Bedford Blues 53029294-2111013
Wales Aberavon 520351131-804019
Wales Llanelli 5113106117-1111118
England Moseley 500569138-6910101
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
20 November 2009
19:15
Llanelli Wales16 19Wales Aberavon
Stats
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 600

20 November 2009
19:30
Moseley England27 38England London Welsh
Stats
Billesley Common
Attendance: 563

20 November 2009
19:30
Ulster Ravens Ireland29 3England Bedford Blues
Stats
Ravenhill
Attendance: 1,132

27 November 2009
19:15
Aberavon Wales7 36England London Welsh
Stats
Talbot Athletic Ground
Attendance: 712

27 November 2009
19:30
Moseley England21 32Ireland Ulster Ravens
Stats
Billesley Common
Attendance: 750

28 November 2009
15:00
Bedford Blues England36 24Wales Llanelli
Stats
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,553

12 February 2010
19:15
Llanelli Wales21 21Ireland Ulster Ravens
Stats
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 500

13 February 2010
14:00
London Welsh England26 13England Bedford Blues
Stats
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 810

23 February 2010
19:30
Aberavon Wales10 0England Moseley
Stats
Talbot Athletic Ground
Attendance: 362

26 February 2010
19:30
Ulster Ravens Ireland21 17England London Welsh
Stats
Ravenhill
Attendance: 739

27 February 2010
14:00
Bedford Blues England17 15Wales Aberavon
Stats
Goldington Road
Attendance: 1,230

27 February 2010
14:30
Llanelli Wales35 21England Moseley
Stats
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 580

5 March 2010
19:30
Moseley England0 23England Bedford Blues
Stats
Billesley Common
Attendance: 520

6 March 2010
14:00
London Welsh England20 10Wales Llanelli
Stats
Old Deer Park
Attendance: 1,650

12 March 2010
19:30
Ulster Ravens Ireland62 0Wales Aberavon
Stats
Ravenhill
Attendance: 793

Pool D

Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TB LB Pts
England Doncaster 550016358105225025
Wales Cardiff 540114712423203019
England Rotherham 520314712720193112
Scotland Ayr 520313211121141211
Wales Pontypridd 520399124-25121110
England Birmingham & Solihull 500576220-1449011
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
20 November 2009
19:15
Pontypridd Wales16 22Wales Cardiff
Stats
Sardis Road
Attendance: 921

21 November 2009
14:00
Rotherham England52 10England Birmingham & Solihull
Stats
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 876

22 November 2009
14:00
Doncaster England32 7Scotland Ayr
Stats
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,496

27 November 2009
20:00
Ayr Scotland28 13England Rotherham
Stats
Millbrae
Attendance: 1,370

28 November 2009
14:00
Birmingham & Solihull England20 51Wales Cardiff
Stats
Sharmans Cross Road
Attendance: 377

13 February 2010
14:00
Rotherham England33 23Wales Pontypridd
Stats
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 789

13 February 2010
16:00
Ayr Scotland49 14England Birmingham & Solihull
Stats
Millbrae
Attendance: 780

14 February 2010
15:00
Doncaster England34 10Wales Cardiff
Stats
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,124

27 February 2010
14:00
Cardiff Wales34 27England Rotherham
Stats
Cardiff Arms Park

27 February 2010
14:00
Doncaster England41 8England Birmingham & Solihull
Stats
Castle Park
Attendance: 783

27 February 2010
15:00
Ayr Scotland21 22Wales Pontypridd
Stats
Millbrae
Attendance: 1,290

3 March 2010
19:30
Pontypridd Wales11 24England Doncaster
Stats
Sardis Road

6 March 2010
14:00
Rotherham England22 32England Doncaster
Stats
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,427


6 March 2010
14:30
Cardiff Wales30 27Scotland Ayr
Stats
Cardiff Arms Park

Knock-out stages

Qualifiers

The four pool winners proceeded to the knock out stages.

Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TB LB Pts
Pool D WinnerEngland Doncaster 550016358105225025
Pool B WinnerIreland Munster A 55001114170142022
Pool C WinnerIreland Ulster Ravens 541016562103223021
Pool A WinnerEngland Cornish Pirates 54011126646152119
 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
25 April 2010 - Camborne
 
 
England Cornish Pirates 43
 
16 May 2010 - Camborne
 
England Doncaster 5
 
England Cornish Pirates 23
 
24 April 2010 - Thomond Park
 
Ireland Munster A 14
 
Ireland Munster A 27
 
 
Ireland Ulster Ravens 3
 

Semi-finals

24 April 2010
15:30
Munster A Ireland27 3Ireland 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 England43 5England 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

16 May 2010
18:00
Cornish Pirates England23 14Ireland 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: Wales Leighton Hodges

Geography

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

References

  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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