2017–18 British and Irish Cup

2017–18 British and Irish Cup
Tournament details
Countries  England
Ireland Ireland
 Wales
Tournament format(s) Round-robin and knockout
Date 13 October 2017 — April 2018
Tournament statistics
Teams 20
Matches played 67
Attendance 70,827 (1,057 per match)
Highest Attendance 7,428
Bristol v Doncaster Knights
(22 October 2017)
Lowest Attendance 50
Scarlets PS v Ulster A
(20 January 2018)
Tries scored 454 (6.78 per match)
Top point scorer(s) South Africa Brendan Cope (Jersey)
England Luke Daniels (Ealing)
83 points each
Top try scorer(s) England James Cordy-Redden (Ealing)
Wales Will Harries (Ealing)
7 tries each
Final
Venue Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance 1,386
Champions Ealing Trailfinders (1st title)
Runners-up Leinster A

The 2017–18 British and Irish Cup is the ninth and final season of the annual rugby union competition for second tier, semi-professional clubs from Britain and Ireland. Munster A are the defending champions having won the 2016–17 final against Jersey Reds 29–28 at Irish Independent Park, Cork on 21 April 2017.[1][2] The format of the competition is similar to last season with Scottish clubs not competing. For the third consecutive season the four Welsh teams are the reserve sides of the teams competing in the Pro14 competition instead of clubs from the Welsh Premier Division.

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, progress to the knockout stage. The eight quarter-finalists are ranked, with top four teams having home advantage. The four winning quarter-finalists progress to the semi-final draw. Most of the matches are played on the same weekends as the European Champions Cup and European Challenge Cup. First round matches begin on 13 October 2017 and the final will be held in April 2018.

Participating teams and locations

The allocation of teams is as follows:

  • England – twelve clubs from RFU Championship
  • Ireland – four Irish provinces represented by 'A' teams
  • Wales – four Welsh regions represented by Premiership Select teams.

Pool stages

Key to colours
     Winner of each pool, advance to quarter-finals.
     Three highest-scoring second-place teams advance to quarter-finals.

(Q) denotes the team has qualified for the quarter-finals as the pool winners
(q) denotes team has at least qualified for the quarter-finals as one of the three highest-scoring second-place teams

Pool 1

Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
England Bedford Blues (Q)6501165102633124
Ireland Munster A (Q)650113662741021
England Nottingham6204103157-542111
Wales Ospreys Premiership Select600669152-83022
Source: Updated: 9 March 2018
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

Round 1

14 October 2017
14:30
Ospreys Premiership Select 6–24 Munster A
Report
St Helen's, Swansea
Attendance: 547
Referee: Fergus Kirby
15 October 2017
15:00
(BP) Nottingham 26–38 Bedford Blues (BP)
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,091
Referee: Hamish Smales

[3]

Round 2

20 October 2017
19:45
(BP) Munster A 38–7 Nottingham
Report
Irish Independent Park
Attendance: 200
Referee: Craig Evans
21 October 2017
15:00
(BP) Bedford Blues 43–19 Ospreys Premiership Select
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,360
Referee: Johnny Erskine

[4]

Round 3

8 December 2017
19:45
Munster A 14–25 Bedford Blues
Report
Irish Independent Park
Attendance: 200
Referee: Dudley Phillips
10 December 2017
15:00
Nottingham P–P Ospreys Premiership Select

  • Game postponed due to bad weather (snow). Game to be rescheduled for 9 March 2018.[5]

[6]

Round 4

16 December 2017
14:30
(BP) Ospreys Premiership Select 15 – 17 Nottingham
Report
The Gnoll, Neath
Attendance: 364
Referee: Robert O'Sullivan
16 December 2017
15:00
(BP) Bedford Blues 12 – 16 Munster A
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,206
Referee: Elgan Williams

[7]

Round 5

12 January 2018
19:30
(BP) Ospreys Premiership Select 12 – 15 Bedford Blues
Report
Talbot Athletic Ground, Port Talbot
Attendance: 584
Referee: Robert Sullivan
12 January 2018
19:45
(BP) Nottingham 12 – 17 Munster A
Report
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 923
Referee: Aled Evans

[8]

Round 6

19 January 2018
19:45
Munster A 27 – 0 Ospreys Premiership Select
Report
Irish Independent Park
Attendance: 341
Referee: Neil Chivers
20 January 2018
14:00
(BP) Bedford Blues 32 – 15 Nottingham
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 1,912
Referee: Hamish Smales

[9]

Round 3 (rescheduled game)

9 March 2018
19:45
(BP) Nottingham 26 – 17 Ospreys Premiership Select
Lady Bay Sports Ground
Attendance: 750
Referee: Neil Chivers
  • Game rescheduled from 10 December 2017.

[10]

Pool 2

Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
Ireland Leinster A (Q)6501235141946026
England Doncaster Knights (Q)6402231167645122
England Bristol6303208168404016
Wales Cardiff Blues Premiership Select600683281-198202
Source: Updated: 21 January 2018
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

Round 1

14 October 2017
14:30
Cardiff Blues Premiership Select 7–31 Bristol (BP)
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 2,225
Referee: Johnny Erskine
14 October 2017
14:30
Doncaster Knights 17–41 Leinster A (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 1,173
Referee: Aled Evans

[3]

Round 2

21 October 2017
19:30
(BP) Leinster A 29–10 Cardiff Blues Premiership Select
Report
Donnybrook
Attendance: 1,659
Referee: Karl Dickson
22 October 2017
14:00
Bristol 22–33 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 7,428
Referee: Adam Leal

[4]

Round 3

8 December 2017
19:45
(BP) Bristol 35–46 Leinster A (BP)
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 6,254
Referee: Gareth John
9 December 2017
14:30
(BP) Doncaster Knights 70–12 Cardiff Blues Premiership Select
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 875
Referee: Johnny Erskine

[6]

Round 4

15 December 2017
19:30
(BP) Leinster A 50 – 15 Bristol
Report
Donnybrook
Attendance: 1,400
Referee: Adam Jones
16 December 2017
14:30
(BP) Cardiff Blues Premiership Select 27 – 42 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 200
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe

[7]

Round 5

13 January 2018
14:30
(BP) Cardiff Blues Premiership Select 27 – 41 Leinster A (BP)
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 213
Referee: Adam Leal
13 January 2018
14:30
(2BP) Doncaster Knights 32 – 37 Bristol (BP)
Report
Castle Park
Attendance: 979
Referee: Karl Dickson

[8]

Round 6

19th January 2018
19:45
(BP) Bristol 68 – 0 Cardiff Blues Premiership Select
Report
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 6,150
Referee: Robert O'Sullivan
20th January 2018
14:00
(BP) Leinster A 28 – 37 Doncaster Knights (BP)
Report
Donnybrook
Attendance: 786
Referee: Mike English

[9]

Pool 3

Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
Jersey Jersey Reds (Q)6501215851305126
England Yorkshire Carnegie640213012733019
England London Scottish6303119170-513015
Wales Dragons Premiership Select6006109191-82134
Source: Updated: 20 January 2018
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

Round 1

13 October 2017
19:45
(BP) Jersey Reds 32–3 Yorkshire Carnegie
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 1,216
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
14 October 2017
15:00
(BP) London Scottish 27–20 Dragons Premiership Select (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 808
Referee: Rob O'Sullivan

[3]

Round 2

21 October 2017
14:30
Dragons Premiership Select 7–34 Jersey Reds (BP)
Report
CCB Centre
Attendance: 110
Referee: Nigel Correll
22 October 2017
15:00
Yorkshire Carnegie 19–8 London Scottish
Report
Stacks Field, Ilkley
Attendance: 650
Referee: Sara Cox

[4]

Round 3

9 December 2017
13:30
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 43–22 Dragons Premiership Select (BP)
Report
Laund Hill, Huddersfield
Attendance: 200
Referee: Michael Hudson[11]
9 December 2017
15:00
(BP) Jersey Reds 45–10 London Scottish
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 712
Referee: Jack Makepeace

[6]

Round 4

16 December 2017
14:00
London Scottish 18 – 45 Jersey Reds (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 768
Referee: Fergus Kirby
16 December 2017
15:00
(BP) Dragons Premiership Select 14 – 20 Yorkshire Carnegie
Report
CCB Centre
Attendance: 213
Referee: Johnny Erskine

[7]

Round 5

12 January 2018
19:45
(BP) Jersey Reds 40 – 21 Dragons Premiership Select
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 1,186
Referee: Johnny Erskine
13 January 2018
15:00
(BP) London Scottish 29 – 19 Yorkshire Carnegie
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 879
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe

[8]

Round 6

20 January 2018
14:00
(BP) Dragons Premiership Select 22 – 27 London Scottish (BP)
Report
The Bridge Field, Bedwas
Attendance: 500
Referee: Nigel Correll
20 January 2018
14:00
(BP) Yorkshire Carnegie 26 – 19 Jersey Reds (BP)
Report
Silver Royd, Scarborough
Attendance: 521
Referee: Jack Makepeace

[9]

Pool 4

Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
England Ealing Trailfinders (Q)6600320672536030
England Rotherham Titans6303120151-311013
Ireland Connacht Eagles6204146228-822111
England Richmond610581221-140105
Source: Updated: 20 January 2018
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

Round 1

14 October 2017
14:00
Rotherham Titans 28–23 Connacht Eagles (BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 417
Referee: Elgan Williams
14 October 2017
15:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 67–12 Richmond
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 647
Referee: Sara Cox

[3]

Round 2

21 October 2017
15:00
(BP) Richmond 35–5 Rotherham Titans
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 623
Referee: Mike Hudson
22 October 2017
14:00
Connacht Eagles 14–71 Ealing Trailfinders (BP)
Report
Galway Sportsgrounds
Attendance: 250[12]
Referee: Rhys Thomas

[4]

Round 3

9 December 2017
14:00
Rotherham Titans 10–45 Ealing Trailfinders (BP)
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 289
Referee: Fergus Kirby
9 December 2017
15:00
Richmond 17–38 Connacht Eagles (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 583
Referee: Sara Cox

[6]

Round 4

16 December 2017
15:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 35 – 9 Rotherham Titans
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 407
Referee: Karl Dickson
17 December 2017
14:00
(BP) Connacht Eagles 56 – 7 Richmond
Report
Galway Sportsgrounds
Attendance: 350[13]
Referee: Chris Busby

[7]

Round 5

13 January 2018
14:30
Rotherham Titans 31 – 10 Richmond
Report
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 227
Referee: Mike Hudson
13 January 2018
15:00
(BP) Ealing Trailfinders 78 – 12 Connacht Eagles
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 584
Referee: Dewi Phillips

[8]

Round 6

19 January 2018
19:00
Connacht Eagles 3 – 27 Rotherham Titans (BP)
Report
Corinthian Park
Attendance: 601
Referee: Chris Busby
20 January 2018
14:00
Richmond 0 – 24 Ealing Trailfinders (BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 420
Referee: Christophe Ridley

[9]

Pool 5

Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
Ireland Ulster A (Q)6501143111323023
England Cornish Pirates (Q)640216286763019
Wales Scarlets Premiership Select6204107158-511110
England Hartpury College6105124180-56228
Source: Updated: 3 February 2018
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

Round 1

14 October 2017
14:30
Hartpury College 19–35 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
College Stadium
Attendance: 732
Referee: Joy Neville
14 October 2017
14:30
Ulster A 24–18 Scarlets Premiership Select (BP)
Report
Rifle Park, Banbridge
Attendance: 600
Referee: Karl Dickson

[3]

Round 2

21 October 2017
14:30
Scarlets Premiership Select 24–21 Hartpury College (BP)
Report
Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Attendance: 100
Referee: James Clarke
22 October 2017
14:30
Cornish Pirates 23–14 Ulster A
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 1,074
Referee: Mike English

[4]

Round 3

9 December 2017
14:30
(2BP) Hartpury College 24–29 Ulster A (BP)
Report
College Stadium
Attendance: 375
Referee: Karl Dickson
11 December 2017
17:15
Scarlets Premiership Select 18–10 Cornish Pirates
Report
Talbot Athletic Ground, Aberavon[a 1]
Attendance: 300[7]
Referee: Aled Evans

[6]

Round 4

16 December 2017
14:30
(BP) Ulster A 27 – 19 Hartpury College
Report
Eaton Park, Ballymena
Attendance: 450
Referee: Hamish Smales
17 December 2017
14:30
(BP) Cornish Pirates 38 – 10 Scarlets Premiership Select
Report
Mennaye Field
Attendance: 916
Referee: Adam Leal

Round 5

12 January 2018
17:00
(BP) Ulster A 25 – 14 Cornish Pirates
Report
Shaw's Bridge, Belfast
Attendance: 781
Referee: Elgan Williams
13 January 2018
14:30
(BP) Hartpury College 41 – 24 Scarlets Premiership Select (BP)
Report
College Stadium
Attendance: 736
Referee: Sara Cox

[8]

Round 6

20 January 2018
14:00
Cornish Pirates P – P Hartpury College
Mennaye Field
  • Game postponed due to unplayable pitch caused by bad weather (rain). Game to be rescheduled for 3 February 2018.[15]
20 January 2018
14:00
Scarlets Premiership Select 13 – 24 Ulster A
Report
Church Bank Playing Fields, Llandovery
Attendance: 50
Referee: Fergal Kirby

[9]

Round 6 (rescheduled game)

3 February 2018
14:00
Hartpury College 0 – 41 Cornish Pirates (BP)
Report
College Stadium[a 2]
Attendance: 275
Referee: Aled Evans
  • Game rescheduled from 20 January 2018.

[17]

Knock-out stage

The eight qualifiers are seeded according to performance in the pool stage. The four top seeds hosted the quarter-finals against the lower seeds, in a 1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6 and 4 v 5 format. However, if two teams qualify from the same group they can not be drawn together. Therefore Leinster A cannot be drawn against Doncaster Knights. Teams are ranked by:

1 – competition points (4 for a win, 2 for a draw)
2 – where competition points are equal, greatest number of wins
3 – where the number of wins are equal, aggregate points difference
4 – where the aggregate points difference are equal, greatest number of points scored
Seed Pool winners Pts Wins Pts diff
1England Ealing Trailfinders (Q)306253
2Jersey Jersey Reds (Q)265130
3Ireland Leinster A (Q)26594
4England Bedford Blues24563
5Ireland Ulster A23532
Seed Pool Runners–up Pts Wins Pts diff
6England Doncaster Knights22464
7Ireland Munster A21474
8England Cornish Pirates19476
9England Yorkshire Carnegie1943
10England Rotherham Titans13-31−58
 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
31 March 2018 - Trailfinders Sports Ground
 
 
England Ealing Trailfinders28
 
21 April 2018 - Trailfinders Sports Ground
 
England Cornish Pirates25
 
England Ealing Trailfinders36
 
31 March 2018 - Goldington Road
 
England Bedford Blues16
 
England Bedford Blues16
 
May 2018 - Trailfinders Sports Ground
 
Ireland Ulster A10
 
England Ealing Trailfinders22
 
30 March 2018 - St. Peter
 
Ireland Leinster A7
 
England Jersey Reds 22
 
21 April 2018 - St. Peter
 
England Doncaster Knights19
 
England Jersey Reds 27
 
30 March 2018 - Donnybrook
 
Ireland Leinster A29
 
Ireland Leinster A17
 
 
Ireland Munster A6
 

Quarter-finals

30 March 2018
15:00
Jersey Reds Jersey 22 – 10 England Doncaster Knights
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 1,679
Referee: Joy Neville
30 March 2018
15:00
Leinster A Ireland 17 – 6 Ireland Munster A
Report
Donnybrook
Attendance: 1,405
Referee: Karl Dickson
31 March 2018
15:00
Bedford Blues England 16 – 10 Ireland Ulster A
Report
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,323
Referee: Mike English
31 March 2018
15:00
Ealing Trailfinders England 28 – 25 England Cornish Pirates
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 757
Referee: Christophe Ridley

[18]

Semi-finals

21 April 2018
15:00
Ealing Trailfinders England 36 – 16 England Bedford Blues
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,070
Referee: Christophe Ridley
21 April 2018
15:00
Jersey Reds Jersey 27 – 29 Ireland Leinster A
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 1,837
Referee: Ian Davies

[19]

Final

12 May 2018
14:00
Ealing Trailfinders England 22–7 Ireland Leinster A
Report
Trailfinders Sports Ground
Attendance: 1,386
Referee: Craig Evans

[20]

Attendances

Club Home
matches		 Total Average Highest Lowest % Capacity
England Bedford Blues48,8012,2002,3601,91237%
England Bristol319,8326,6117,4286,15024%
Wales Cardiff Blues Premiership Select32,6388792,22520011%
Ireland Connacht Eagles31,20140060125023%
England Cornish Pirates[a 3]21,9909951,07491625%
England Doncaster Knights33,0271,0091,17387520%
Wales Dragons Premiership Select382327450011019%
England Ealing Trailfinders64,8518091,38640727%
England Hartpury College[a 4]42,11853073627526%
Jersey Jersey Reds56,6301,3261,83771233%
Ireland Leinster A45,2501,3131,65978622%
England London Scottish32,45581887976818%
IrelandMunster A37412473412003%
England Nottingham32,7649211,09175031%
Wales Ospreys Premiership Select31,49549858436413%
England Richmond31,62654262342012%
England Rotherham Titans393331141722712%
Wales Scarlets Premiership Select3450150300504%
Ireland Ulster A31,83161078145055%
England Yorkshire Carnegie31,37145765020030%

[3][4][6][7][8][9][17][10][18][19]

Individual statistics

  • Points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals. Appearance figures also include coming on as substitutes (unused substitutes not included).

Season records

Notes

  1. ↑ Game was originally to be held on 10 December 2017 at Carmarthen Park, Carmarthen but due to safety concerns caused by bad weather (snow) the date and venue was changed.[14]
  2. ↑ Game was originally to be held at Cornish Pirates home ground - the Mennaye Field - but as rain had made the pitch unplayable, and was forecast all weekend, the RFU decided to switch the game to Hartpury's home ground rather than allow the Pirates to play at home on a later date.[16]
  3. ↑ Cornish Pirates only played 2 pool games at home as their final match against Hartpury College, originally at home, was switched to Hartpury's ground as the Pirates pitch was unplayable due to rain.[16]
  4. ↑ Hartpury College played 4 pool games at home as their final match against Cornish Pirates, originally away, was switched to a home game as the Pirates pitch was unplayable due to rain.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "British & Irish Cup". The RUGBYPaper (449). Rugby Paper Ltd. 23 April 2017. pp. 16 & 40.
  2. ↑ "B&I CUP FINAL: MUNSTER A DEFEAT JERSEY REDS 29-28". England Rugby. 21 April 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "British & Irish Cup". The RUGBYPaper (474). Rugby Paper Ltd. 14 October 2017. pp. 28–29 & 40.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "British & Irish Cup". The RUGBYPaper (475). Rugby Paper Ltd. 22 October 2017. pp. 26–27 & 38.
  5. ↑ "Ospreys Game Postponed". Nottingham Rugby. 10 December 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "British & Irish Cup". The RUGBYPaper (482). Rugby Paper Ltd. 10 December 2017. pp. 26–27 & 38.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "British & Irish Cup". The RUGBYPaper (483). Rugby Paper Ltd. 17 December 2017. pp. 26–27 & 38.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "British & Irish Cup". The RUGBYPaper (487). Rugby Paper Ltd. 14 January 2018. pp. 26–27 & 38.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "British & Irish Cup". The RUGBYPaper (488). Rugby Paper Ltd. 21 January 2018. pp. 26–27 & 38.
  10. 1 2 "British & Irish Cup". The RUGBYPaper (495). Rugby Paper Ltd. 11 March 2018. pp. 28 & 38.
  11. ↑ "REFEREES TO 10 DECEMBER 2017". Rugby 365. 5 December 2017.
  12. ↑ "British & Irish Cup". The RUGBYPaper (476). Rugby Paper Ltd. 29 October 2017. p. 38.
  13. ↑ "British & Irish Cup". The RUGBYPaper (484). Rugby Paper Ltd. 24 December 2017. p. 34.
  14. ↑ "BIC CLASH POSTPONED & RE-ARRANGED". Scarlets. 10 December 2017.
  15. ↑ "Cornish Pirates vs Hartpury RFC POSTPONED!". Cornish Pirates. 20 January 2018.
  16. 1 2 3 "Cornish Pirates Cup Tie Switched to Hartpury". Cornish Pirates. 2 February 2018.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "British & Irish Cup". The RUGBYPaper (490). Rugby Paper Ltd. 4 February 2018. pp. 30 & 38.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "British & Irish Cup". The RUGBYPaper (498). Rugby Paper Ltd. 1 April 2018. pp. 18–19 & 32.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "British & Irish Cup". The RUGBYPaper (501). Rugby Paper Ltd. 22 April 2018. pp. 18 & 34.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "British & Irish Cup". The RUGBYPaper (504). Rugby Paper Ltd. 13 May 2018. pp. 24 & 30.
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