The draw for the 2016/17 British & Irish Cup has taken place, and London Scottish are in Pool One alongside Jersey Reds, Ulster ‘A’ and Cardiff Blues Premiership Select as the cross-border competition enters its eighth year.
Last year the Scots won four of their six pool matches but narrowly missed out on the knockout stages, and will look to go one further this year and reach the quarter finals for the first time.
Scottish open their campaign with a trip to the Welsh capital to face Cardiff Blues Premiership Select on the weekend of the 14/15/16 October, before welcoming Ulster ‘A’ to the Athletic Ground a week later.
The Scots then face back-to-back fixtures against Jersey Reds in the lead up to Christmas. The Islanders head to Richmond on the 9th/10th/11th December, with the return fixture the following weekend.
The pool stages will be rounded off in January with a trip to Belfast to face Ulster ‘A’ on January 13th/14th/15th, and the final Pool One match sees the Scots host Cardiff Blues Premiership Select on January 20/21/22.
Exact kick-off dates and times will be confirmed soon.
British & Irish Cup 2016/17 Pools:
Pool 1
Jersey Reds
London Scottish
Ulster ‘A’
Cardiff Blues Premiership Select
Pool 2
London Welsh
Doncaster Knights
Munster ‘A’
Rotherham Titans
Pool 3
Cornish Pirates
London Irish
Ospreys Premiership Select
Connacht Eagles
Pool 4
Leinster ‘A’
Scarlets Premiership Select
Nottingham Rugby
Richmond
Pool 5
Yorkshire Carnegie
Bedford Blues
Dragons Premiership Select
Ealing Trailfinders
Fixtures:
Round 1 – October 14/15/16
Pool 1: Ulster ‘A’ v Jersey Reds
Pool 1: Cardiff Blues Premiership Select v London Scottish
Round 2 – October 21/22/23
Pool 1: Jersey Reds v Cardiff Blues Premiership Select
Pool 1: London Scottish v Ulster ‘A’
Round 3 – December 9/10/11
Pool 1: London Scottish v Jersey Reds
Pool 1: Ulster ‘A’ v Cardiff Blues Premiership Select
Round 4 – December 16/17/18
Pool 1: Jersey Reds v London Scottish
Pool 1: Cardiff Blues Premiership Select vUlster 'A'
Round 5 – January 13/14/15
Pool 1: Ulster 'A' v London Scottish
Pool 1: Cardiff Blues Premiership Select v Jersey Reds
Round 6 – January 20/21/22
Pool 1: Jersey Reds v Ulster 'A'
Pool 1: London Scottish v Cardiff Blues Premiership Select
Quarter-finals: March 10/11/12
Semi-finals: March 31/April 1/April 2
Final: April 22