Anglo-Welsh Cup kicks off, but nobody cares

Friday 6 November 2009
Published By: Ben Welch
LV= Cup > Ospreys

The pointless Anglo-Welsh Cup got underway with a whimper last night, with Ospreys defeated by Northampton.

An already low-profile tournament - the EDF Energy Cup - has been downgraded this year to a status barely above that of a friendly competition between English and Welsh clubs.

With matches only being held on international weekends, the cup clearly exists simply for the sake of having a domestic format so sides from the two nations can compete.

And the fact that Ospreys had 12 players on duty for their countries and a further 17 out through injury will hardly have helped to raise the profile.

A Heineken Cup place is on offer if the winner of the tournament happens to be English, but those from the Welsh regions have nothing to play for other than a chance to impress coaches - and that really isn't going to lead to the "exciting and hard fought" competition Rugby Football Union chief executive Francis Baron has promised.