The Premiership Rugby Club brings together the men's Premiership and Championship sides in a competition that is a hotbed for future rugby talent
You may at times find yourself wondering what professional men’s rugby clubs in England do to pass the time when international rugby is raging on in the foreground. Well, the answer is pretty simple, they are playing in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
The competition is primarily played during international windows and allows clubs to test promising young talent in professional men’s rugby for the first time.
Over the years we have seen the likes of Henry Pollock, Tom Willis and Max Malins emerge as stars for their club sides before going on to face the rest of the rugby world.
Watch the videoIt has also had a few different names. Previously known as the John Player Cup, Pilkington Cup, Tetley’s Bitter Cup, Powergen Cup, EDF Energy Trophy, LV= Cup and the Anglo-Welsh Cup before being rebranded yet again in 2018 after all four Welsh provinces finished at the foot of their pools the season prior.
Read more: Where can I watch the 2025 men’s Six Nations?
Northampton Saints were winners of the new-fangled 12-team competition which ran for another season before taking a year off to allow the rugby calendar to realign itself after the Covid-19 pandemic had the sport in disarray.
In 2023 the Premiership Rugby Cup expanded to include teams from the RFU Championship, but in the summer controversially cut Chinnor and Cambridge – with the two aggrieved side’s playing out a two leg “Not The Prem Cup” clash out of protest.
The 20 clubs competing have been divided into five regional pools of four teams and each play six games, three home and three away.
At the end of all these matches the group winners and three best-placed runners up then progress to the semi-finals and battle it out to play in the mid-March final.
Premiership Rugby Cup winners
Gloucester players lift the Premiership Cup in 2024. (Photo by Bob Bradford – CameraSport via Getty Images)
2019 – Northampton Saints
2020 – Sale Sharks
2021 – Competition not held
2022 – Worcester Warriors
2023 – Exeter Chiefs
2024 – Gloucester Rugby
Premiership Rugby Cup fixtures
Friday 14 February
- Nottingham v Northampton Saints
Lady Bay Sports Ground, Nottingham
Kick-off: 7.45pm GMT / 9.45pm SAST / 6.45am AEDT (Saturday) / 8.45am NZDT (Saturday) / 2.45pm ET / 11.45am PT
Saturday 15 February
- Ampthill v Bedford Blues
Dillingham Park, Ampthill
Kick-off: 2pm GMT / 4pm SAST / 1am AEDT (Sunday) / 3am NZDT (Sunday) / 9am ET / 6am PT
- Cornish Pirates v Hartpury RFC
Mennaye Field, Penzance
Kick-off: 2.30pm GMT / 4.30pm SAST / 1.30am AEDT (Sunday) / 3.30am NZDT (Sunday) / 9.30am ET / 6.30am PT
- Doncaster Knights v Caldy
Castle Park, Doncaster
Kick-off: 2.30pm GMT / 4.30pm SAST / 1.30am AEDT (Sunday) / 3.30am NZDT (Sunday) / 9.30am ET / 6.30am PT
- Bristol Bears v Bath Rugby
Ashton Gate, Bristol
Kick-off: 3pm GMT / 5pm SAST / 2am AEDT (Sunday) / 4am NZDT (Sunday) / 10am ET / 7am PT
- Coventry Rugby v Leicester Tigers
Butts Park Arena, Coventry
Kick-off: 3pm GMT / 5pm SAST / 2am AEDT (Sunday) / 4am NZDT (Sunday) / 10am ET / 7am PT
- Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester Rugby
Sandy Park, Exeter
Kick-off: 3pm GMT / 5pm SAST / 2am AEDT (Sunday) / 4am NZDT (Sunday) / 10am ET / 7am PT
- London Scottish v Ealing Trailfinders
Richmond Athletic Ground, London
Kick-off: 3pm GMT / 5pm SAST / 2am AEDT (Sunday) / 4am NZDT (Sunday) / 10am ET / 7am PT
- Harlequins v Saracens
Twickenham Stoop, London
Kick-off: 3.05pm GMT / 5.05pm SAST / 2.05am AEDT (Sunday) / 4.05am NZDT (Sunday) / 10.05am ET / 7.05am PT
Sunday 16 February
- Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons
Salford Community Stadium, Salford
Kick-off: 3pm GMT / 5pm SAST / 2am AEDT (Monday) / 4am NZDT (Monday) / 10am ET / 7am PT
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