# 2009–10 British and Irish Cup

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'.
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:
* – 12 teams from the RFU Championship
* – 3 Irish provinces represented by 'A' teams
* – 3 Scottish sides, 2 top clubs from the Scottish Premiership and Gael Force, a side made up of a combination of National Academy players
* – 6 top clubs from the Principality Premiership
| England | Ireland | Scotland | Wales |
| Bedford Blues Birmingham & Solihull Bristol Cornish Pirates Coventry Doncaster Exeter Chiefs London Welsh Moseley Nottingham Plymouth Albion Rotherham | Leinster A Munster A Ulster Ravens | Ayr Heriot's FP Gael Force | Aberavon Cardiff Llanelli Neath Newport Pontypridd |

## 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.

## Pool stages
### Pool A

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | T | TB | LB | Pts |
| Cornish Pirates | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 112 | 66 | +46 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 19 |
| Leinster A | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 89 | 65 | +24 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 18 |
| Newport | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 81 | 54 | +27 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 16 |
| Exeter Chiefs | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 82 | 82 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Plymouth Albion | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 55 | 58 | −3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Gael Force | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 35 | 129 | −94 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
* 20 November 2009 19:30
| Newport | 21 – 14 | Exeter |
| | Stats | |
* Rodney Parade Attendance: 798
* 21 November 2009 16:30
| Plymouth Albion | 13 – 16 | Leinster A |
| | Stats | |
* Brickfields Stadium Attendance: 2,208
* 22 November 2009 14:00
| Cornish Pirates | 29 – 8 | Gael Force |
| | Stats | |
* Camborne Recreation Ground Attendance: 2,370
* 27 November 2009 16:00
| Leinster A | 12 – 10 | Cornish Pirates |
| | Stats | |
* Donnybrook Attendance: 1,670
* 27 November 2009 19:30
| Newport | 3 – 3 | Plymouth Albion |
| | Stats | |
* Rodney Parade Attendance: 593
* 28 November 2009 15:00
| Exeter | 15 – 0 | Gael Force |
| | Stats | |
* Sandy Park Attendance: 2,478
* 12 February 2010 19:30
| Newport | 27 – 5 | Gael Force |
| | Stats | |
* Rodney Parade Attendance: 705
* 13 February 2010 15:00
| Exeter | 10 – 22 | Leinster A |
| | Stats | |
* Sandy Park Attendance: 3,505
* 13 February 2010 15:00
| Plymouth Albion | 9 – 13 | Cornish Pirates |
| | Stats | |
* Brickfields Stadium Attendance: 2,413
* 26 February 2010 18:00
| Leinster A | 6 – 10 | Newport |
| | Stats | |
* Donnybrook Attendance: 780
* 26 February 2010 19:00
| Gael Force | 0 – 25 | Plymouth Albion |
| | Stats | |
* Bridgehaugh, Stirling Attendance: 69
* 28 February 2010 14:00
| Cornish Pirates | 34 – 17 | Exeter |
| | Stats | |
* Camborne Recreation Ground Attendance: 2,564
* 6 March 2010 15:00
| Plymouth Albion | 5 – 26 | Exeter |
| | Stats | |
* Brickfields Stadium Attendance: 2,766
* 7 March 2010 15:00
| Cornish Pirates | 26 – 20 | Newport |
| | Stats | |
* Camborne Recreation Ground Attendance: 3,650
* 10 March 2010 19:00
| Gael Force | 22 – 33 | Leinster A |
| | Stats | |
* Bridgehaugh, Stirling Attendance: 300

### Pool B

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | T | TB | LB | Pts |
| Munster A | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 111 | 41 | +70 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 22 |
| Bristol | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 122 | 74 | +48 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| Nottingham | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 81 | 59 | +22 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| Neath | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 93 | 98 | −5 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| Coventry | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 126 | 144 | −18 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Heriot's FP | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 54 | 171 | −117 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
* 20 November 2009 19:30
| Neath | 11 – 18 | Bristol |
| | Stats | |
* The Gnoll Attendance: 1,500
* 20 November 2009 19:45
| Coventry | 13 – 20 | Munster A |
| | Stats | |
* Butts Park Arena Attendance: 2,066
* 21 November 2009 15:00
| Heriot's FP | 0 – 5 | Nottingham |
| | Stats | |
* Goldenacre Attendance: 650
* 27 November 2009 19:30
| Munster A | 18 – 6 | Bristol |
| | Stats | |
* Nenagh RFC Attendance: 1,200
* 27 November 2009 19:45
| Coventry | 57 – 12 | Heriot's FP |
| | Stats | |
* Butts Park Arena Attendance: 806
* 29 November 2009 15:00
| Nottingham | 14 – 3 | Neath |
| | Stats | |
* Meadow Lane Attendance: 2,087
* 12 February 2010 19:00
| Munster A | 18 – 3 | Nottingham |
| | Stats | |
* Waterford RSC Attendance: 3,500
* 13 February 2010 14:00
| Bristol | 40 – 15 | Coventry |
| | Stats | |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 2,461
* 14 February 2010 14:00
| Heriot's FP | 21 – 38 | Neath |
| | Stats | |
* Goldenacre Attendance: 500
* 27 February 2010 14:00
| Neath | 12 – 21 | Munster A |
| | Stats | |
* The Gnoll Attendance: 1,250
* 28 February 2010 14:00
| Bristol | 37 – 14 | Heriot's FP |
| | Stats | |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 2,521
* 28 February 2010 15:00
| Nottingham | 43 – 17 | Coventry |
| | Stats | |
* Meadow Lane Attendance: 1,263
* 6 March 2010 14:00
| Neath | 29 – 24 | Coventry |
| | Stats | |
* The Gnoll Attendance: 1,000
* 7 March 2010 15:00
| Nottingham | 16 – 21 | Bristol |
| | Stats | |
* Meadow Lane Attendance: 1,046
* 12 March 2010 19:30
| Munster A | 34 – 7 | Heriot's FP |
| | Stats | |
* Musgrave Park

### Pool C

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | T | TB | LB | Pts |
| Ulster Ravens | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 165 | 62 | +103 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 21 |
| London Welsh | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 137 | 78 | +59 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 20 |
| Bedford Blues | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 92 | 94 | −2 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| Aberavon | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 51 | 131 | −80 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Llanelli | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 106 | 117 | −11 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Moseley | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 69 | 138 | −69 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
* 20 November 2009 19:15
| Llanelli | 16 – 19 | Aberavon |
| | Stats | |
* Parc y Scarlets Attendance: 600
* 20 November 2009 19:30
| Moseley | 27 – 38 | London Welsh |
| | Stats | |
* Billesley Common Attendance: 563
* 20 November 2009 19:30
| Ulster Ravens | 29 – 3 | Bedford Blues |
| | Stats | |
* Ravenhill Attendance: 1,132
* 27 November 2009 19:15
| Aberavon | 7 – 36 | London Welsh |
| | Stats | |
* Talbot Athletic Ground Attendance: 712
* 27 November 2009 19:30
| Moseley | 21 – 32 | Ulster Ravens |
| | Stats | |
* Billesley Common Attendance: 750
* 28 November 2009 15:00
| Bedford Blues | 36 – 24 | Llanelli |
| | Stats | |
* Goldington Road Attendance: 2,553
* 12 February 2010 19:15
| Llanelli | 21 – 21 | Ulster Ravens |
| | Stats | |
* Parc y Scarlets Attendance: 500
* 13 February 2010 14:00
| London Welsh | 26 – 13 | Bedford Blues |
| | Stats | |
* Old Deer Park Attendance: 810
* 23 February 2010 19:30
| Aberavon | 10 – 0 | Moseley |
| | Stats | |
* Talbot Athletic Ground Attendance: 362
* 26 February 2010 19:30
| Ulster Ravens | 21 – 17 | London Welsh |
| | Stats | |
* Ravenhill Attendance: 739
* 27 February 2010 14:00
| Bedford Blues | 17 – 15 | Aberavon |
| | Stats | |
* Goldington Road Attendance: 1,230
* 27 February 2010 14:30
| Llanelli | 35 – 21 | Moseley |
| | Stats | |
* Parc y Scarlets Attendance: 580
* 5 March 2010 19:30
| Moseley | 0 – 23 | Bedford Blues |
| | Stats | |
* Billesley Common Attendance: 520
* 6 March 2010 14:00
| London Welsh | 20 – 10 | Llanelli |
| | Stats | |
* Old Deer Park Attendance: 1,650
* 12 March 2010 19:30
| Ulster Ravens | 62 – 0 | Aberavon |
| | Stats | |
* Ravenhill Attendance: 793

### Pool D

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | T | TB | LB | Pts |
| Doncaster | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 163 | 58 | +105 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 25 |
| Cardiff | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 147 | 124 | +23 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
| Rotherham | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 147 | 127 | +20 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 12 |
| Ayr | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 132 | 111 | +21 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| Pontypridd | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 99 | 124 | −25 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Birmingham & Solihull | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 76 | 220 | −144 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
* 20 November 2009 19:15
| Pontypridd | 16 – 22 | Cardiff |
| | Stats | |
* Sardis Road Attendance: 921
* 21 November 2009 14:00
| Rotherham | 52 – 10 | Birmingham & Solihull |
| | Stats | |
* Clifton Lane Attendance: 876
* 22 November 2009 14:00
| Doncaster | 32 – 7 | Ayr |
| | Stats | |
* Castle Park Attendance: 1,496
* 27 November 2009 20:00
| Ayr | 28 – 13 | Rotherham |
| | Stats | |
* Millbrae Attendance: 1,370
* 28 November 2009 14:00
| Birmingham & Solihull | 20 – 51 | Cardiff |
| | Stats | |
* Sharmans Cross Road Attendance: 377
* 13 February 2010 14:00
| Rotherham | 33 – 23 | Pontypridd |
| | Stats | |
* Clifton Lane Attendance: 789
* 13 February 2010 16:00
| Ayr | 49 – 14 | Birmingham & Solihull |
| | Stats | |
* Millbrae Attendance: 780
* 14 February 2010 15:00
| Doncaster | 34 – 10 | Cardiff |
| | Stats | |
* Castle Park Attendance: 1,124
* 27 February 2010 14:00
| Cardiff | 34 – 27 | Rotherham |
| | Stats | |
* Cardiff Arms Park
* 27 February 2010 14:00
| Doncaster | 41 – 8 | Birmingham & Solihull |
| | Stats | |
* Castle Park Attendance: 783
* 27 February 2010 15:00
| Ayr | 21 – 22 | Pontypridd |
| | Stats | |
* Millbrae Attendance: 1,290
* 3 March 2010 19:30
| Pontypridd | 11 – 24 | Doncaster |
| | Stats | |
* Sardis Road
* 6 March 2010 14:00
| Rotherham | 22 – 32 | Doncaster |
| | Stats | |
* Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,427
* 6 March 2010 14:30
| Birmingham & Solihull | 24 – 27 | Pontypridd |
| | Stats | |
* Sharmans Cross Road
* 6 March 2010 14:30
| Cardiff | 30 – 27 | Ayr |
| | Stats | |
* Cardiff Arms Park

## Knock-out stages
### Qualifiers

The four pool winners proceeded to the knock out stages.
| Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | T | TB | LB | Pts |
| D | Doncaster | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 163 | 58 | +105 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 25 |
| B | Munster A | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 111 | 41 | +70 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 22 |
| C | Ulster Ravens | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 165 | 62 | +103 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 21 |
| A | Cornish Pirates | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 112 | 66 | +46 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 19 |
| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| 25 April 2010 - Camborne | 25 April 2010 - Camborne |
| Cornish Pirates | 43 |
| Cornish Pirates | 43 | 16 May 2010 - Camborne | 16 May 2010 - Camborne |
| Doncaster | 5 | 16 May 2010 - Camborne | 16 May 2010 - Camborne |
| Doncaster | 5 | Cornish Pirates | 23 |
| 24 April 2010 - Thomond Park | 24 April 2010 - Thomond Park | | Cornish Pirates | 23 |
| 24 April 2010 - Thomond Park | 24 April 2010 - Thomond Park | Munster A | 14 |
| Munster A | 27 | Munster A | 14 |
| Ulster Ravens | 3 | | |

### Semi-finals

* 24 April 2010 15:30
| Munster A | 27 – 3 | 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 | 43 – 5 | Doncaster |
| Try: Davies, Bentley, Morgan, Cattle, Jackson, McGlone Con: Bently (5/6) Pen: Bently | Report | Try: Armitage |
* Recreation Ground, Camborne Attendance: 2,327 Referee: Llyr Ap Geraint Roberts

### Final

* 16 May 2010 18:00
| Cornish Pirates | 23 – 14 | 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: Leighton Hodges

## Geography

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