The 2009–10 LV Cup (styled as the LV= Cup) was the 39th season of England's national rugby union cup competition, and the fifth to follow the Anglo-Welsh format.

2009–10 LV Cup
Tournament details
Countries England
 Wales
Tournament format(s)Round-robin and knockout
DateNovember 2009 - March 2010
Tournament statistics
Teams16
Matches played35
Attendance278,978 (7,971 per match)
Tries scored150 (4.29 per match)
Final
VenueSixways Stadium
Attendance12,024
ChampionsEngland Northampton Saints (1st title)
Runners-upEngland Gloucester
← 2008–09 (Previous)
(Next) 2010–11 →

Northampton Saints were crowned champions after beating Gloucester in the final at Worcester's Sixways Stadium.

The structure of the competition was altered from previous years. The competition continued to consist of the four Welsh Celtic League teams and the twelve Guinness Premiership clubs, arranged into pools consisting of three English teams and one Welsh. However, the new format saw teams guaranteed two home and two away pool matches, with teams in Pools 1 and 4 playing each other and teams in Pools 2 and 3 playing each other.[1] The competition took place on international fixture dates during the Autumn Internationals and Six Nations, with the aim of allowing teams to develop their squad players.[2]

On 29 October 2009, little more than a week before the start of this season's competition, British insurer LV was unveiled as the new sponsor.[3]

Pool stage

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Points system

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The points scoring system for the pool stage was as follows:[4]

  • 4 points for a win
  • 2 points for a draw
  • 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match (TB)
  • 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less (LB)

The ranking criteria were:

  • If two or more clubs in the same pool end the pool stage equal on match points, then the order in which they have finished will be determined by:
    • i. the greater number of matches won by the club and
    • ii. if the number of matches won is equal, the club with the greater total number of tries scored and
    • iii. if the total number of tries scored is equal, the club with the greater points difference (points scored for, less points scored against) and
    • iv. if the points difference is equal, the club with the fewer number of red cards and
    • v. if the number of red cards is the same, by the toss a coin.

Pool 1 v Pool 4

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Pool 1
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T TB LB Pts
1   Saracens 4 2 0 2 83 69 +14 8 1 1 10
2   Leicester Tigers 4 2 0 2 84 82 +2 10 1 0 9
3   Sale Sharks 4 1 0 3 57 83 −26 7 1 1 6
4   Ospreys 4 1 0 3 68 97 −29 9 0 1 5
Source: [5]
Pool 4
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T TB LB Pts
1   Northampton Saints 4 4 0 0 81 45 +36 7 0 0 16
2   Newport Gwent Dragons 4 3 0 1 103 79 +24 10 0 0 12
3   Bath 4 2 0 2 94 75 +19 12 1 0 9
4   Leeds Carnegie 4 1 0 3 53 93 −40 6 0 1 5
Source: ref name="Premiership" />

Round 1

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5 November 2009
19:30
Ospreys  17–19  Northampton Saints
Try: Spratt
Hibbard
Con: Owen
Pen: Owen
ReportTry: Cannon
Con: Myler
Pen: Myler (4)
Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Attendance: 4,322
Referee: James Jones (WRU)

6 November 2009
19:30
Newport Gwent Dragons  20–9  Sale Sharks
Try: Connor
Lee
Con: Connor
Greendale
Pen: Connor
Greendale
ReportPen: Hodgson (3)
Rodney Parade, Newport
Attendance: 4,539
Referee: Martin Fox (RFU)

8 November 2009
15:00
Leeds Carnegie  28–17  Leicester Tigers
Report
Headingley, Leeds
Attendance: 3,893
Referee: Sean Davey (RFU)

8 November 2009
15:00
Saracens  30–22  Bath
Report
Vicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 6,654
Referee: Dean Richards (RFU)

Round 2

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13 November 2009
19:45
Sale Sharks  27–3  Leeds Carnegie
Try: Vakacegu
Ripol
O'Donnell
Seymour
Con: Hodgson (2)
Pen: Hodgson
ReportPen: Ford
Edgeley Park, Stockport
Attendance: 5,536

14 November 2009
12:30
Bath  21–11  Ospreys
Try: Watson
Browne
Con: Davis
Pen: Davis (3)
ReportTry: Tipuric
Pen: Davies
Owen
Recreation Ground, Bath
Attendance: 10,789
Referee: Sean Davey (RFU)

14 November 2009
13:00
Northampton Saints  19–3  Saracens
Try: Ashton
Reihana
Pen: Myler (3)
ReportPen: Goode
Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
Attendance: 12,037
Referee: Gwyn Morris (WRU)

14 November 2009
15:00
Leicester Tigers  29–20  Newport Gwent Dragons
Try: Crane
Allen
Penalty
Con: Staunton
Pen: Staunton (2)
Flood (2)
ReportTry: Tovey
Brew
Gomer-Davies
Con: Connor
Pen: Conner
Welford Road, Leicester
Attendance: 16,297
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth (RFU)

Round 3

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29 January 2010
19:15
Newport Gwent Dragons  40–19  Ospreys
Try: A. Jones
Smith
Brew
Con: Tovey (2)
Pen: Tovey (7)
ReportTry: Owen
Penalty
Prydie
Con: Prydie (2)
Rodney Parade, Newport
Attendance: 6,027
Referee: James Jones (WRU)

29 January 2010
19:30
Leeds Carnegie  5–28  Saracens
Try: WackettReportTry: Joubert
Brits
Powell
Marshall
Con: Hougaard (3)
Jackson
Headingley, Leeds
Attendance: 1,781

29 January 2010
19:45
Leicester Tigers  27–11  Bath
Try: Twelvetrees (2)
Penalty
Tuilagi
Con: Vesty (2)
Pen: Vesty
ReportTry: Fa'amatuainu
Pen: Davis (2)
Welford Road, Leicester
Attendance: 19,772
Referee: David Rose (RFU)

29 January 2010
19:45
Sale Sharks  14–20  Northampton Saints
Try: Hodgson
Koyamailbole
ReportTry: Mayor
Diggin
Pen: Myler (2)
Edgeley Park, Stockport
Attendance: 6,506

Round 4

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4 February 2010
19:25
Ospreys  21–17  Leeds Carnegie
Report
Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Attendance: 2,557
Referee: Gwyn Morris (WRU)

6 February 2010
14:15
Bath  40–7  Sale Sharks
Report
Recreation Ground, Bath
Attendance: 10,165
Referee: James Jones (WRU)

6 February 2010
15:00
Northampton Saints  23–11  Leicester Tigers
Report
Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
Attendance: 13,092
Referee: Dave Pearson (RFU)

7 February 2010
15:00
Saracens  22–23  Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Vicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 5,939
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)

Pool 2 v Pool 3

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Pool 2
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T TB LB Pts
1   Gloucester 4 2 0 2 87 81 +6 12 1 2 11
2   Scarlets 4 2 1 1 88 83 +5 9 1 0 11
3   London Irish 4 1 0 3 54 70 −16 4 0 2 6
4   Newcastle Falcons 4 0 0 4 41 105 −64 5 1 1 2
Source: [5]
Pool 3
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T TB LB Pts
1   Cardiff Blues 4 3 0 1 120 84 +36 14 2 1 15
2   London Wasps 4 3 0 1 67 55 +12 6 0 1 13
3   Harlequins 4 2 1 1 79 67 +12 7 0 1 11
4   Worcester Warriors 4 2 0 2 73 64 +9 8 1 0 9
Source: [5]

Round 1

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7 November 2009
12:30
Worcester Warriors  32–6  Newcastle Falcons
Report
Sixways Stadium, Worcester
Attendance: 6,704

8 November 2009
13:45
Harlequins  15–15  Scarlets
Report
The Stoop, London
Attendance: 9,653
Referee: Tim Hayes (WRU)

8 November 2009
15:00
Gloucester  25–26  Cardiff Blues
Report
Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
Attendance: 6,099
Referee: Rob Debney (RFU)

8 November 2009
15:00
London Irish  20–24  London Wasps
Report
Madejski Stadium, Reading
Attendance: 10,010
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (SARU)

Round 2

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14 November 2009
15:00
Scarlets  32–17  Worcester Warriors
Try: Daniel
Lyons
Evans
Priestland
Con: Priestland (3)
Pen: Priestland (2)
ReportTry: Cox
Kitchener
Con: MacRae (2)
Pen: Crook
Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Attendance: 5,560
Referee: David Rose (RFU)

15 November 2009
13:45
Cardiff Blues  11–12  London Irish
Try: Rees
Pen: Sweeney (2)
ReportPen: Hewat (2)
Homer
Lamb
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 7,778
Referee: JP Doyle (RFU)

15 November 2009
15:00
London Wasps  21–14  Gloucester
Try: Varndell
Simpson
Con: Walder
Pen: Hickey
Walder (2)
ReportTry: Burns (2)
Con: Burns (2)
Adams Park, High Wycombe
Attendance: 7,475
Referee: Martin Fox (RFU)

15 November 2009
15:00
Newcastle Falcons  8–19  Harlequins
Try: Tait
Pen: Miller
ReportTry: Smith
Con: Clegg
Pen: Clegg (4)
Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
Attendance: 4,650
Referee: Greg Garner (RFU)

Round 3

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30 January 2010
15:00
Gloucester  17–5  Worcester Warriors
Try: Burns
Qera
Con: Robinson
Pen: Robinson (2)
ReportTry: Pennell
Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
Attendance: 7,192

30 January 2010
17:45
London Wasps  13–18  Scarlets
Try: Varndell (2)
Pen: Walder
ReportPen: Priestland (6)
Adams Park, High Wycombe
Attendance: 8,070
Referee: Dean Richards (RFU)

31 January 2010
15:00
Cardiff Blues  45–24  Newcastle Falcons
Report
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: James Jones (WRU)

31 January 2010
15:00
London Irish  13–16  Harlequins
Report
Madejski Stadium, Reading
Attendance: 10,030
Referee: Martin Fox (RFU)

Round 4

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6 February 2010
15:00
Scarlets  23–38  Cardiff Blues
Report
Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Attendance: 5,671
Referee: Greg Garner (RFU)

6 February 2010
15:00
Worcester Warriors  19–9  London Irish
Report
Sixways Stadium, Worcester
Attendance: 7,501
Referee: David Bodilly (WRU)

7 February 2010
15:00
Harlequins  29–31  Gloucester
Report
The Stoop, London
Attendance: 9,732
Referee: Sean Davey (RFU)

7 February 2010
15:00
Newcastle Falcons  3–9  London Wasps
Report
Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
Attendance: 4,651
Referee: Andrew Small (RFU)

Knockout stage

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Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
14 March 2010 - Franklin's Gardens
 
 
  Northampton Saints 31
 
21 March 2010 - Sixways Stadium
 
  Saracens 20
 
  Northampton Saints 30
 
14 March 2010 - Cardiff City Stadium
 
  Gloucester 24
 
  Cardiff Blues 18
 
 
  Gloucester 29
 

Qualification criteria

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The top teams from each pool qualify for the knockout stage. The pool winners were decided by the following criteria:[4]

1. The pool winner will be the club with the highest number of match points in each pool. The pool winners will be ranked 1 to 4 by reference to the number of match points earned in the pools.
2. If two or more clubs in the same pool end the pool stage equal on match points, then the order in which they have finished will be determined by:
i. the greater number of matches won by the club and
ii. if the number of matches won is equal, the club with the greater total number of tries scored and
iii. if the total number of tries scored is equal, the club with the greater points difference (points scored for, less points scored against) and
iv. if the points difference is equal, the club with the fewer number of red cards and
v. if the number of red cards is the same, by the toss a coin.

Each of the four qualifying clubs shall be ranked as above and shall play each other as follows:

Semi-final 1 - 1st ranked club v 4th ranked club
Semi-final 2 - 2nd ranked club v 3rd ranked club

The first club listed in each of the semi-final matches shall be the home club.

Qualifiers
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T TB LB Pts
1   Northampton Saints 4 4 0 0 81 45 +36 7 0 0 16
2   Cardiff Blues 4 3 0 1 120 84 +36 14 2 1 15
3   Gloucester 4 2 0 2 87 81 +6 12 1 2 11
4   Saracens 4 2 0 2 83 69 +14 8 1 1 10
Source: [citation needed]

Semi-finals

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14 March 2010
12:15
Cardiff Blues  18–29  Gloucester
Try: Laulala
Sweeney
Con: Blair (2)
Pen: Blair (2)
ReportTry: Burns
Simpson-Daniel (3)
Con: Robinson (3)
Pen: Robinson
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 8,378

14 March 2010
16:15
Northampton Saints  31–20  Saracens
Try: Dowson
Mujati
Diggin
Best
Con: Geraghty
Pen: Geraghty (3)
ReportTry: Melck
Pen: Hougaard (4)
Jackson (1)
Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
Attendance: 11,894
Referee: Romain Poite (FFR)

Final

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21 March 2010
15:30
Northampton Saints  30–24  Gloucester
Try: Tongaʻuiha
Downey
Dickson
Con: Myler (3)
Pen: Myler (3)
ReportTry: Qera
Penalty try
Con: Robinson
Pen: Robinson (4)
Sixways Stadium, Worcester
Attendance: 12,024
Referee: Alan Lewis (IRFU)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Anglo-Welsh Cup fixtures revealed". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 6 July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  2. ^ "Anglo-Welsh Cup set to carry on". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  3. ^ "LV= sponsors rugby's Anglo-Welsh Tournament" (Press release). Rugby Football Union. 2009-10-29. Archived from the original on 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  4. ^ a b "About the LV= Cup". LV=. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  5. ^ a b c "Group Tables – LV= Cup – Previous Seasons". www.premiershiprugby.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 15 February 2013.