Papa Johns Community Cup kicks off this weekend

The road to Twickenham starts this weekend for many grassroots clubs, with the first round of the inaugural Papa Johns Men's Community Cup kicking off on Saturday. Fixtures will be played throughout April before culminating in Community Game Finals Days on 30 April and across the weekend of May 6 and 7.

Ad Almost two thirds of clubs in the men's RFU leagues entered the new cup competition, which has been developed after players said they would prefer a shorter league season followed by a cup competition. This was part of the season restructure to help increase playing numbers.

Champions CupDupont named Six Nations player of the championship ahead of Irish stars21 HOURS AGO Terry Burwell, RFU Council Member, Hampshire, and Chair of the RFU Adult Competitions Management Sub-Committee said: «The Papa Johns Cup is the exciting opportunity for clubs and players to create unique memories on the road to Finals weekends at Twickenham and other great venues. »Involving over 500 clubs in 24 competitions, the next six weeks of Cup rugby will match old friends and new rivals in both national and regional competitions...the road to glory starts this weekend." The men's draw, which sees over 500 clubs competing across 24 competitions, has thrown up some tasty derbies as the cup format looks to renew old rivalries and to create some new ones.

Exciting match ups have already been seen in the Papa Johns Women's Cup competitions, which began in September and are now reaching the latter stages. Ben Lowe, Player Experience Director at the RFU, added: «We recognise this season has been challenging for some clubs, but the new Papa Johns Community Cup is intended to create a crescendo at the end of the season for the community game.