Over 100 teams enter English Cup

A hugely impressive 108 adult women's teams have entered the tournament this year - 12 in the top tier, 32 in the Intermediate and 64 in the Junior competition.

Senior Cup

In a change from the previous format, 12 teams will play in 2 pools of 6 with the top 2 in each pool progressing to a semi-final in March .

The eight Premiership teams are joined by four Championship teams; Camphill and Waterloo from the North division, Trojans and Thurrock from the South. The competition gives the clubs an opportunity to develop players as England EPS members are unavailable for the majority of matches.

In the first round of matches in pool 1 last season’s runners up Wasps welcome Lichfield, Saracens face Camphill at home and Trojans take on Worcester. In pool 2 last season’s winners Richmond open their campaign away to Premiership rivals Bristol, Thurrock host DMP Sharks and Aylesford welcome Waterloo.

After this weekend, the Cup has a short break before resuming during the 6 Nations window. The dates for your diary are;

Round 2 – 8th February 2015

Round 3 – 22nd February 2015

Round 4 – 1st March 2015

Round 5 – 8th March 2015

Semi Final – 15th March 2015

Final –Saturday 11th April 2015

Alongside the Senior Cup, two other Cup competitions will be running. The Intermediate Cup features 32 teams from the Championship leagues (1 & 2). The Junior Cup features 64 teams from the National Challenge leagues (1, 2 & 3). All the finals will be held at the same venue on the 11th April.

Intermidiate Cup Fixtures;

Ormskirk v CarlisleMoseley v West BridgfordAltrincham Kersal v LoughboroughWest Park Leeds v Deeping DevilsSheffield v NovocastriansPreston Grasshoppers v ManchesterShelford v Lakenham HewittDarlington v EcclesReading v BeckenhamAshford v HenleyRomford Gidea Park v Old AlbaniansBlackheath v BathRosslyn Park v SupermarinePlymouth Albion v ByeHove v HampsteadCheltenham v Hammersmith & Fulham

Junior Cup Fixtures;

Southport v GarstangYork R I v SeftonKendal v DoncasterSunderland v HalifaxLiverpool Collegiate v ScunthorpeBideford v Gloucester / HartpuryDevizes v Old RedcliffiansChipping Sodbury v TewkesburyDursley v NewentNorth Petherton v CullomptonKeresley v Old LeamingtoniansAshfield v PeterboroughSutton Coldfield v Old NewtoniansDudley Kinswinford v Leighton BuzzardOlney v LutterworthWitney v WestburyDerby v Essington / CannockChester v WarleyMellish v Rugby LionsWymondham v Stanford Le HopeEllingham & Ringwood v Tabard / HitchinHarlequins v CrowthorneCanterbury v East LondonReading Abbey v NewburyBletchley v WorthingLewes v HackneyMedway v GuildfordHarwich & Dovercourt v Bury St EdmundsHampstead II v Teddington AntlersWindsor v SouthamptonHarlow v ByeTonbridge Juddians v Haringey Rhinos