Excited for start of cup competition

I AM pleased to announce a new cup competition will start on January 16, 2021 – The Premiership Cluster Cup. With the advent of Covid-19, the Gloucester Premier League was re-formatted, with clubs geographically closest together being ‘clustered’ by the RFU.

The league programme was then scrapped as the ‘adapted’ laws were introduced.

The Gloucester ‘clustered’ clubs, which will include Old Richians, Longlevens, Coney Hill, Cheltenham Saracens, Hucclecote and Old Cryptians, all got together, led by myself, Tom Lovell and Colin Rose.

The fixture list was formulated with second team games being played in parallel with the first team, meaning there will be a game of rugby at the participating clubs every weekend until April.

Among the clubs there was a great anticipation, with meaningful, local fixtures being played in this challenged season.

Raging Bull Sportswear has kindly offered to sponsor the competition, offering 20 bespoke warm-up shirts to the winning teams.

I was keen that rugby should be played, giving the players a goal to aim for in training, against like-minded clubs.

Just as important, the supporters of the participating sides will now have games to watch

I would also like to encourage supporters of Gloucester Rugby to come and watch some local rugby, while C&W spectators have restricted access to live games.

For some, they could even dust off their boots and have a game.

Thanks to all the clubs for co-operating, to make this cup a reality.