Exeter Chiefs clash with the Cornish Pirates in National One last season

Exeter Chiefs, Cornish Pirates and Plymouth Albion have been drawn together in the pool stages of the newly formed British & Irish Cup.

The three South West clubs are joined by Leinster, Newport and Scottish Thistles in Pool A of the competition.

Games will be played over five weekends during the autumn international and Six Nations windows with the semis and finals staged on 24 April and 15 May.

The 24-team cross-border competition will start next season.

Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter told BBC Sport: "Local pride is always a very important thing and that itself will make the fixtures special."

"Derbies attract plenty of interest but playing Leinster at home is great news as well."

All 12 teams from the English Championship are taking part in the Cup, alongside six from the Welsh Premiership, three Irish provinces and three Scottish sides.

The draw for the pool stages has placed teams together on a regional basis, with Nottingham and Coventry together in Pool B.

Local pride is always important and that itself will make the fixtures special Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter

Aberavon and Llanelli will play each other in Pool C, whilst Rotherham Titans and Doncaster Knights are set to meet in a South Yorkshire derby in Pool D.

Terry Burwell from the Rugby Football Union feels the new competition will renew both local and inter-nation rivalries.

"Since announcing the British & Irish Cup there has been growing interest in this tournament," said Burwell.

"We believe that the fixtures these pools throw up will provide a level of cup competition that will excite players, coaches and supporters."

On the opening weekend of the Cup, Leinster, the 2009 Heineken Cup Champions, travel to the Brickfields in Plymouth.

The Cornish Pirates will host Scottish Thistles, whilst Exeter make the trip to Newport.

Pool Draw for British & Irish Cup

POOL A: Exeter Chiefs, Leinster, Cornish Pirates, Newport, Plymouth Albion, The Thistles

POOL B: Coventry, Bristol Rugby, Heriot's, Munster, Neath, Nottingham

POOL C: Aberavon, Bedford Blues, Llanelli, London Welsh, Moseley, Ulster

POOL D: Ayr, Birmingham & Solihull, Cardiff, Doncaster Knights, Pontypridd, Rotherham Titans

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