Leinster v Cornish Pirates

Referee: David Bodilly (WRU)

Leinster began their British & Irish Cup campaign with a 16-13 victory at Plymouth Albion on Saturday afternoon.

Leinster are unbeaten at Donnybrook since Edinburgh won there 27-13 in the Celtic League on 6 November 2005.

Cornish Pirates also began with a win, 29-8 at home to Scottish visitors Gael Force at Camborne. The Pirates have lost their last four away games since beating Doncaster 21-10 at Castle Park in the RFU Championship on 18 September.

The two teams have never met in a competition match.

Newport v Plymouth Albion

Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)

Newport have won six of their last seven games in all competitions including a run of four successive victories, and beat Exeter 21-14 at Rodney Parade in round one. Newport’s only home defeat in their last 19 matches was 17-32 to Cross Keys in the Principality Premiership on 11 April.

Curiously, the last three games played by Plymouth Albion have all been won by the away side on the day, with Albion’s most recent away game resulting in a 26-12 victory at London Welsh to end a nine game losing run on the road.

The two teams have never met in a competition match.

Exeter Chiefs v Gael Force

Referee: Gwyn Morris (WRU)

Exeter Chiefs were handed their first defeat of the season last Friday night in Newport. The top team in the RFU Championship are unbeaten at Sandy Park in their last 21 encounters since Leeds won there 14-13 in National One on 6 September 2008.

The new Scottish team Gael Force suffered a first ever loss last Sunday against Cornish Pirates and now face a second successive long trip to England’s south-west.

Previously the Force had played two matches this season, beating Oxford University 27-21 at Murrayfield on 23 September, and then visiting Doncaster Knights to win 20-19 on 3 November.

The two sides’ have never met before.

Munster v Bristol Rugby

Referee: Keith Lewis (RFU)

Munster began their British & Irish Cup campaign with a bonus point victory at Coventry last Friday night.

Bristol Rugby recorded an 18-11 victory at Neath on Friday. Bristol have lost just one of their last seven matches: 22-26 at Doncaster in the RFU Championship on 24 October. Bristol have won five of their last six away games, but have lost the only two competition matches they have played against opponents from Ireland: to Leinster in the European Cup in season 2002/03.

The two teams have never met in a competition match.

Coventry v Heriot’s

Referee: Alan Rogan (IRFU)

Coventry slipped up 13-20 at home to Munster last Friday, and are in 8 th place in the Championship table.

Coventry continue to struggle at home, with just one win in their last six games at Butts Park Arena: 26-10 over Plymouth Albion on 23 October.

Heriot’s have now lost their last four matches including the 0-5 reversal to Nottingham at Goldenacre last Saturday.

The Scotsmen have not won away from home since a visit to Glasgow Hawks in the Scottish Hydro Premiership One on 3 October ended in a 24-15 victory.

The two sides have never met before.

Nottingham v Neath

Referee: Terry Hall (RFU)

Nottingham’s 5-0 victory at Heriot’s on Saturday ended a three game losing run.

Nottingham have won their last four games at Meadow Lane since Cornish Pirates won there, 24-13, in the Championship on 6 September.

Neath are in 3 rd place in the Principality Premiership table and suffered an 11-18 reversal to Bristol at the Gnoll last Friday.

Neath have won their last two away encounters, and have beaten an English side just once in 13 competition matches: 33-29 over Bristol in the European Cup on 5 January 2002.

The two teams have never met in a competition match.

Aberavon v London Welsh

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)

Aberavon have won their last two matches: 17-9 over Cross Keys in the Principality Premiership and 17-9 at Llanelli in the British & Irish Cup.

The Wizards have lost just once at the Talbot Athletic Ground in their last nine encounters: 20-27 to Newport in the WRU Premiership on 31 October.

London Welsh also began their British & Irish Cup campaign with a win on the road, beating Moseley at Billesley Common 38-27. The Exiles’ have won their last three away matches since a 9-13 reversal at Exeter in the Championship on 10 October.

The two sides have never met before in a competition match.

Moseley v Ulster Ravens

Referee: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)

Moseley have slipped to successive defeats at Bedford in the Championship and at home to London Welsh in the British & Irish Cup.

Moseley have been beaten in two of their last three matches at Billesley Common.

Ulster Ravens began the British & Irish Cup with a comprehensive 29-3 victory over Bedford Blues at Ravenhill on Friday. Previously their only other outing this season was on 6 November against Munster A, losing 30-8 at Musgrave Park in Cork.

The two sides have never met before.

Bedford Blues v Llanelli

Referee: Adrian Hartwell (RFU)

Bedford Blues’ only win in their last five matches in all competitions was 23-7 over Moseley in the Championship on 13 November.

Bedford have played just two previous competition matches against opponents from Wales – home and away against Newport in the European Conference in season 1999/2000 with each team winning its respective home game.

Llanelli have now slipped to three straight defeats, and have not won away from Parc y Scarlets since an 18-10 victory at Cardiff in the Principality Premiership on 17 October. Llanelli RFC have won four of their last five matches against English opponents.

The two sides have never met before in a competition match

Pontypridd v Doncaster Knights

Referee: Andy Macpherson (SRU)

Pontypridd are the current leaders of the Principality Premiership but tripped up 16-22 against Cardiff in their opening British & Irish Cup fixture last Friday.

Pontypridd are unbeaten in their last 27 matches in all competitions at Sardis Road since Cardiff won there, 23-10, on 29 December 2007. Ponty have won just one of their last five competition games against English opponents: 37-23 over Leeds in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup on 7 December 2002.

Doncaster Knights’ only defeat in their last six matches in all competitions was 7-11 at Rotherham in the Championship on 14 November.

The Knights are in 11th place in the Championship and have won two of their five away games so far.

The two sides have never met before.

Ayr v Rotherham Titans

Referee: David Jones (WRU)

Ayr’s 7-32 reversal at Doncaster on Sunday ended a six game winning run for the Scotsmen.

The current Scottish champions have not lost at Millbrae since Boroughmuir were the visitors in the Scottish Hydro Premiership One on 19 January 2008.

Rotherham Titans have won three of their last four games including a 52-10 victory over Birmingham & Solihull in the British & Irish Cup last Saturday. The Titans’ only away win this season was 29-0 also at the Bees in the Championship on 3 October.

The two sides have never met before.

Birmingham & Solihull Bees v Cardiff

Referee: Michael Tutty (RFU)

Birmingham & Solihull Bees are still winless this season following their 10-52 reversal at Rotherham in the British & Irish Cup last Saturday. The Bees most recent victory was 31-7 at home to Redruth in National One on 25 April.

Cardiff kicked off their participation in the British & Irish Cup with a 22-16 victory over Pontypridd at the Arms Park on Friday.

The Welshmen have won five of their six away matches this season with the only defeat on the road being 17-23 at Newport in the Principality Premiership on 7 November.

Cardiff RFC have won just one of their last five competition games against English opponents: 25-17 over Northampton at the Arms Park in the European Cup on 28 September 2001.

The two sides have never met before.