Welsh participation was reduced from 12 teams to just four. The Welsh teams were selected based on regional play-offs involving the 2013–14 Premier Division clubs at the start of the season. Teams gained home advantage depending upon their finishing position at the end of the 2012–13 season. For example, in the Cardiff Blues region, Cardiff RFC traveled to Sardis Road to play Pontypridd RFC. Likewise, Llanelli RFC hosted Carmarthen Quins RFC with the winner travelling to Llandovery RFC to contest the right to represent the Scarlets region.
Cardiff Blues Region
The winner of the Cardiff Blues Region, Pontypridd, will play in Pool 2.
Dragons Region
The winner of the Dragons Region, Cross Keys, will play in Pool 1.
Ospreys Region
The winner of the Ospreys Region, Aberavon, will play in Pool 5.
Scarlets Region
The winner of the Scarlets Region, Llanelli, will play in Pool 3.
Competition format
The competition format is a pool stage followed by a knockout stage. The pool stage consists of six pools of four teams playing home and away matches. The top side in each pool, plus the two best runners-up, will progress to the knockout stage. The eight quarter-finalists will be ranked, with teams ranked 1-4 having home advantage. The four winning quarter finalists will progress to the semi-final draw. Matches will take place on the same weekends as the Heineken and Amlin Cups.
Pool stages
The fixture weekends have been announced.
Pool 1
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This win secured Leinster's qualification to the knock out stages.
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Pool 2
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Pool 3
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Rotherham qualified for the knockout stages with this win as their nearest rivals, Llanelli, cannot overtake them.
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Pool 4
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Pool 5
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This match was abandoned after 69 minutes when a large hole appeared in the pitch due to a collapsed drain. Bristol were leading 20 – 24 at this point. The match was ordered to be replayed at Talbot Athletic Ground before the conclusion of the pool stages on a date suitable to both clubs.
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Pool 6
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Cornish Pirates qualified for the knockout stages after this win.
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Knock-out stages
Qualifiers
The six pool winners, and the two best runners-up, proceed to the knock out stages. The ranking criteria of the quarter finalists has been altered slightly from earlier seasons. Previously, the six pool winners were seeded 1-6 and the two runners up as 7 and 8. This meant that the best runners-up were automatically ranked 7 and 8 even if they had a better playing record than some of the teams ranked 1-6. This is no longer the case. There was a draw for the quarter-final stage, which took place on 27 January 2014. The top four seeds will have home advantage. Teams are ranked by There are further criteria that can be applied if necessary.
Club
P
W
D
L
PF
PA
PD
TF
TA
TB
LB
Pts
Pool 1 winner
Leinster A
6
6
0
0
171
70
101
22
5
3
0
27
Pool 5 winner
Leeds Carnegie
6
5
0
1
269
77
192
40
11
4
1
25
Pool 6 winner
Cornish Pirates
6
5
0
1
193
95
98
25
9
4
1
25
Pool 5 runner-up
Bristol
6
5
0
1
261
62
199
41
6
3
1
24
Pool 4 winner
Plymouth Albion
6
5
0
1
165
77
88
21
7
3
0
23
Pool 4 runner-up
Munster A
6
5
0
1
147
70
77
20
5
3
0
23
Pool 3 winner
Rotherham Titans
6
5
0
1
168
96
72
20
9
2
1
23
Pool 2 winner
Pontypridd
6
4
0
2
196
107
89
27
13
3
2
21
Quarter-finals
The draw for the quarter-finals was carried out on 27 January 2014. ---- ---- ----
Semi-finals
The draw for the semi-finals was carried out on 27 January 2014.
Leinster won on tries scored.
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Final
On 14 April, it was announced that the final will be played at the home of the winner of the Pontypridd / Leinster A semi-final. This will be played on Friday 23 May, at a time to be decided.
England
Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Leeds Carnegie
Pontypridd