Regions to join English clubs in Anglo-Welsh 7s tournament in the wake of BT ...

Wales’ four regions are set to take part in this summer’s Premiership Rugby 7s series as a spin off from their lucrative tie-up with BT Sport.

The Blues, Scarlets, Dragons and Ospreys will form a fourth pool to go with the three made up of Aviva Premiership clubs for the event which will take place at the end of July and the beginning of August.

The Welsh teams will battle it out at the newly re-branded BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park,  with the top two qualifying for the eight-team Series final, which will be held at the Twickenham Stoop on August 8.

Their presence in the popular Sevens tournament will provide them with welcome income over the summer months and some evening entertainment for their supporters.

Gallery: Regional Rugby Wales announce partnership with BT Sport

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Wales and Lions legend Phil Bennett hails BT Sport deal as a ‘watershed moment’ for the Welsh regions

The English pools have already been drawn up, on a geographical basis.

On the evening of Thursday, July 31, Bath, Gloucester, Exeter and London Irish will lock horns at Kingsholm.

Then the following night, Harlequins, Wasps, Northampton and Saracens will be in action at Franklin’s Gardens, ahead of Leicester, Sale, Newcastle and Worcester going up against each other at Kingston Park on Saturday, August 2.

No date has yet been confirmed for the Welsh leg, but the likelihood is it will take place on Saturday, July 26, on the artificial surface at the Arms Park, with each region having three matches.

The top two from each pool will then progress to the televised series final, which will be staged at the Stoop on Friday, August 8.

The Welsh involvement is a further spin-off from the regions’ link up with BT Sport.

As part of a three-year deal worth an estimated £4.5m, BT will become shirt sponsors for the Scarlets, Dragons and Ospreys, as well as taking on the naming rights for the Blues’ iconic Arms Park home.

Article source: http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/rugby-sponsor-deal-for-family-businesses-29857271.html

Regions to join English clubs in Anglo-Welsh 7s tournament in the wake of BT ...