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History of the Powergen Cup

The Powergen Cup was first staged under the name of the John Player Cup in 1972. It has since been known as the Pilkington Cup and the Tetley Bitter Cup as various sponsors come and go. It is the only knockout competition in British Club Rugby Union and this year sees a big shake up in the organisation of the competition with the introduction of the group system and the exclusion of the lower league clubs.

Here are some of the highlights of the Powergen Cup competition's history:

1972: The John Player Cup is held for the first time as Gloucester beat Moseley 17-6.

1989: The competition is renamed the Pilkington Cup as Bath win the trophy for the fifth time.

1996: Bath take the title for a record tenth time.

1999: The event takes on another new name and is re-christened the Tetley Bitter Trophy. Wasps take the first of two back-to-back victories.

2001: Another name change as the tournament becomes the Powergen Cup. Newcastle win for the third time.

2005: New rules are announced for the 2006 Powergen Cup competition. All lower league rugby union clubs are barred from the competition and the remaining Premiership and Welsh Clubs are put into four groups, with the winners of each going on to the Semi-Final draw.

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