RUGBY UNION: Welsh are in the big-time (From The Oxford Times)

RUGBY UNION: Welsh are in the big-time

10:00am Friday 6th July 2012 in Sport

London Welsh’s new status as a top-flight club was underlined yesterday when they were drawn in the same Amlin Challenge Cup group as French giants Stade Francais.

Aviva Premiership newcomers Welsh, who will play at Oxford’s Kassam Stadium, were also paired with Grenoble and Italian side Cavalieri Prato in European club rugby’s second tournament.

DRAW Pool 1: Gloucester Rugby, London Irish, Bordeaux-Bègles, Mont-de-Marsan.

Pool 2: Perpignan, Worcester Warriors, VEA Femi-CZ Rovigo, Bizkaia Gernika RT (Spain).

Pool 3: London Wasps, Newport Gwent Dragons, Bayonne, Rugby Mogliano.

Pool 4: Bath Rugby, Cammi Rugby Calvisano, Agen, Bucharest Wolves.

Pool 5: Stade Français Paris, London Welsh, I Cavalieri Prato, Grenoble.

DATES Round 1: October 11-14. Round 2: October 18-21. Round 3: December 6-9. Round 4: December 13-16. Round 5: January 10-13. Round 6: January 17-20. Quarter-finals: April 4-7. Semi-finals: April 25-28. Final: May 17.