British and Irish Cup

A total of twenty-four teams from England (twelve), Ireland (three), Scotland (three) and Wales (six) competed in the inaugural competition. This remained the case for the first three seasons, though the format varied slightly in each season. For the 2012–13 season, the competition was expanded to 32 teams; England (twelve), Ireland (four), Scotland (four), and Wales (twelve) and for the first time, pool stage games were played on a "home and away" basis. For the 2013–14 season the number of teams competing was reduced to 24, with the Welsh entrants reduced from twelve to four, and the following season the competition was reduced to twenty teams with the withdrawal of the Scottish clubs. From the 2015–16 season to its end in 2018, Wales was represented by regional Premiership Select sides from the four Welsh regions. ==Finals==

2009–10 Competition The inaugural competition was contested by 24 teams: • 12 teams from the RFU Championship, the second tier of English rugby • 3 Irish provinces represented by 'A' teams • 3 Scottish sides, 2 top clubs from the Scottish Premiership and Gael Force, a side made up of a combination of National Academy players • 6 top clubs from the Principality Premiership, the second tier of Welsh rugby. The teams were divided into four pools of six, playing over five weekends during the Autumn International and Six Nations windows, with semi-finals on 24 and 25 April and the final on 16 May. Each team played each of the other five teams in its pool once (home or away). Two English teams (Cornish Pirates and Doncaster) and two Irish teams (Munster A and Ulster Ravens) topped their respective pools leading to an all-English semi-final and an all-Irish semi-final. Cornish Pirates defeated Munster A in the inaugural final. 2014–15 Competition The number of teams playing in the sixth competition is reduced from twenty-four to twenty with the withdrawal of the Scottish teams: • 12 teams from the RFU Championship, the second tier of English rugby • 4 Irish provinces represented by 'A' teams • 4 clubs from the Principality Premiership, the second tier of Welsh rugby. The twelve Principality Premiership Teams participating in regional play-offs which saw Aberavon, Carmarthen Quins, Cross Keys and Pontypridd qualify for the competition proper. The Scottish clubs withdrew because of an increase in the number of the pool matches before Christmas, from four to six. Scottish Rugby felt that Scottish teams would not be able to compete fully in both the British and Irish cup and the BT Premiership; the premier competition for clubs in Scotland. 2015–16 Competition Remaining with 20 teams. • – twelve clubs from RFU Championship • – four Irish provinces represented by 'A' teams • – four Welsh regions represented by Premiership Select teams. Five pools of 4 teams, with the pool winners and the top three runners up going through to the knockout competition. ==Notes==