Earnshaw happy for Bees to be part of British & Irish Cup

Russell Earnshaw has welcomed the creation of the British & Irish Cup in which his Birmingham & Solihull side will play next season. The competition brings together 24 teams, 12 from the English Championship, six from the Welsh Principality Premiership, Irish provinces Munster, Leinster and Ulster and three from Scotland. And having beeing promoted from National Two this term Bees will

now play some of the biggest names in rugby.

That excites the player-coach. He said: “The Welsh, Irish and Scottish rugby cultures are very different to ours so it will be fantastic for our players to be able to experience that.

“This season was exciting for us because we played a lot of different sides in National Two but the opportunity to have sides from Wales, Ireland and Scotland coming to play at your ground will be something that players and spectators enjoy.

“This, along with the new format for the Championship, is a step forward for rugby at this level.”

Although the four pools of six have not yet been drawn, they will be based on a regional format which could see Bees, Moseley and Coventry play each other in a competition that starts on November 7.

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