RFU Knockout Cup

{{Short description|Rugby union event}} {{Infobox sports league | title = RFU Knockout Cup | logo = | pixels = | sport = Rugby union | founded ={{Start date and age|1971}} | folded ={{Start date and age|2005}} | replaced = Anglo-Welsh Cup | countries= {{flagicon|England}} England | champion = Leeds Tykes (1st title) | most_champs = Bath (10 titles) }} The '''RFU Knockout Cup''' was an English rugby union competition open to any member of the Rugby Football Union. First contested in 1971, it was the premier competition in English club rugby before the establishment of the English league structure in 1987.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/5409828.stm|title=Anglo-Welsh Cup: Previous winners|work=BBC News|access-date=20 April 2015}}</ref>

The competition was replaced by the Anglo-Welsh Cup, involving 4 Welsh regional sides in addition to the 12 English Premiership clubs, beginning with the 2005–06 season.

==History== ===Background=== The RFU had long resisted national competitions as it was thought that they would encourage player payments. Thus, most club matches were only organised friendlies, with competitions such as the County Cups being the highest honours a club could win. The County Championship, established in 1889, was the only national competition for 82 years.

===1971–75: RFU Knockout Cup=== The first competition took place in the 1971–72 season, when Gloucester defeated Moseley in the final 17–6, to become the inaugural champions. Coventry RFC won two titles in succession in 1973 and 1974, followed by Bedford's championship win in 1975.

===1976–88: John Player Cup=== The competition gained its first sponsor in tobacco firm John Player & Sons in 1976.

Gosforth won the first two editions under this new name in 1976 and 1977. Gloucester won their second title in 1978. The competition was then dominated by Leicester, who won three championships in a row, until Gloucester won their third title in 1982. This was shared with Moseley after a 12–12 draw in extra time, and was the only time the cup was shared between two teams. Leicester were again in the final in 1983, but lost to Bristol. Leicester's record run was then broken by Bath from 1984 to 1987, who won the cup four times in a row, until Harlequins won their first in 1988. {{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

===1988–97: Pilkington Cup=== The cup was named after glass manufacturing company Pilkington for the 1988-89 tournament.

Bath picked up from where they left off in the late 1980s, going onto win another six times from 1989 to 1996. Harlequins won their second title in 1991, and Leicester added to their three championships in 1993 and again in 1997.

===1997–2000: Tetley's Bitter Cup=== Tetley's Brewery became title sponsor in the 1997–98 season, naming the cup after their bitter.

Saracens won their first title, defeating Wasps in 1998. Wasps were again in the final in 1999, and defeated Newcastle to claim their first championship. Wasps also won the 2000 competition. {{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

===2000–05: Powergen Cup=== In 2000, energy supplier Powergen became the final title sponsor.

Newcastle won the first Powergen Cup, defeating the Harlequins 30–27. London Irish won it for their first time the following season, and Gloucester won it for the first time since 1982 in 2003. Newcastle won in 2004, and in 2005, Leeds Tykes defeated Bath to win it for the first time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/moment-in-time/1114/moment-in-time-leeds-and-the-2005-powergen-cup-final/|work=The Rugby Paper|date=10 June 2012|access-date=18 October 2022|title=Moment in Time: Leeds and the 2005 Powergen Cup final}}</ref>

==Demise== {{Main|Anglo-Welsh Cup}} Starting in 2005–06, the cup was replaced by a new format including only the twelve teams from the Guinness Premiership and the four Welsh regions, ending its status as an open competition. From this time until 2009, teams from the Championship and below played in the Powergen National Trophy.

==List of winners== thumb|The Powergen Cup (centre) seen in the London Irish clubhouse at Sunbury in 2002

{| class="wikitable" |+Key to list of winners |- |align=center style="background-color:#FBCEB1"| | Match went to extra time |- |align=center style="background-color:#9FC"| | Cup shared |}

{| class="sortable wikitable plainrowheaders" |+RFU Knockout Cup !scope="col"|Season !scope="col"|Winners !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Runners-up !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Attendance !scope="col"|Ref |- |align=center|{{sort|1971–72 John Player Cup (1)|1971–72}} !scope=row| Gloucester |align=center| 17–6 | Moseley | Twickenham |align=center| 10,500 | |- |align=center|{{sort|1972–73 John Player Cup (1)|1972–73}} !scope=row| Coventry |align=center| 27–15 | Bristol | Twickenham |align=center| 11,500 |<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Jenkins|editor1-first=Vivian|editor1-link=Vivian Jenkins|title=Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1973-74|date=1973|publisher=Queen Anne Press|location=London|isbn=0362001456|pages=88–91}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|1973–74 John Player Cup (1)|1973–74}} !scope=row| Coventry |align=center| 26–6 | London Scottish | Twickenham |align=center| | |- |align=center| {{sort|1974–75 John Player Cup (1)|1974–75}} !scope=row| Bedford |align=center| 28–12 | Rosslyn Park | Twickenham |align=center| 18,000 |<ref>{{cite book|last=Jenkins|first=Vivian|title=Rothmans Rugby Yearbook|year=1975|publisher=Brickfield Publications Ltd|isbn=0362-00221-5}}</ref> |- |- |align=center| {{sort|1975–76 John Player Cup (1)|1975–76}} !scope=row| Gosforth |align=center| 23–14 | Rosslyn Park | Twickenham |align=center| 7,500 |<ref>{{cite book|last=Jenkins|first=Vivian|title=Rothmans Rugby Yearbook|year=1976|publisher=Brickfield Publications Ltd|isbn=0362-00281-9}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|1976–77 John Player Cup (1)|1976–77}} !scope=row| Gosforth |align=center| 27–11 | Waterloo | Twickenham |align=center| 10,000 |<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Jenkins|editor1-first=Vivian|title=Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1977–78|date=1977|publisher=Queen Anne Press Division|location=London|isbn=0354-09020-8|edition=6th}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|1977–78 John Player Cup (1)|1977–78}} !scope=row| Gloucester |align=center| 6–3 | Leicester | Twickenham |align=center| 24,000 | <ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Jenkins|editor1-first=Vivian|title=Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1978–79|date=1978|publisher=Queen Anne Press Division|location=London|isbn=0354-09047X|edition=7th}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|1978–79 John Player Cup (1)|1978–79}} !scope=row| Leicester |align=center| 15–12 | Moseley | Twickenham |align=center| 18,000 | <ref>{{cite book|last=Jenkins|first=Vivian|title=Rothmans Rugby Yearbook|year=1979|publisher=Brickfield Publications Ltd|isbn=0354-09087-9}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|1979–80 John Player Cup (1)|1979–80}} !scope=row| Leicester |align=center| 21–9 | London Irish | Twickenham |align=center| 27,000 | <ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Jenkins|editor1-first=Vivian|title=Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1980–81|date=1980|publisher=Queen Anne Press|location=London|isbn=0362-02018-3|edition=9th}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|1980–81 John Player Cup (1)|1980–81}} !scope=row| Leicester |align=center| 22–15 | Gosforth | Twickenham |align=center| 24,000 | <ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Jenkins|editor1-first=Vivian|title=Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1981–82|date=1981|publisher=Rothmans Publications Limited|location=Aylesbury|isbn=0-907574-05-X|edition=10th}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|1981–82 John Player Cup (1)|1981–82}} !scope=row style="background-color:#9FC"| ''Gloucester'' |align=center style="background-color:#FBCEB1"| 12–12 | style="background-color:#9FC"| ''Moseley'' | Twickenham |align=center| 20,000 | <ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Jenkins|editor1-first=Vivian|title=Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1982–83|date=1982|publisher=Rothmans Publications Ltd|location=Aylesbury|isbn=0-907574-13-0|edition=11th}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|1982–83 John Player Cup (1)|1982–83}} !scope=row| Bristol |align=center| 28–22 | Leicester | Twickenham |align=center| 34,000 | |- |align=center| {{sort|1983–84 John Player Cup (1)|1983–84}} !scope=row| Bath |align=center| 10–9 | Bristol | Twickenham |align=center| 25,000 | <ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Jones|editor1-first=Stephen|title=Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1984–85|date=1984|publisher=Queen Anne Press|location=London|isbn=0-356-10448-6|edition=13th}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|1984–85 John Player Cup (1)|1984–85}} !scope=row| Bath |align=center| 24–15 | London Welsh | Twickenham |align=center| 32,000 | |- |align=center| {{sort|1985–86 John Player Cup (1)|1985–86}} !scope=row| Bath |align=center| 25–17 | Wasps | Twickenham |align=center| 23,000 |<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Jones|editor1-first=Stephen|title=Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1986–87|date=1986|publisher=Queen Anne Press|location=London|isbn=0-356-12361-8|edition=15th}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|1986–87 John Player Cup (1)|1986–87}} !scope=row| Bath |align=center| 19–12 | Wasps | Twickenham |align=center| 35,500 | |- |align=center| {{sort|1987–88 John Player Cup (1)|1987–88}} !scope=row| Harlequins |align=center| 28–22 | Bristol | Twickenham |align=center| 37,000 | <ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Jones|editor1-first=Stephen|title=Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89|date=1988|publisher=Queen Anne Press|location=London|isbn=0-356-15884-5|edition=17th}}</ref> |- |- |align=center| {{sort|1988–89 Pilkington Cup (1)|1988–89}} !scope=row| Bath |align=center| 10–6 | Leicester | Twickenham |align=center| 59,300 | |- |align=center| {{sort|1989–90 Pilkington Cup (1)|1989–90}} !scope=row| Bath |align=center| 48–6 | Gloucester | Twickenham |align=center| 52,000 | <ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Williams|editor1-first=Tony|editor2-last=Mitchell|editor2-first=Bill|title=Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91|date=1990|publisher=Burlington Publishing Co Ltd|location=Windsor|isbn=1-873057-024|edition=3rd}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|1990–91 Pilkington Cup (1)|1990–91}} !scope=row| Harlequins |align=center style="background-color:#FBCEB1"| 25–13 | Northampton | Twickenham |align=center| 53,000 | <ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Jones|editor1-first=Stephen|title=Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1991–92|date=1991|publisher=Queen Anne Press|location=London|isbn=0-356-20249-6|edition=20th}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|1991–92 Pilkington Cup (1)|1991–92}} !scope=row| Bath |align=center style="background-color:#FBCEB1"| 15–12 | Harlequins | Twickenham |align=center| 62,000 | |- |align=center| {{sort|1992–93 Pilkington Cup (1)|1992–93}} !scope=row| Leicester |align=center| 23–16 | Harlequins | Twickenham |align=center| 54,000 | <ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Jones|editor1-first=Stephen|title=Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993–94|date=1993|publisher=Headline Book Publishing|location=London|edition=22nd}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|1993–94 Pilkington Cup (1)|1993–94}} !scope=row| Bath |align=center| 21–9 | Leicester | Twickenham |align=center| 68,000 | <ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Jones|editor1-first=Stephen|title=Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95|date=1994|publisher=Headline Book Publishing|location=London|isbn=0-7472-7850-4|edition=23rd}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|1994–95 Pilkington Cup (1)|1994–95}} !scope=row| Bath |align=center| 36–16 | Wasps | Twickenham |align=center| | <ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Cleary|editor1-first=Mick|editor2-last=Griffiths|editor2-first=John|title=Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96|date=1995|publisher=Headline Book Publishing|location=London|isbn=0-7472-7816-4|edition=24th}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|1995–96 Pilkington Cup (1)|1995–96}} !scope=row| Bath |align=center| 16–15 | Leicester | Twickenham |align=center| 75,000 | <ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Cleary|editor1-first=Mick|editor2-last=Griffiths|editor2-first=John|title=Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996–97|date=1996|publisher=Headline Book Publishing|location=London|isbn=0-7472-7771-0|edition=25th}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|1996–97 Pilkington Cup (1)|1996–97}} !scope=row| Leicester |align=center| 9–3 | Sale | Twickenham |align=center| 75,000 | <ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Cleary|editor1-first=Mick|editor2-last=Griffiths|editor2-first=John|title=Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997–98|date=1997|publisher=Headline Book Publishing|location=London|isbn=0-7472-7732-X|edition=26th}}</ref> |- |- |align=center| {{sort|1997–98 Tetley's Bitter Cup (1)|1997–98}} !scope=row| Saracens |align=center| 48–18 | Wasps | Twickenham |align=center| 65,000 | <ref>{{cite book|last1=Cleary|first1=Mick|last2=Griffiths|first2=John|title=Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1998–99|date=1998|publisher=Headline Book Publishing|location=London|isbn=0-7472-7653-6|pages=84–98|edition=27th}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|1998–99 Tetley's Bitter Cup (1)|1998–99}} !scope=row| London Wasps |align=center| 29–19 | Newcastle | Twickenham |align=center| 50,000 | <ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Cleary|editor1-first=Mick|editor2-last=Griffiths|editor2-first=John|title=Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1999–2000|date=1999|publisher=Headline Book Publishing|location=London|isbn=0-7472-7531-9|edition=28th}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|1999–00 Tetley's Bitter Cup (1)|1999–00}} !scope=row| London Wasps |align=center| 31–23 | Northampton | Twickenham |align=center| 48,000 | <ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=McCormack|editor1-first=Stephen|title=The Official RFU Club Directory 2000–2001|date=2000|publisher=Queen Anne Press|location=Harpenden|isbn=1-85291-627-3|edition=13th}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|2000–01 Tetley's Bitter Cup (1)|2000–01}} !scope=row| Newcastle |align=center| 30–27 | Harlequins | Twickenham |align=center| 71,000 | <ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=McCormack|editor1-first=Stephen|title=The Official RFU Club Directory 2001–2002|date=2001|publisher=Queen Anne Press|location=Harpenden|isbn=1-85291-640-0|edition=14th}}</ref> |- |- |align=center| {{sort|2001–02 Powergen Cup (1)|2001–02}} !scope=row| London Irish |align=center| 38–7 | Northampton | Twickenham |align=center| 75,000 | <ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=McCormack|editor1-first=Stephen|title=The Official RFU Club Directory 2002–2003|date=2002|publisher=Queen Anne Press|location=Harpenden|isbn=1-85291-645-1|edition=15th}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|2002–03 Powergen Cup (1)|2002–03}} !scope=row| Gloucester |align=center| 40–22 | Northampton | Twickenham |align=center| 75,000 | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/latest/gloucester-lift-the-cup-and-financial-gloom-1-602562|title=Gloucester lift the cup|publisher=The Scotsman}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|2003–04 Powergen Cup (1)|2003–04}} !scope=row| Newcastle |align=center| 37–33 | Sale | Twickenham |align=center| 48,519 | <ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/3630163.stm|title=Rugby Union|date=17 April 2004 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> |- |align=center| {{sort|2004–05 Powergen Cup (1)|2004–05}} !scope=row| Leeds Tykes |align=center| 20–12 | Bath | Twickenham |align=center| 60,300 | |}

===List of champions=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! # ! Team ! Wins ! Years |- |1 | Bath | 10 | 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996 |- |2 | Leicester | 5 | 1979, 1980, 1981, 1993, 1997 |- |3= | Gloucester | 4 | 1972, 1978, 1982*, 2003 |- |3= | Newcastle | 4 | 1976, 1977 (as Gosforth), 2001, 2004 |- |5= | Harlequins | 2 | 1988, 1991 |- |5= | Wasps | 2 | 1999, 2000 |- |5= | Coventry | 2 | 1973, 1974 |- |8= | Saracens | 1 | 1998 |- |8= | Bedford | 1 | 1975 |- |8= | Moseley | 1 | 1982* |- |8= | Bristol | 1 | 1983 |- |8= | London Irish | 1 | 2002 |- |8= | Leeds Tykes | 1 | 2005 |} <nowiki>*</nowiki> 1982 title shared between Gloucester and Moseley.

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links==

Category:RFU Knockout Cup Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1971 Category:Rugby union cup competitions in England Category:Premiership Rugby Category:Recurring sporting events disestablished in 2005 Category:Defunct rugby union cup competitions