LV= Cup

Sale Sharks began their Anglo-Welsh Cup 2016/17 campaign with a thrilling victory after edging out Wasps by 17-13 at Salford.

The Anglo-Welsh Cup returns this week and should prove the perfect platform, as it has for several years now, to develop the next generation of English and Welsh Test stars.

Saracens defeated defending champions Exeter 23-20 to claim the LV= Cup title at a sun-drenched Franklin's Gardens on Sunday afternoon.

Northampton Saints full-back Tom Collins insists he is already relishing the chance to follow in the footsteps of some extremely successful predecessors after being named the LV= 2014/15 Breakthrough Player of the Year.

Saracens booked their place in the LV= Cup semi-finals thanks to a 35-18 victory over Exeter at Allianz Park.

Newcastle director of rugby Dean Richards is thrilled to see his side finishing off their chances as the Falcons continued their rich vein of scoring with a 39-19 LV= Cup victory over Sale at Kingston Park.

Scarlets broke their LV= Cup duck by coming from behind to beat London Irish 27-18 at Parc y Scarlets.

Debutant fly-half Rory Jennings landed a late penalty to hand Bath a hard-fought 23-21 LV=Cup victory against Harlequins at the Stoop.

This weekend saw the second round of the LV= Cup. A competition renowned for developing some of the best young talent with many Clubs using it as a chance to give their young stars exposure.

No Aviva Premiership this weekend, but with a full-slate of Guinness Pro 12 and LV= Cup rugby, there were plenty of opportunities for players to make a name for themselves and boost their stock.

There is no excuse for missing any of the best rugby on TV this weekend or letting anything get in the way of your rugby viewing thanks to our handy guide to the best of what's on the box...

Though the LV= Cup will never match the Aviva Premiership or European rugby trophies for prestige, it plays a valuable role in developing the next generation of players who will go on to star in those more high-profile tournaments.

If England boss Stuart Lancaster opts to fill his problem centre-pairing with Bath’s Kyle Eastmond for the forthcoming autumn internationals; he will be taking a huge selection gamble admits World Cup winner Lewis Moody.

Exeter will open their defence of the LV= Cup next season with a trip to Wales.

This weekend the Exeter Chiefs sealed the first major piece of silverware in the club’s history as they clinched the LV= Cup title 15-8 at their home ground of Sandy Park against Northampton.

This weekend the Exeter Chiefs sealed the first major piece of silverware in the club’s history as they clinched the LV= Cup title 15-8 at their home ground of Sandy Park against Northampton.

Exeter secured a place in the LV= Cup final at their own Sandy Park ground after beating Bath 22-19 to secure a shot at a first major trophy in their 143-year history.

Lewis Moody believes Bath Rugby's taste for silverware could be reignited in the LV= Cup this season, but the World Cup winner admits his former side face a tough semi-final test against near rivals Exeter Chiefs on Sunday.

Now the LV= Cup Semi Finalists confirmed, the last two nominees for this season's LV= Breakthrough Player Award have joined the shortlist

Lewis Moody may be a Leicester Tigers legend but he has backed Bath Rugby’s in-form team to get the better of them in the LV= Cup and book up an all-important home semi-final.