Papa Johns Men’s Community Cup: Twickenham and Sixways Stadium beckon as tournament kicks off this weekend

The road to Twickenham starts this weekend for many grassroots clubs, with Round One of the inaugural Papa Johns Men’s Community Cup starting on Saturday.

Fixtures will be played throughout April before culminating in Community Game Finals Days on April 30 and across the weekend of May 6-7.

Almost two thirds of clubs in the men’s RFU leagues entered the new cup competition, which has been developed after players said they would prefer a shorter league season followed by a cup competition. This was part of the season restructure to help increase playing numbers.

500 clubs set to compete

The men’s draw, which sees over 500 clubs competing across 24 competitions, has thrown up some tasty derbies as the cup format looks to renew old rivalries and to create some new ones.

Exciting match-ups have already been seen in the Papa Johns Women’s Cup competitions which began in September and are now reaching the latter stages.

With the Red Roses taking on France on Saturday, April 29, Twickenham is set for an action-packed weekend of international and grassroots rugby.

The Papa Johns Men’s Regional 1 Championship Final and the Papa Johns Women’s Championship play-off, Women’s Intermediate Cup and Women’s Junior Cup will all be played at the home of England Rugby on Sunday, April 30. Traditionally held at community clubs, this is the first time that women’s community finals will be hosted at Twickenham. The Papa Johns Women’s Intermediate Plate and Girls U18 and U16 Finals will take place on the same day at Sixways.

The following weekend (May 6-7) sees another bumper fixture list with the Papa Johns Men’s Regional 1 Plate, Shield, Bowl and the Boys U18 Cup Finals being held at Sixways on Saturday, before Twickenham hosts the club season finale for the Papa Johns Men’s Regional 2 Championship Finals and the Men’s Counties 1, Counties 2, Counties 3 and below finals on Sunday.

The Papa Johns Men’s Plate and Shield Finals (Regional 2; Counties 1-4) will also be held over the weekend of May 6-7 at Darlington Mowden Park (North Finals) and StoneX Stadium (South Finals).

Title partner, Papa Johns, is offering competing clubs exclusive benefits including 50% Papa Johns pizza discount codes specific to each club for members, friends and family to enjoy. On each redemption, Papa Johns will make a donation back to that community club.

“The Papa Johns Cup is the exciting opportunity for clubs and players to create unique memories on the road to Finals weekends at Twickenham and other great venues,” said Terry Burwell, RFU Council Member, Hampshire and Chair, RFU Adult Competitions Management Sub-Committee.

“Involving over 500 clubs in 24 competitions, the next six weeks of Cup rugby will match old friends and new rivals in both national and regional competitions… the road to glory starts this weekend.”

Ben Lowe, Player Experience Director at the RFU, added: “We recognise this season has been challenging for some clubs, but the new Papa Johns Community Cup is intended to create a crescendo at the end of the season for the community game.

Local rivalries to be re-ignited

“We are looking forward to seeing many clubs facing new opposition, along with others re-igniting local rivalries in a race to get to the finals at Twickenham or other prestigious grounds around the country.

“We wish all the teams the best of luck as the men’s competition kicks off this weekend, and the women’s competition reaches the latter stages.”

Speaking about the tournament, Rob Payne, Managing Director Papa Johns UK, said: “It is a fantastic opportunity for Papa Johns to be able to support grassroots rugby nationwide.

“We’d like to wish all clubs taking part the best of luck and we’re looking forward to seeing who gets to enjoy the incredible occasion of playing at Twickenham, Sixways, StoneX Stadium and Darlington Mowden Park on Papa Johns Community Cup Finals Day.”

Rob Matthews, director of rugby at Havant RFC who face Shelford on Saturday, believes having the tournament at the end of the season is a positive move.

“I think that sometimes people forget that there is this opportunity at the end of the cup campaign, which also is a massive opportunity for us to springboard into next season,” he said. “That’s one of the attractive things of having the games at the end of the season and is it’s a way of just doing something different.

Ticks many boxes at so many levels

“We’ve, for years and years, gone through a league campaign, finished the league, and then guys have gone off and played county rugby, then we come back and we start the cycle again.

“This opportunity is massive for a club to look at where they’ve come over the last season, to do something different, but also to start to prepare for next season and give people that hunger and desire to come back and play next season. And if you get it right, and you then use it as a social media and a publicity campaign, it’s going to help drive the Havant brand in the local area which will help us recruit and retain players so that we can push on next season, hopefully to promotion to level four.

“So, it ticks so many boxes at so many levels. It’s really important to us.”

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