By Andrew Collins
August 1 2006

The Anglo-Welsh cup has just signed a sponsorship deal with EDF Engery for the next 3 seasons.

It's more good news for the WRU, who also landed a deal with Magners for the Celtic League. This partnership will bring in less money for the Welsh clubs, as 16 teams take part, rather than 11 in the Magners League, but will bring added revenue all the same.

The touremant has undergone some major changes in the last few seasons, origionally just an English club-based knock out trophie, the formerly Powergen Cup changed its format last year, and joined forced with the Welsh clubs to bring some more competition and make it more prestigious. It changed to a league-to-knock-out formate, whereby 1 team from each group of 4 qualifies to the knock-out stages.

The groups stay the same every year, bar the promoted and relegated sides swapping, with home and away fixtures rotating annually. The Cardiff Blues find themselves in the London group, with last years winners Wasps, Saracens and London Irish.

Under the terms of the new deal, things are set to change again, but thankfully just the name; officially it will now be known as the EDF Energy Cup.

The Blues kick off on September 30th at home against the reigning champs.