The Reds, who are yet to make it out of the group stages after falling short in the previous three seasons, have been drawn into Pool 5 for the upcoming campaign and will follow their round one tie against the Knights – last season’s beaten finalists – with trips to face a Premiership select side from Newport Gwent Dragons and Irish outfit Connacht Eagles.
‘It looks like a tough pool, but it is one we can get excited about,’ said head coach Harvey Biljon.
‘We know how seriously Doncaster take the B&I Cup given they were finalists last season, and as for the Dragons they’re historically always in the quarter-finals or the semi-finals. So if you look at it that way we are playing a finalist and a quarter finalist in the group. And for myself personally it’ll be the first time I’ve coached a team against Connacht, so I will be excited.’
Biljon’s men begin their cup schedule on the weekend of 14 November at St Peter, with the group stages continuing until 23 January – when the Islanders travel to Doncaster.
Pool 1: Ealing Trailfinders, Moseley, Leinster ‘A’, Rotherham Titans
Pool 2: Bedford Blues, Scarlets Premiership Select, Bristol Rugby, Ulster Ravens
Pool 3: Ospreys Premiership Select, Yorkshire Carnegie, Munster ‘A’, London Scottish
Pool 4: Nottingham Rugby, Cardiff Blues Premiership Select, London Welsh, Cornish Pirates
Pool 5: Newport Gwent Dragons Premiership Select, Connacht Eagles, Doncaster Knights, Jersey RFC
JRFC Fixtures
Weekend 13/14/15 November: Doncaster Knights (h); 20/21/22 November: Newport Gwent Dragons (a); 11/12/13 December: Connacht Eagles (a); 18/19/20 December: Connacht Eagles (h); 15/16/17 January: Newport Gwent Dragons (h); 23 January: Doncaster Knights (a).