The RFU revealed the routes to May’s final yesterday following the last round of group fixtures on Saturday, but as expected they opted against using seedings exclusively.
Instead, Twickenham officials hand-picked their last-eight ties, meaning second-seeds Jersey – beaten finalists last season – have been denied the chance to exact revenge on champions Munster A, who were ranked seventh overall at the conclusion of the group stage.
However, the decision will provide Harvey Biljon’s men with another home tie in the last-four – against Munster or Leinster A – if they triumph against the Knights on Good Friday, 30 March or Saturday 31 March.
Jersey clung on to second place in the seedings on Saturday, despite losing 26-19 to Yorkshire Carnegie.
‘I won’t lie – I am a little disappointed that we don’t have Munster,’ said Reds head coach Biljon.
‘I wanted a replay of the final and I wanted Munster to come here.
‘But the fact that we’ve got a quarter-final at home … we’ve got to be confident.’
Elsewhere, Ealing will host either Yorkshire Carnegie or Cornish Pirates (the latter had their final group game postponed on Saturday), and Bedford will welcome Ulster A.
More in Tuesday’s JEP.
