The new-look Powergen Cup competition is an exciting development for Anglo-Welsh rugby, claimed tournament director Terry Burwell, the RFU operations director, at yesterday's launch at the Millennium Stadium.

The first match in the new-style competition involving England's 12 Premiership clubs and the four Welsh regions is on Friday night (7.10pm) when Newport Gwent Dragons face Leicester at Rodney Parade.

There are three pool matches this weekend, next weekend and on December 2/3/4 played on a home or away basis with back-to-back semi-finals at the Millennium Stadium on March 4 and the final at Twickenham on April 9.

Matches each weekend are to be shown live on BBC 1 Grandstand, BBC Wales and S4C. "It's an exciting development for Anglo-Welsh rugby, building on traditional strengths and we're looking forward to some great rugby," said Burwell.

"There's going to be great competition at elite level and there are financial opportunities for all teams with Powergen and the BBC as our partners."

WRU chief executive Steve Lewis said, "We've worked hard to get this tournament live. There are generations who reminisce on these games and generations who have never seen them. I think it's going to be a fantastic competition.

"We've had the FA Cup final, the Carling Cup final and the Heineken Cup final, which is returning this season, at the Millennium Stadium and now the honour of hosting double semi-finals next March. Our regions are all behind it."

This weekend's matches. Friday 7.10pm Pool D: Newport Gwent Dragons v Leicester (BBC Wales). Saturday 2pm Pool D: Worcester v Northampton; 2.15pm Pool A: Bath v Bristol; 2.30pm Gloucester v Ospreys (BBC 1 Grandstand); 5.30pm Pool B: Cardiff Blues v Saracens (S4C). Sunday 2.30pm Pool C: Newcastle v Sale; 3pm Pool B: London Irish v Wasps; 5pm Pool C: Leeds v Llanelli Scarlets (BBC Wales).