A new cross-border rugby union tournament, featuring teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, is to launch next season following an agreement between the four home governing bodies.

The British and Irish Cup will be played over five weekends between the autumn internationals and the Six Nations in February, with four pool winners progressing to the semi-finals on 24 April 2010 before the final on 15 May 2010. Three Irish provinces and three Scottish teams will compete alongside 12 English Championship clubs and the top six Welsh Principality Premiership sides as part of the new tournament, which is scheduled to start on 7 November 2009.

Terry Burwell, the Rugby Football Union's tournaments and competitions director, said: "There is a real appetite for this competition and, from an English point of view, it will give Championship clubs an additional meaningful competition alongside their league structure." The Irish Rugby Football Union's director of rugby, Eddie Wigglesworth, added: "The teams involved are well known rugby entities in their own right and, in conjunction with our existing internal structures, will ensure that this group of contracted professionals have the necessary professional game exposure to meet the increasingly competitive demands at Magners League and Heineken Cup levels."