View source for 2014–15 LV Cup

{{Infobox European Cup Rugby season
| name                = 2014–15 LV Cup
| image               = 
| imagesize           = 
| caption             = 
| countries           = {{flag|England}}<br>{{flag|Wales}}
| tournament format   = [[Round-robin tournament|Round-robin]] and [[Single-elimination tournament|knockout]]
| date                = 1 November 2014&nbsp;– 22 March 2015
| teams               = 16
| matches             = 
| attendance          = 
| tries               = 
| top point scorer    = 
| top try scorer      = 
| venue               = [[Franklin's Gardens]], [[Northampton]]<ref name=FinalVenue>{{cite web |url=http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/franklin-s-gardens-to-host-lv-cup-final-1-6384460 |title=Franklin’s Gardens to host LV= Cup final}}</ref>
| attendance2         = 8,685
| champions           = [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]]
| count               = 2
| runner-up           = [[Exeter Chiefs]]
| website             = [http://www.lv.com/about-us/sponsorship/rugby/lv-cup www.lv.com]
| previous year       = 2013–14
| previous tournament = 2013–14 LV Cup
| next year           = 2016–17
| next tournament     = 2016–17 Anglo-Welsh Cup
}}
The '''2014–15 LV Cup''' (styled as the '''LV= Cup''') is the 44th season of England's national [[rugby union]] cup competition, and the tenth to follow the [[Anglo-Welsh Cup|Anglo-Welsh]] format.

The competition consists of the four Welsh [[Pro14|Pro12]] teams and the twelve [[English Premiership (rugby union)|English Premiership]] clubs arranged into pools consisting of three English and one Welsh team. English clubs have been allocated to the pools depending on their finish in the [[2013–14 English Premiership (rugby union)|2013–14 Aviva Premiership]]. Teams are guaranteed two home and two away pool matches, with teams in Pools 1 and 4 playing each other and teams in Pools 2 and 3 playing each other. The top team from each pool qualifies for the semi-finals. The competition will take place during the Autumn Internationals window and during the Six Nations thus allowing teams to develop their squad players.

[[Exeter Chiefs]] were the defending champions this season after claiming the cup with a 15–8 victory over [[Northampton Saints]] in the final at [[Sandy Park]] in [[Exeter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26551754|title=LV= Cup final: Exeter Chiefs 15–8 Northampton Saints|date=16 March 2014}}</ref> The final was won by Saracens 23–20 over Exeter Chiefs with a last-minute penalty from Ben Spencer securing the Londoners' second title in the competition.

==Pool stages==
;Points system
The points scoring system for the pool stages will be as follows:<ref name=LV_FAQ>{{cite web|title=About the LV= Cup|url=http://www.lv.com/aboutus/sponsorship/rugby-sponsorship/lv-cup/|access-date=31 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825232224/http://www.lv.com/aboutus/sponsorship/rugby-sponsorship/lv-cup/|archive-date=25 August 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 4 points for a win
* 2 points for a draw
* 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match (TB)
* 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less (LB)

===Pool 1 v Pool 4===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|colspan="13" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"|'''Pool 1'''
|-
!style="width:200px"|Team
!width="30"|P
!width="30"|W
!width="30"|D
!width="30"|L
!width="30"|PF
!width="30"|PA
!width="30"|PD
!width="30"|TF
!width="30"|TA
!width="30"|TB
!width="30"|LB
!width="30"|Pts
|- style="background:#cfc"
|align="left"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] '''(2)'''            || 4 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 101 ||  62 || +39 || 10 ||  6 || 1 || 0 || '''17'''
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Gloucester Rugby|Gloucester]]                 || 4 || 3 || 0 || 1 || 102 ||  69 || +33 || 10 ||  7 || 1 || 1 || '''14'''
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Dragons (rugby union)|Newport Gwent Dragons]] || 4 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 121 || 116 || +5  || 14 || 14 || 2 || 1 || '''11'''
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Bath Rugby|Bath]]                             || 4 || 2 || 0 || 2 ||  86 ||  59 || +27 || 11 ||  6 || 2 || 1 || '''11'''
|-
|colspan="13" style="border:0px"| <small>Updated 8 February 2015<br>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20120829045834/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/matchcentre/tables/lv_cup.php Premiership Rugby]</small>
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|colspan="13" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"|'''Pool 4'''
|-
!style="width:200px"|Team
!width="30"|P
!width="30"|W
!width="30"|D
!width="30"|L
!width="30"|PF
!width="30"|PA
!width="30"|PD
!width="30"|TF
!width="30"|TA
!width="30"|TB
!width="30"|LB
!width="30"|Pts
|- style="background:#cfc"
|align="left"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Exeter Chiefs]] '''(4)'''       || 4 || 3 || 0 || 1 || 101 || 100 || +1  || 12 || 12 || 1 || 0 || '''13'''
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] || 4 || 1 || 0 || 3 ||  82 || 114 || −32 ||  9 || 12 || 1 || 1 || '''6'''
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequins]]     || 4 || 1 || 0 || 3 ||  79 ||  94 || −15 ||  8 || 10 || 0 || 2 || '''6'''
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[London Welsh RFC|London Welsh]] || 4 || 0 || 0 || 4 ||  44 || 102 || −58 ||  4 || 11 || 0 || 2 || '''2'''
|-
|colspan="13" style="border:0px"| <small>Updated 8 February 2015<br>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20120829045834/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/matchcentre/tables/lv_cup.php Premiership Rugby]</small>
|}

====Round 1====
{{rugbybox
|date = 1 November 2014
|time = 15:00
|home = (BP) [[Bath Rugby|Bath]] {{flagicon|ENG}}
|score = 47–7
|report = [https://web.archive.org/web/20141218190652/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/matchcentre/fixtures/33641.php Report]
|away = {{flagicon|ENG}} [[London Welsh]]
|try1 = [[Max Northcote-Green|Northcote-Green]] (2) 4' m, 51' c<br />[[Olly Woodburn|Woodburn]] 24' c<br />[[Try (rugby)|Penalty try]] 38' c<br />[[Matt Banahan|Banahan]] 40' m<br />[[Richard Lane (rugby union)|Lane]] 75' m<br />[[Marcus Garratt|Garratt]] 80' m
|con1 = [[Gavin Henson|Henson]] (3/7)
|pen1 = [[Gavin Henson|Henson]] (2/2) 11', 32'
|try2 = [[Nick Scott (rugby union)|Scott]] 60' c
|con2 = [[Will Robinson (rugby union)|Robinson]] (1/1)
|stadium = [[Recreation Ground (Bath)|Recreation Ground]]
|attendance = 13,300
|referee = 
}}
----
{{rugbybox
|date = 1 November 2014
|time = 15:00
|home = (BP) [[Exeter Chiefs]] {{flagicon|ENG}}
|score = 28–27
|report = [https://web.archive.org/web/20141218195205/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/matchcentre/fixtures/33640.php Report]
|away = {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Gloucester Rugby|Gloucester]] (BP)
|try1 = [[Adam Hughes (rugby union, born 1990)|Hughes]] 40' c<br />[[Fetuʻu Vainikolo|Vainikolo]] 55' m<br />[[Try (rugby)|Penalty try]] 78' c
|con1 = [[Ceri Sweeney|Sweeney]] (2/3)
|pen1 = [[Ceri Sweeney|Sweeney]] (3/3) 8', 41', 64'
|try2 = [[Gareth Evans (rugby union, born September 1991)|Evans]] 34' c<br />[[Bill Meakes|Meakes]] 42' c<br />[[Yann Thomas|Thomas]] 61' c
|con2 = [[Aled Thomas|Thomas]] (3/3)
|pen2 = [[Aled Thomas|Thomas]] (2/2) 7', 47'
|stadium = [[Sandy Park]]
|attendance = 13,300
|referee = Simon Harding ([[Rugby Football Union|RFU]])
}}
----
{{rugbybox
|date = 2 November 2014
|time = 13:00
|home = [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] {{flagicon|ENG}}
|score = 25–20
|report = [https://web.archive.org/web/20141218212232/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/matchcentre/fixtures/33651.php Report]
|away = {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequins]] (BP)
|try1 = [[Duncan Taylor (rugby union)|Taylor]] 25' c<br />[[Mike Ellery|Ellery]] 28' m<br />[[Jack Wilson (rugby union)|Wilson]] 59' c
|con1 = [[Ben Spencer (rugby union)|Spencer]] (2/3)
|pen1 = [[Ben Spencer (rugby union)|Spencer]] (2/2) 3', 70'
|try2 = [[Mark Lambert (rugby union)|Lambert]] 57' c<br />[[Charlie Walker (rugby union)|Walker]] 63' c
|con2 = [[Tim Swiel|Swiel]] (2/2)
|pen2 = [[Louis Grimoldby|Grimoldby]] (1/1) 33'<br />[[Tim Swiel|Swiel]] (1/1) 75'
|stadium = [[Allianz Park]]
|attendance = 7,012
|referee = Leighton Hodges ([[Welsh Rugby Union|Wales]])
}}
----
{{rugbybox
|date = 17 November 2014
|time = 19:35
|home = (BP) [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] {{flagicon|WAL}}
|score = 35–51
|report = [https://web.archive.org/web/20141218212232/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/matchcentre/fixtures/33651.php Report]
|away = {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Dragons (rugby union)|Newport Gwent Dragons]] (BP)
|try1 = [[Hanno Dirksen|Dirksen]] 49' c<br />[[Dafydd Howells|Howells]] 52' c<br />[[Cai Griffiths|Griffiths]] 56' c<br />[[Try (rugby)|Penalty try]] 66' c<br />[[Aisea Natoga|Natoga]] 71' c
|con1 = [[Sam Davies (rugby union)|Davies]] (5/5)
|try2 = [[Ross Wardle|Wardle]] 8' c<br />[[Lewis Evans (rugby union)|L. Evans]] 11' c<br />[[Jonathan Evans (rugby union)|J. Evans]] (2) 16' c, 40+1' c<br />[[Cory Hill|Hill]] (2) 30' c, 46' c
|con2 = [[Geraint Rhys Jones|R. Jones]] (6/6)
|pen2 = [[Geraint Rhys Jones|R. Jones]] (2/2) 6', 26'
|stadium = [[Brewery Field]]
|attendance = 2,736
|referee = 
}}

===Pool 2 v Pool 3===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|colspan="13" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"|'''Pool 2'''
|-
!style="width:200px"|Team
!width="30"|P
!width="30"|W
!width="30"|D
!width="30"|L
!width="30"|PF
!width="30"|PA
!width="30"|PD
!width="30"|TF
!width="30"|TA
!width="30"|TB
!width="30"|LB
!width="30"|Pts
|- style="background:#cfc"
|align="left"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Northampton Saints]] '''(3)''' || 4 || 3 || 0 || 1 ||  98 ||  53 || +45 || 13 ||  5 || 2 || 0 || '''14'''
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Cardiff Blues]]                || 4 || 3 || 0 || 1 ||  95 || 119 || −24 || 10 || 16 || 1 || 0 || '''13'''
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Sale Sharks]]                  || 4 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 102 || 100 || +2  || 12 || 13 || 2 || 0 || '''10'''
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[London Irish]]                 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 4 ||  69 || 118 || −49 ||  5 || 14 || 0 || 1 || '''1'''
|-
|colspan="13" style="border:0px"| <small>Updated 8 February 2015<br>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20120829045834/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/matchcentre/tables/lv_cup.php Premiership Rugby]</small>
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|colspan="13" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"|'''Pool 3'''
|-
!style="width:200px"|Team
!width="30"|P
!width="30"|W
!width="30"|D
!width="30"|L
!width="30"|PF
!width="30"|PA
!width="30"|PD
!width="30"|TF
!width="30"|TA
!width="30"|TB
!width="30"|LB
!width="30"|Pts
|- style="background:#cfc"
|align="left"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Leicester Tigers]] '''(1)''' || 4 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 106 ||  46 || +60 || 14 ||  3 || 2 || 0 || '''18'''
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Newcastle Falcons]]          || 4 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 114 ||  91 || +23 || 15 || 10 || 2 || 1 || '''11'''
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Wasps RFC|Wasps]]            || 4 || 1 || 0 || 3 || 120 || 128 || −8  || 14 || 15 || 3 || 2 || '''9'''
|-
|align="left"| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Scarlets]]                   || 4 || 1 || 0 || 3 ||  50 ||  99 || −49 ||  5 || 12 || 0 || 1 || '''5'''
|-
|colspan="13" style="border:0px"| <small>Updated 8 February 2015<br>Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20120829045834/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/matchcentre/tables/lv_cup.php Premiership Rugby]</small>
|}

==Semi finals==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!width=250| Team One
!width=250| Team Two
!width=50| Score
|-
| [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] || [[Northampton Saints]] || 24–20
|-
| [[Leicester Tigers]] || [[Exeter Chiefs]] || 22–30
|}

==Final==
{{rugbybox
|date=22 March 2015
|time=
|home=[[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] {{flagicon|ENG}}
|score= 23–20
|report=
|away= {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Exeter Chiefs]]
|try1= [[David Strettle]] (2)<br>[[Nick de Jager]]
|con1= [[Ben Spencer (rugby union)|Ben Spencer]]
|pen1= [[Ben Spencer (rugby union)|Ben Spencer]] (2)
|try2= Max Bodilly (2)
|con2= [[Gareth Steenson]] 2
|pen2= [[Ceri Sweeney]] 2
|stadium=[[Franklin's Gardens]], [[Northampton]]
|attendance= 8,365
|referee=Ian Davies (Wales)
}}

{| width="100%"
|valign="top" width="50%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|FB ||'''15'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ben Ransom]]
|-
|RW ||'''14'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Mike Ellery]]
|-
|OC ||'''13'''||{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Marcelo Bosch]]
|-
|IC ||'''12'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Tim Streather]]
|-
|LW ||'''11'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[David Strettle]]
|-
|FH ||'''10'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Nils Mordt]] 
|-
|SH ||'''9''' ||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ben Spencer (rugby union)|Ben Spencer]]
|-
|N8 ||'''8''' ||{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Ernst Joubert]]
|-
|OF ||'''7''' ||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Matt Hankin]] 
|-
|BF ||'''6''' ||{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Nick de Jager]]
|-
|RL ||'''5''' ||{{flagicon|USA}} [[Hayden Smith]]
|-
|LL ||'''4''' ||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Maro Itoje]] ([[Captain (sport)|c]])
|-
|TP ||'''3''' ||{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Juan Figallo]]
|-
|HK ||'''2''' ||{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Jared Saunders]]
|-
|LP ||'''1''' ||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Richard Barrington (rugby union)|Richard Barrington]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Replacements:'''
|-
|HK ||'''16'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Scott Spurling]]
|-
|PR ||'''17'''||{{flagicon|USA}} [[Titi Lamositele]]
|-
|PR ||'''18'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Biyi Alo]]
|-
|LK ||'''19'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[George Kruis]]
|-
|FL ||'''20'''||{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Kelly Brown]]
|-
|SH ||'''21'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} Tom Whiteley
|-
|FH ||'''22'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Alex Goode]]
|-
|FB ||'''23'''||{{flagicon|ROM}} [[Cătălin Fercu]]
|-
|colspan="3"|'''Coach:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Mark McCall]]
|-
|colspan="4"| 
|}
|valign="top" width="50%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|FB ||'''15'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Max Bodilly]]
|-
|RW ||'''14'''||{{flagicon|TON}} [[Fet'u Vainikolo]]
|-
|OC ||'''13'''||{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Adam Hughes (rugby union, born 1990)|Adam Hughes]]
|-
|IC ||'''12'''||{{flagicon|FIJ}} [[Sireli Naqelevuki]]
|-
|LW ||'''11'''||{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Tom James (rugby union, born 1987)|Tom James]]
|-
|FH ||'''10'''||{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ceri Sweeney]] ([[Captain (sport)|c]])
|-
|SH ||'''9''' ||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Haydn Thomas]]
|-
|N8 ||'''8''' ||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Kai Horstmann]]
|-
|OF ||'''7''' ||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Sam Simmonds (rugby union)|Sam Simmonds]]
|-
|BF ||'''6''' ||{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ben White (rugby union, born 1983)|Ben White]]
|-
|RL ||'''5''' ||{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Jerry Sexton]]
|-
|LL ||'''4''' ||{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mitch Lees]]
|-
|TP ||'''3''' ||{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Moray Low]] 
|-
|HK ||'''2''' ||{{flagicon|TON}} [[Elvis Taione]]
|-
|LP ||'''1''' ||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Brett Sturgess]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Replacements:'''
|-
|HK ||'''16'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Greg Bateman]]
|-
|PR ||'''17'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Carl Rimmer]]
|-
|PR ||'''18'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Alex Brown (rugby prop)|Alex Brown]]
|-
|LK ||'''19'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} Ed Holmes
|-
|FL ||'''20'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Joel Conlon]]
|-
|SH ||'''21'''||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Dave Lewis (rugby union)|Dave Lewis]]
|-
|FH ||'''22'''||{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Gareth Steenson]]
|-
|CE ||'''23'''||{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Byron McGuigan]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Coach:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Rob Baxter]]
|}
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Anglo-Welsh Cup}}
{{Rugby union in England}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lv Cup}}
[[Category:Anglo-Welsh Cup|2014-15]]
[[Category:2014–15 rugby union tournaments for clubs]]
[[Category:2014–15 English Premiership (rugby union)]]
[[Category:2014–15 in Welsh rugby union]]