THE OSPREYS will launch their defence of the EDF Energy Cup against Harlequins at the Liberty Stadium in October.

Their 23-6 victory over Leicester Tigers in April saw them become the first Welsh side to lift the trophy.

First up for them this season in Pool C are the Quins on the weekend of October 4 - a fixture the Ospreys won at the Twickenham Stoop 19-8 last season.

And with another home game against Worcester Warriors three weeks later, the Ospreys have an ideal chance of reaching the knockout stages again.

Ospreys coach Sean Holley said:  "We're looking forward to defending the EDF Energy Cup and are delighted that the first game will be in front of our home crowd. Harlequins are an exciting team who had a top six finish in the Guinness Premiership last year so it promises to be a great game for all rugby supporters. 

"The last two years of the EDF Energy Cup have been very positive experiences for both the Ospreys team and fans, especially last year where we achieved the ultimate prize, lifting the cup in front of our huge travelling support at Twickenham on one of the biggest rugby stages of them all.

"With two home matches at the start of this campaign we'll be looking to mount another serious assault on the trophy and will be doing all we can to keep the trophy firmly where it belongs in Ospreylia."

The EDF Energy Cup, in its fourth year, will again be contested by the 12 Guinness Premiership clubs and the four Welsh Magners League regions.

Three rounds of matches will be played in the four-team group stages at club grounds before the EDF Energy Cup semi-finals and final which will be held on the weekends of March 28 and April 18 respectively – shown live on BBC television.

The BBC will start their coverage with the visit of Guinness Premiership champions London Wasps to Gloucester Rugby in Pool A on Saturday October 4, which also sees Leicester Tigers at Bath Rugby in Pool D and Northampton Saints, back in the Premiership, entertaining Bristol Rugby in Pool D.

EDF Energy Cup Tournament Director Terry Burwell said: “The EDF Energy Cup has provided some fantastic rugby over the last three years and we are anticipating more this season.

“The first weekend alone will provide some exciting match-ups – Bath against Leicester Tigers and Gloucester versus London Wasps, not to mention Saracens against Scarlets and the Blues at Sale Sharks.

 “There is a genuine affection for cup rugby among players and supporters, as shown by the 65,000 who turned out for last April’s final at Twickenham.

“We are continually grateful to EDF Energy, who have been fantastic supporters of this tournament and domestic rugby at all levels as well as our broadcast partner, the BBC, for their continued support of cup rugby.”

Louise Poole, EDF Energy’s Director of Sponsorship, said: “With record crowds at the EDF Energy Cup final at Twickenham in April the competition continues to capture the imagination of fans. More tries are scored on average than in any other top club competition, so expect another fantastic season of cup rugby between the best sides in England and Wales.”

EDF Energy Cup 2008-9                                                        

Pool A                                                           
Newport-Gwent Dragons                                                    
London Wasps                                             
Gloucester Rugby                                        
Newcastle Falcons                                                 

Pool B                                                          
Cardiff Blues
Bath Rugby   
Sale Sharks  
Leicester Tigers                                              

Pool C                                                          
Ospreys                                             
Harlequins                             
Worcester Warriors                                     
London Irish  

Pool D
Llanelli Scarlets        
Northampton Saints 
Saracens      
Bristol Rugby                  

Round 1
Weekend of October 4                 

Pool A               Gloucester Rugby v London Wasps (October 4, 2.30pm, live on BBC Network)
Pool A               Dragons v Newcastle Falcons
Pool B               Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers
Pool B               Sale Sharks v Blues
Pool C               Ospreys v Harlequins
Pool C               Worcester Warriors v London Irish
Pool D               Northampton Saints v Bristol Rugby
Pool D               Saracens v Scarlets

Round 2
Weekend of October 25   
Pool A               Newcastle Falcons v London Wasps
Pool A               Gloucester Rugby v Dragons
Pool B               Blues v Leicester Tigers  (October 25, 2.35pm, live on BBC Network)
Pool B               Sale Sharks v v Bath Rugby
Pool C               Harlequins v London Irish  
Pool C               Ospreys v Worcester Warriors
Pool D               Saracens v Northampton Saints
Pool D               Scarlets v Bristol Rugby                              

Round 3 
Weekend of November 1 
Pool A               Newcastle Falcons v Gloucester Rugby
Pool A               London Wasps v Dragons
Pool B               Blues v Bath Rugby
Pool B               Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks
Pool C               London Irish v Ospreys
Pool C               Worcester Warriors v Harlequins
Pool D               Northampton Saints v Scarlets
Pool D               Bristol Rugby v Saracens

Semi-finals: Weekend of March 28 2009

Final: Weekend of April 18 2009 - Twickenham Stadium