The Provincial Towns Cup is upon us once more with the top competition for junior rugby in Leinster kicking off in the new year.
The draw for the 91st tournament was made ahead of Leinster and Toulon’s clash at the Aviva on Saturday afternoon and threw up a less-than-hectic opening weekend for local sides.
For their parts, Kilkenny and Tullow both secured safe passage into the second round with automatic byes awarded to the first five teams out of the pot. They join last year’s winners Enniscorthy who had beaten Kilkenny by the slimmest of margin’s in this April’s finals.
Carlow, however, will compete in the first round of the cup as they look to bring their strong league form to Cill Dara, hosts of last year’s final.
Here’s the draw in full.
2016 Provincial Towns Cup Draw
- Ashbourne v Boyne 2nd XV
- Wexford Wanderers v Athy
- Portarlington v Naas 2nd XV
- Gorey v Dundalk 2nd XV
- Portlaoise v Tullamore 2nd XV
- Longford v Wicklow
- Midland Warriors v Navan 2nd XV
- Newbridge v Clondalkin
- Co Carlow v Cill Dara
- Roscrea v Edenderry
New Ross, North Kildare and Mullingar join Kilkenny, Tullow and Enniscorthy with second round byes. Carlow’s game against Cill Dara takes place on Sunday 31 January at 2.30pm in Oak Park with second round fixtures announced that evening.
We’ll be keeping an eye on the three local sides in action in this year’s PTC competition both on air and here on the Fanzone.
