Played across five pools, each with four teams, the English, Irish and Welsh clubs making up this year's British & Irish Cup will begin the new season campaign during the second weekend of October.
The Ulster Ravens sponsored by CD Group have been drawn in Pool 2 alongside Rotherham Titans, Leeds Carnegie and a Welsh Principality Premiership club to be confirmed.
Current title-holders Leinster 'A' will travel to Brickfields, facing Championship side Plymouth Albion. The Dublin side are the only team to have successfully defended their title, securing a win over Leeds Carnegie at Donnybrook in May to retain the trophy after claiming it for the first time in 2012/13.
A local derby awaits 2013/14 runners-up Leeds Carnegie as they host Rotherham Titans at Headingley. While both sides were knocked out of the Championship play-offs, each impressed across the board last season. James Lowes' men showed commitment to playing with ball in hand, scoring 91 tries in the process while Rotherham captivated Championship followers, progressing to the knock-out stages for the first time following a seventh-place finish in the previous season. The Ulster side will face former team-mates David McIlwaine and James McKinney when the take on Leeds and Rotherham respectively. The Ravens will be looking to improve on their 13 point campaign last season.
The Welsh participants in the tournament will be based on regional play-offs at the start of the season, with final positions in last season's Principality Premiership giving team’s home field advantage. Pontypridd represented the Welsh contingent in last year's knock-out stages, narrowly losing out to eventual winners Leinster 'A' in a thrilling encounter at Sardis Road.
After discussion among all four Unions, four Principality Premiership teams will continue to represent Wales in the competition, joining the 12 clubs of the Greene King IPA Championship as well as four provincial teams from Ireland. Due to changes in the competition dates, Scottish clubs will not participate in the 2014/15 competition meaning that season's competition will move from 24 teams to 20, playing in five pools of four.
2014/15 British & Irish Cup Structure
Pools
Ulster Ravens Fixtures