[1] It was formed following the discontinuation of the British and Irish Cup at the end of the 2017–18 season.

[3] It was a deserved victory for Ealing, who were the best side in the competition, and was their second win in a cup competition in two seasons, having won the British and Irish Cup the previous season.

Runner-up London Irish, who had won the Championship league title a few weeks earlier, missed out on a notable double.

Group matches ran for six consecutive weeks from November through to December following a break in the RFU Championship league campaign.

The four winning quarter-finalists progressed to the semi-finals with the winners playing in the final in May 2019.