The competition format is two-legged knockout ties with a first round of five matches, followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

The Championship winners, Ealing Trailfinders received a bye to the quarter-finals.

In the competition's inaugural season, the RFU had set out the pool matches in a regional format to encourage derby games, but this year's competition format is more loosely structured.

The four overall winners from round 1 along with the best two losing teams and Ealing Trailfinders will contest the two-legged quarter-finals.

The competition will then be played in a single-leg straight knockout format.