Old Patesians will host Cheltenham North in the first round of this season’s Cheltenham and District Rugby Combination Senior Cup.

And the game between the two long-time rivals on Wednesday 1st April will have added spice because the Pats will be entering their 1st XV in the competition for the first time for a number of years.

Cheltenham Combination stalwart Bob Ellis explained that the Pats’ flagship team has been readmitted because the gap between them and the other teams in the competition is not as great as it was following the club’s relegation from South West Premier.

The Pats are playing in South West One East this season, one division above Cheltenham in Western Counties North and two above promotion-chasing Gloucestershire Premier Cheltenham North.

Stow-on-the-Wold have also entered the Senior Cup this season for the first time for many years although they won’t see any action until the semi-finals after receiving a bye in the first round.

The other two first round matches see Cheltenham Saracens host Tewkesbury and holders Cheltenham entertain Smiths.

In the Junior Cup, Old Pats and Cheltenham again have home ties with Pats 2nds hosting Bredon and Cheltenham 2nds taking on holders Cheltenham Civil Service.

In the other tie Cheltenham Saracens 2nds entertain Cheltenham North 2nds, while Norton have a bye into the last four.

The Minor Shield will start at the semi-final stage this season with tighter rules being brought in on which players can and cannot play.

Gloucestershire Police will play host to Cheltenham Civil Service 2nds while Smiths 2nds travel to Tewkesbury 2nds.

All three finals will take place at Cheltenham North on Saturday 2nd May.

Senior Cup first round draw: Cheltenham v Smiths (match A, 31st March); Old Patesians v Cheltenham North (B, to be played 1st April); Cheltenham Saracens v Tewkesbury (C, 2nd April);  Stow bye (D). Semi-finals: B v C; A v Stow (matches to be played 21st April).

Junior Cup first round draw: Cheltenham 2nds v Cheltenham Civil Service (match A, 7th April); Old Pats 2nds v Bredon (B, 8th April); Cheltenham Saracens 2nds v Cheltenham North 2nds (C, 9th April); Norton bye (D). Semi-finals: C v Norton; A v B (matches to be played 22nd April).

Minor Shield semi-final draw: Gloucestershire Police v Cheltenham CS 2nds (14th April); Tewkesbury 2nds v Smiths 2nds (15th April).