The nights are getting lighter and spring is only just around the corner with the clocks going forward on the final weekend of March.

Okay, so that is still a few weeks away, but once we move into British Summer Time it’s extra special for rugby fans because it signals the start of the end-of-season cup festivities, namely the Cheltenham and District Combination knockout competitions.

And the good news is that they are “alive and well”.

So says Bob Ellis, the president of the Cheltenham and District Combination and a long-time supporter of all things rugby in the north of the county.

“It’s still a special part of the rugby calendar,” said Ellis. “The competition has been rejuvenated in the past five years or so since we’ve held all three finals on the same day at the same venue.

“It’s something I look forward to. Cheltenham, Cheltenham Saracens and Cheltenham North have all hosted the finals day and we get good numbers turning up throughout the day. The competition is alive and well.”

This year’s finals day is at Cheltenham North on Saturday 2nd May and will kick off with the Minor Shield, followed by the Junior Cup and then the Senior Cup.

The Combination’s Senior Cup has been strengthened this season by the involvement of Stow-on-the-Wold, who have entered the competition for the first time for a good number of years.

Old Patesians will also be fielding their 1st XV in the flagship competition for the first time for a while and it will be a spicy return as they host old rivals Cheltenham North in a first-round tie on Wednesday 1st April.

Senior Cup first round draw:

Cheltenham v Smiths (match A, to be played 31st March)
Old Patesians v Cheltenham North (B, 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).