Seven teams will go toe-to-toe in this season’s Cheltenham and District Combination Senior Cup.

The draw was made last night and in a move to ease the end-of-season fixture congestion, matches can be played throughout the upcoming campaign rather than just in April and May.

Finals day, which also incorporates the Junior Cup and Minor Shield finals, will still be played at the end of the season on a date and venue which will be confirmed at the next Combination meeting in six weeks’ time.

Only four teams entered the Senior Cup last season but the return of Cheltenham Tigers, Tewkesbury and Cheltenham Saracens, whose flagship team played in the Junior Cup in 2024/25, gives the competition a real heavyweight look.

“It’s great to have Cheltenham Tigers and Tewkesbury back,” said competitions secretary Mark Spreadbury. “It’s great to have proper knockout games in the first round, it’s much more meaningful this year.”

Cheltenham Tigers and Cheltenham Saracens have been drawn against each other in the first round – Tigers have home advantage – while Tewkesbury will host Old Patesians.

Stow-on-the-Wold entertain Smiths in the other first-round tie with Cheltenham North having a bye into the last four.

Six teams have entered the Junior Cup while seven, including Gloucestershire Police, will take part in the Minor Shield.

Meanwhile, the RFU Men’s Community Cup, previously known as the Papa John’s Cup, gets underway on Saturday with a number of mouthwatering fixtures.

Smiths host Old Patesians in the first round of the Counties 2 Championship while in the same competition, Cheltenham North are at home to Old Richians.

Matches in this season’s Community Cup will be played throughout the season.

Cheltenham Combination draws - Senior Cup first round: Cheltenham Tigers v Cheltenham Saracens; Tewkesbury v Old Patesians; Stow-on-the-Wold v Smiths. Bye, Cheltenham North.

Semi-finals: Cheltenham Tigers/Cheltenham Saracens v Tewkesbury/Old Patesians; Stow-on-the-Wold/Smiths v Cheltenham North.

Junior Cup first round: Cheltenham Tigers 2nds v CCS Warpigs; Stow-on-the-Wold 2nds v Tewkesbury 2nds. Byes: Cheltenham North 2nds, Old Patesians 2nds.

Semi-finals: Cheltenham North 2nds v Old Patesians 2nds; Cheltenham Tigers 2nds/CCS Warpigs v Stow-on-the-Wold 2nds/Tewkesbury 2nds.

Minor Shield first round: Cheltenham Saracens 2nds v Cheltenham North 3rds; Smiths 2nds v CCS Warpigs 2nds; Cheltenham Tigers 3rds v Old Patesians 3rds. Bye: Gloucestershire Police.

Semi-finals:  Cheltenham Saracens 2nds/Cheltenham North 3rds v Gloucestershire Police; Smiths 2nds/CCS Warpigs 2nds v Cheltenham Tigers 3rds/Old Patesians 3rds.