Shane Geraghty, David Paice, Halani Aulika and Geoff Cross posed for a 'selfie' from the club's official account @lirfc ahead of the opening game against Leicester Tigers on 1st November.

LV= is running a competition asking fans to create their own rugby family 'selfies' from the first and second rounds of the LV= Cup. The competition is open to those who submit their picture using the hash tag #rugbyfamily to @LVRugby. The prize on offer is four tickets to a game of their choice during the LV= Cup season including the Final in March 2015.

Acknowledged as a breeding ground for the next generation of international stars, the LV= Cup will enter its sixth season this weekend as the cross-border teams battle it out to claim the trophy, won by Exeter Chiefs back in March this year at their home ground.

The LV= Cup has discovered a wealth of talented young players in recent seasons with the likes of Jonny May (2012), Jack Nowell (2013) and Ollie Devoto (2014) all picking up the prestigious LV= Breakthrough Player Award which celebrates and recognises those young players who have stood out in the tournament. Using Opta match statistics, two players from each round along with two players with outstanding overall competition statistics will form a shortlist, which will be submitted to a fan vote on www.lv.com/rugby after Round 4 (06/07/08 February). The winner will be announced prior to the LV= Cup Final and LV= will donate £1,000 to a grassroots rugby initiative of their choice.

LV= Head of Sponsorship, Claire Jeromson said:

"We are very proud to be part of the rugby family and this year we wanted to mark the start of the season by celebrating those who make the LV= Cup so exciting to watch, the players themselves. The tournament has grown from strength to strength and the calibre of talent on show is indicative of how the LV= Cup provides a valuable platform for developing rugby's next generation of players.

We're looking forward to another season full of fast paced and thrilling rugby and we hope that as many of the rugby family can join us along the way."

Former England international and LV= ambassador, Lewis Moody said:

"The LV= Cup offers a fantastic platform for the next generation of rugby talent to flourish and we've seen through the likes of Jonny May and Jack Nowell who have gone onto international honours just how much it has helped in contributing to their game. I am in no doubt that the 2014/15 LV= Cup will offer another season of thrilling and fast paced rugby that we've been accustomed to. I for one will be watching closely for the upcoming talent on show."

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