The Vase was first contested for during the 1990–91 season, when it was known as the Provincial Insurance Cup. It was introduced by the RFU to provide a national cup competition for junior clubs in the English rugbyunion system not already competing in the Pilkington Cup, with a number of knock-out rounds culminating in the final held at Twickenham Stadium. The competition would have a number of different sponsors over the course of its history, including Provincial Insurance, Pilkington, NPI, Tetley's Brewery, Powergen and EDF Energy. Since the 2009–10 season the competition has been known as the RFU Junior Vase and is competed for by clubs playing in at level 9 of the league system. It is currently un-sponsored.
Current format
The rounds are contested on a regional basis between the four regional unions until the semi-finals, where the winner of each region enters the national competition, with the winner of each semi-final meeting at the final at Twickenham Stadium. Each region has a different qualification method and at the end of this qualification there are four regional champions who play in the national semi-finals the ground being one of the semi-finalist's home. The semi-finals pairings are London & South East against South West and Midlands against North.
North
The format for northern teams involved in the RFU Junior Vase is a league-cup hybrid with each county union in the region typically selecting one representative each. The first stage features a mini league with clubs from Cheshire and Lancashire meeting in one pool and clubs from Durham County, Northumberland and Yorkshire, meeting in the other, each side playing 2 games each. The winners of each group then meet in the north final to determine who goes forward to the national semi-finals. The competition involves representative teams from the following unions and level 9-10 leagues:
The format for Midlands teams involved in the RFU Junior Vase is a direct knockout cup with a 1st round, 2nd round, 3rd round, semi-finals and final, with all sides from the eligible leagues taking part. The winner of the final goes forward to the national semi-finals. The competition involves unions and clubs from the following level 9-10 leagues:
East Midlands – Midlands 4 East
Leicestershire – Midlands 4 East
North Midlands – Midlands 4 West, Midlands 4 West, Midlands 5 West, Midlands 5 West
As with the Midlands the format for London and South East teams involved in the RFU Junior Vase is a direct knockout cup with a 1st round, 2nd round, 3rd round, semi-finals and final, with all eligible teams taking part. The winner of the final goes forward to the national semi-finals. The competition involves 1st XV teams from the following unions and level 9-12 leagues:
The format for the south-west teams in the RFU Junior Vase is more complex with different methods of qualification decided on by the county unions that they represent. Clubs that are affiliated with Dorset & Wilts and Gloucestershire play in county based knock-out competitions first. The winners of the Dorset & Wilts competition then plays in the Southern Counties semi-finals against representatives from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, while the Gloucestershire winners play in the South West Counties semi-finals against representative from Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, with the winners then meeting in a regional final. Finally, the Southern Counties and South West Counties winners meet to determine qualification for the national semi-finals. Teams involved are typically from the following unions and level 9-12 leagues:
