WORCESTER Warriors will face newly-promoted Bristol, Wasps, Harlequins and Welsh region Cardiff Blues in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.

The competition was put into storage last season because of the Rugby World Cup, but it has returned in a 16-team format.

Head coach Carl Hogg said: "The Anglo-Welsh Cup provides a fantastic opportunity for some of our younger players to flourish on the big stage.

"We have a really talented bunch of youngsters and playing against sides of the calibre of Bristol, Wasps and Cardiff will be ideal tests in their development."

Carl Hogg's Warriors will renew their rivalry with Bristol when the sides meet at Sixways on Friday, November 4 (7.45pm).

It will be the first competitive meeting between the clubs since their Championship play-off final in May 2015 when Ryan Lamb's final kick of the game secured promotion for Warriors.

Warriors travel to the Ricoh Arena to resume their West Midlands rivalry with Wasps on Sunday, November 13 (3pm) before welcoming Harlequins to Sixways in the New Year on Saturday, January 28 (3pm).

Warriors will round off their pool with a trip to Cardiff Blues on Saturday, February 4 (3pm).

When Warriors were last in the competition in 2013/14, they secured a 21-16 win away at Cardiff.

Warriors' 2016/17 Anglo-Welsh Cup fixtures: Warriors v Bristol, Friday, November 4 (7.45pm); Wasps v Warriors, Sunday, November 13 (3pm); Warriors v Harlequins, Saturday, January 28, 2017 (3pm); Cardiff Blues v Warriors, Saturday, February 4, 2017 (3pm).