A rotary valve 1 comprising a stator 3 and a rotor 5, wherein the stator comprises a plurality of connection ports (17a-17l) and orifices (19a-19l) and the rotor comprises a plurality of pairs of rotor valve orifices (23a-23h) joined by transfer channels (25a-25d). The rotor is able to be placed in different working positions whereby fluids can be fed to, for example, chromatography columns and/or can be bypassed through or around the valve. The invention also relates to a system comprising two components such as chromatography columns and a rotary valve.