At a meeting of the Celtic Nations – Ireland, Scotland and Wales – held yesterday the Celtic Accord was signed, thus ratifying the decision of the three Unions to commence the Celtic League for season 2001-2002.

The Accord confirms four Irish provinces, two Scottish professional teams and nine Welsh clubs have committed to the competition, the first year of which will kick-off on the weekend of Saturday 18 August with the final on
Saturday 15 December. The competition will be played in two conferences before the knockout stages.

‘I am convinced the Celtic League can only be good for the rugby development of our three countries and that, in turn, can only be beneficial for the overall strength of Northern Hemisphere rugby,’ said Syd Millar, who has chaired the group which has brought the league into being.

The fixture list was agreed at yesterday’s meeting and will be released after consultation with relevant commercial bodies. An announcement on sponsorship will follow.

The Celtic League will run for an initial period of three years. Teams involved in the first year are Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster from Ireland, Edinburgh Reivers and Glasgow Caledonians from Scotland and Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Ebbw Vale, Llanelli, Neath, Newport,
Pontypridd and Swansea from Wales.

For further information, please contact:
John Redmond,
Slattery PR
Tel: +323 (0)661 4055

Graham Law, SRU
Tel: +44 (0)131 346 5164

Lyn Davies, WRU
Tel: +44 (0)292 078 1720