New Celtic Cup for young guns

THE WRU and their Irish counterparts have announced a joining of forces to create a new Celtic Cup tournament for the emerging professional players from the two countries.

The plan is that the cream of the country’s young talent, possibly bolstered by a few older heads or returning injured players, will feature for the four Welsh professional sides, Cardiff Blues, Ospreys, Dragons and Scarlets, to take on the four Irish provinces.

In recent years, Regional Premiership Select XVs have provided the platform for rising young talent in the British and Irish Cup. The regions have also largely used the AngloWelsh Cup as a development tool.

However, both competitions have now been scrapped.

The Celtic Cup competition will run over seven consecutive weeks starting on the weekend of September 7-8. The eight teams will be divided into two conferences of four Welsh regions and four Irish provinces.

Each Irish province will play each of the Welsh regions and will play against two Irish provinces. Similarly, the Welsh regions will play each of the Irish provinces and will play two of their Welsh counterparts.

The top-ranked Irish and Welsh teams will contest the final. The venue will be confirmed at a later date.

WRU head of rugby performance Geraint John said: “We are excited about this new development for the performance pathway in Wales.

“The Celtic Cup will help develop players into senior professionals while also promoting and improving Welsh coaches and other performance staff such as strength and conditioning coaches, analysts and referees.

“The block programme of matches will greatly help all involved to build week to week in a professional environment and competition structure, helping to underpin the development of future regional and international players.”

Pool 1: Connacht; Leinster; Munster; Ulster. Pool 2: Blues; Dragons; Ospreys; Scarlets.

Fixtures: Sept 7; Munster v Connacht, Irish Independent Park (1730); Ulster v Leinster, Malone (1700); Ospreys v Scarlets, Bridgend (1900); Dragons v Cardiff Blues, Rodney Parade (1915).

Sept 14: Ulster v Scarlets, Instonians/ Cooke (1900).

Sept 15: Leinster v Cardiff Blues, Energia Park (1400); Ospreys v Munster, Swansea (1400); Dragons v Connacht, Ystrad Mynach (1430).

Sept 21: Munster v Dragons, Irish Independent Park (1730); Connacht v Ospreys, Corinthian Park (1500).

Sept 22: Scarlets v Leinster, Parc y Scarlets (1430); Cardiff Blues v Ulster, Cardiff Arms Park (1430).

Sept 28: Leinster v Ospreys, Energia Park (1930).

Sept 29: Cardiff Blues v Munster, Arms Park (1400); Ulster v Dragons, Ballymena Park (1430); Scarlets v Connacht, Carmarthen Park (1430).

Oct 5: Munster v Scarlets, Irish Independent Park (1930); Ospreys v Ulster, Swansea (1900).

Oct 6: Dragons v Leinster, Ystrad Mynach (1430); Connacht v Cardiff Blues, Galway Sportsground (TBC).

Oct 12,13,14: Leinster v Munster TBC; Connacht v Ulster TBC; Cardiff Blues v Ospreys TBC; Scarlets v Dragons TBC.