Wales axed from Celtic
Wales Out!
By Andrew Collins
June 1 2005
The four Welsh regions, Cardiff Blues, Llanelli Scarletts, The Ospreys and NG-Dargons will no longer be in the Celtic League. The WRU broke chartered rules much to the disagreement of the SRU and IRU.
This statment has been made on behalf of the WRU by David Moffett:
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"We were, are and would have remained 100% committed to a fully fledged Celtic League in whatever guise it takes next season," |
So where does that leave us?
One thing is for sure, the Blues, former champions Llanelli Scarletts, Newport Gwent Dragons and this years Celtic League Champions The Ospreys will not be in next seasons Celtic League.
At current, the Welsh regions will play in the new Anglo-Welsh Powergen Cup with the 12 English Premiership sides, the tournement which has led to us being thrown out. We will also play in the heineken cup, however next seasons entry is uncertain if no new league is developed.
Is this Good or Bad?
Only time will tell whether this was a good move for the Welsh regions. The Celtic Legue definately showed signs of being a strong, competative league, however the Scottish sides were not good enough, and the Irish never took it seriously. In Wales' favour however is the opinion that they need us more than we need them.
The Celtic League brought undoubted finances to the regions with the number of home matches as well as television rights.
What will happen next?
There are a number of possible fixtures for next season -
a) Each region plays each other up to 3 times in a pathetic mini league losing intrest, money and credibility. - Most likley.
b) We spend all year in the Welsh Premiership.
c) We play friendlies against anybody who is willing
and d) (which is the best option and would definately be a good move), is to join the Zurich Premiership. However this option is unlikely and any agreement would not come until next season at closest I would think, and would be pending the success of the Powergen Cup. This option may also see the regions possibly relegated and have trouble even reaching the heineken cup through the league standings.
Where has this come from?
The IFU and SFU are unhappy the WRU chose to form an Anglo-Welsh League rather than join them in what can only be described as the useless 'Rainbow Cup' against SA teams. The CL officials haven't been able to leave the league alone long enough to get a sponser, by making new cups, then stopping them, then new rules, new look syle etc. However despite its obvious faults, the League boasted the likes of Cardiif, The Ospreys, Scarletts, Munster, Leinster, and Ulster who all have long standing history and good crowd attendences which showed signs that the CL could become huge rivaling the ZP.
The CL was also looking to bring in Italian sides to add to the competition, making it home or away matches. A stuipid idea and misses the blatent fact that Italy aren't a Celtic nation.
As fans
We get another year of mediocrety and humilliation as we crash out in Europe and play our meaningless mini league. We will be getting less games and variation of opponents than last year, for the same price, not to mention the fact we have to try to convince players like Xavier Rush to come and join us here in Wales, home of the Worst Run Union.
The best possible outcome is the most farfetched one in that there is a massive turn around and we are put back in the CL with the Anglo-Welsh competition being allowed. However those odds are about 10000000000/1. So the next best option is to try and join the ZP. But this means that we have long away journeys to Leeds, Newcastle and Manchester and face the likelihood of not qualifying for Europe and even relegation to devision 1 with Penzance & Newyln, Portsmouth and Bedford.
So off the back of the greatest year for Welsh rugby fans in 27 years, the fans are put through yet more traunma and uncertainty.....It's funny, why im sure, in the distance i can just hear the slight cackle of a Celtic Warrior fan!