CELTIC LEAGUE SOLUTION FOUND

They show that Wales had to concede “a significant financial contribution” to the Scots and the Irish in order be readmitted and will have to play midweek games to fit in all their fixtures.

The Scots and the Irish have stuck to their guns about not playing Celtic League games on the eight IRB international weekends next season – three in the Autumn and five during the RBS Six Nations – and the league campaign will start and finish on exactly the same weekends for all three nations. But the four-year accord still allows the Scots and Irish to carry on talking to the Italians about potentially bringing in four teams to the competition. They could still become part of an expanded league system, involving 15 teams but only 14 games played on a home or away basis.

In the end, the number of midweek games the Welsh sides will have to play will depend on how successful they are in the new Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Heineken Cup. If they reach the knock-out stages of either or both of those tournaments then fixtures will mount.

“Wales’s determination to play in the new tournament with England’s Premiership sides was the major cause of the Celtic row. Its creation required Welsh clubs being free of league fixtures for up to five weekends of the season,” said Celtic League Tournament Director David Jordan. “The Irish and Scots were not prepared to field weakened sides on international weekends as it would compromise their league chances. The Celtic League was excellent last year and its potential is clear.

“With Wales’s success in the RBS Six Nations last season, and with the return of the British & Irish Lions from New Zealand being an added bonus, we can now move forward, starting with arranging the fixture list.

“It’s a fantastic, powerful tournament and, in addition, all three Unions will base their European qualification on the Celtic League next season.”