33:
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Secretary of the Welsh Rugby Union Dennis Gethin said "A fully fledged Celtic League is of paramount importance and we are working towards achieving that goal. To avoid overplaying our top players and for administrative reasons, the forthcoming 2003 World Cup will delay its implementation. However we
642:
Despite favourable results in the Welsh–Scottish League and the subsequent formation of the Celtic League – many in Wales were convinced that a
District model similar to that of Scotland and Ireland was the way forward for professionalism in Wales. The regional model was followed for season 2003–04.
536:
Depending on results, the invited sides then would only play each other if they qualified out of their pools. Going into their last matches both
Glasgow and Edinburgh had a chance to secure their pool runners up place. This would have meant a Glasgow/Edinburgh play-off in Wales! However Glasgow fell
488:
The SRU had even better luck with the WRU. The WRU organised a
Challenge Cup with invited sides playing against Welsh opposition. This was gerrymandered so that the invited sides only played the Welsh teams and not one another but it was an opportunity that the SRU could not afford to turn down and
532:
The WRU constructed that year's tournament so that eight Welsh teams are placed in two pools; four in each pool. The four Welsh sides in each pool then played the invited sides of that pool. The winners of each pool play a final; and the pool runners-up played a third place play-off. Hence
Glasgow
451:
stated: "This proves yet again that to put the focus on districts was an ill-conceived and ill-planned idea which wasn't thought through" Although the two districts were now bigger, the subsequent lack of progression for players, the morale sapping of losing half the
Scottish professional base and
615:
SRU Director of Rugby Jim Telfer said " When you consider that our top players will play 11 internationals next season and a minimum of seven Celtic League games and a minimum of six
Heineken Cup matches, plus our own provincial competition, them we will be already around the optimum 30 games. We
624:
The Welsh–Scottish League proved that a joint league between similar sized rugby union nations can be very successful. It was a successful model in co-operation between two distinct rugby unions. Without the success of the league it would be doubtful if the Irish Rugby Union would have entered a
573:
in the semi-final it brought a reality check to the two want-away clubs. Gareth Davies, Cardiff's chief executive, described the 39-10 defeat as: "The worst performance by a
Cardiff side I have ever seen... a very unprofessional display, ill-disciplined and with a low skill level."
856:
430:
had been an already limited tournament; with only four professional sides, and only three matches played by each team each season. Now with only two districts remaining – although the three match format was kept as a best of three – the SRU realised that
597:
With the start of the Celtic League in 2001–02, it was felt that there was no longer space for the fixtures of the Welsh–Scottish League. The 2001–02 final year's Welsh–Scottish League included jointly held fixtures in an attempt to remedy this.
540:
Despite the exhaustion of the
Scottish players and the fact that they played a number of matches in several days due to postponements the WRU Challenge Cup was deemed a success. This paved the way for the formation of the Welsh–Scottish League.
612:
are confident that as soon as it is practicable, we will have in place a cross border competition of which we can be proud and which will enhance playing standards. We thank the Scots for three excellent seasons of competitive club rugby".
727:
608:"There was a strong feeling from both the SRU and WRU that 22 league fixtures represented an unacceptably high figure, when combined with the other demands on top players next season," said a joint statement by the SRU and the WRU.
577:
The SRU's overtures to the WRU about a Welsh–Scottish League came at exactly the right time to everyone concerned. The WRU could have a new league; Cardiff and
Swansea could come back into the fold without losing face; and
392:
Welsh rugby was struggling with the professionalism of their club sides. Some felt there were too many clubs and not enough money to go round to make them competitive. The argument began to be made for regional sides.
478:
as an insult. He stated: "It was right to reject this paltry offer. What was proposed wasn't
British, just a few Welsh clubs in a predominantly English league which would have been no good to anyone".
353:
and played in various club grounds in their districts. This meant that Ireland quickly embraced their districts on professionalism. In Scotland this debate had to be completed; and the members of the
857:"Current players support switch to summer. At the very least Scots deserve a break if we are to compete against Southern Hemisphere nations Confidence is receding over Bristol's proposal"
396:
In Scotland, the situation was much worse. A lot of the top amateur clubs were against the professional districts from the start, believing that they should be entered into the
419:
This did nothing to help the fledgling professional District sides. They had poor results in European competition and attendances suffered. Eventually after two years the
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at the last hurdle. Although Edinburgh won their pool runners up spot they then pulled out of the 3rd place play-off against Bridgend due to their players' exhaustion.
973:
953:
299:
While Wales continued with the club model and attempted to professionalise their amateur clubs to compete in Europe, in Scotland the debate reached fever pitch.
273:
decreed an Open Game for Rugby Union in 1995, the Northern Hemisphere nations reacted with varying degrees of speed and enthusiasm to the new professional game.
728:"District cap does not fit six Scotland internationalists. Room left to tempt big names north as 43 players pay the penalty for rugby's contract revolution"
647:
963:
605:; the traditional powerhouse of Scottish rugby. With a third Scottish district, expansion of the Welsh–Scottish League seemed even more unlikely.
838:
360:
The SRU favoured a professional District model and put it to the clubs in an EGM in early 1996. There was significant opposition, notably from
302:
Scotland had the oldest Districts in rugby union. The Glasgow/Edinburgh provincial derby was the oldest Inter-District derby in the world.
505:
Both Glasgow Caledonians and Edinburgh Reivers were invited into the WRU's Challenge Cup; along with the South African provincial sides
368:, but the professionalisation of Scotland's districts was approved. The four amateur districts became the professional District teams
799:
601:
The Celtic League proved an instant success. The SRU was confident enough to revive one of its disbanded districts and chose the
249:
878:
365:
968:
690:
291:, however, largely was stunned by the announcement. Scotland did not enter any teams into the 1995–96 season's Heineken Cup.
17:
427:
327:
745:
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The Irish were against joining any kind of British and Irish league. However the SRU engendered good relations with the
958:
943:
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have to guard against player burn-out and that becomes an even more important issue as the 2003 Rugby world Cup looms"
323:
526:
514:
76:
54:
820:
47:
522:
781:
463:
Something had to be done. The SRU favoured a Celtic League model with Ireland, Wales and Scotland in a league.
303:
763:
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and were playing friendlies against English sides in an attempt to curry favour with the English Rugby Union.
281:
474:
a place for around 4 or 5 Welsh teams in the English leagues. This was flatly rejected by the Welsh boss
482:
349:
were members of the IRFU and had their own grounds; in Scotland the districts were not members of the
637:
626:
423:
cut the four districts to two, merging Edinburgh and the Borders; and Glasgow and Caledonia in 1998.
630:
564:
41:
602:
557:
381:
58:
920:
416:– went around Scotland drumming up support for a professional Club model to be used instead.
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However they were still involved in the Welsh Cup competition. When Cardiff was trounced by
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510:
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8:
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and organised friendlies for Glasgow and Edinburgh to play against the Irish provinces.
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533:(and Edinburgh and other invited sides) only played Welsh opposition in their pools.
471:
447:
The pruning of the District model gave an impetus to those favouring the Club model.
277:
245:
899:
579:
490:
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Meanwhile, in Wales, moves were afoot to try and create an Anglo-Welsh League. The
453:
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needed more competition than each other to be competitive in European competition.
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369:
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were already thinking of joining the English leagues. They had pulled out of the
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921:"Newsroom - Welsh Rugby Union - Official Website : Welsh/scottish League"
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and lasted three seasons, being disbanded after the Celtic League was set up.
937:
405:
342:
284:, the Heineken Cup; alongside teams from Ireland, Italy, Romania and France.
710:"District pruning 'natural progression' There's no SRU-turn claims Paterson"
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346:
197:
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largely continued as was. They entered teams into the 1995–96 season's
315:
233:
144:
839:"Ill-fated Welsh tour almost provokes Reivers' strike action"
357:
would decide on the way forward. The clubs were the members.
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237:
210:
192:
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156:
264:
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instead. A 'Gang of Four' – ex-Scottish internationalists
544:
800:"200 fans see Caledonians show signs of silver lining"
619:
815:
813:
704:
702:
306:
and Edinburgh District were founded in 1872. (Hence
648:
Introduction of regional rugby union teams in Wales
592:
589:The Welsh–Scottish League began in season 1999–00.
810:
678:
452:the continued ill-feeling from the clubs hampered
974:Defunct rugby union leagues in the United Kingdom
954:Professional sports leagues in the United Kingdom
699:
935:
442:
879:"Rugby Union: Cardiff count cost of rebellion"
326:were formed later, and they all played in the
294:
894:
892:
915:
913:
872:
870:
746:"SRU look to Celtic League despite warnings"
900:"The end is nigh for Welsh/Scottish League"
586:could finally have opposition they needed.
889:
876:
685:. Mainstream Publishing Company, Limited.
673:
318:to commemorate this.) The other districts
252:season onwards. It was a precursor to the
910:
867:
77:Learn how and when to remove this message
500:
265:Impact of Professionalism in Rugby Union
40:This article includes a list of general
964:Defunct rugby union leagues in Scotland
497:claimed their place in the tournament.
333:Unlike Ireland, whose provincial teams
14:
936:
821:"Not much of challenge for superteams"
669:
667:
665:
663:
661:
545:Formation of the Welsh–Scottish League
517:national side (in Glasgow's pool) and
529:national side (in Edinburgh's pool).
625:Celtic League or the Pro12 (now the
428:Scottish Inter-District Championship
328:Scottish Inter-District Championship
26:
658:
620:Legacy of the Welsh–Scottish League
24:
629:) formed with the addition of the
46:it lacks sufficient corresponding
25:
985:
782:"Glasgow well out of their depth"
764:"End of the line for new league"
593:End of the Welsh–Scottish League
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31:
849:
877:Tim Glover (23 October 2011).
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13:
1:
652:
969:Rugby union leagues in Wales
460:progress for years to come.
443:Moves toward a Celtic League
282:European Rugby Champions Cup
7:
295:Club versus District debate
240:jointly implemented by the
112:; 25 years ago
10:
990:
949:Inter-Celtic organisations
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635:
562:
259:
959:United Rugby Championship
638:United Rugby Championship
627:United Rugby Championship
204:
162:
132:
124:
106:
96:
681:Looking back... for once
631:Italian Rugby Federation
218:(except 2001–02 season)
61:more precise citations.
558:Welsh Premier Division
525:national side and the
944:Welsh–Scottish League
501:The WRU Challenge Cup
226:Welsh–Scottish League
92:Welsh–Scottish League
18:Welsh-Scottish League
565:1998–99 rebel season
421:Scottish Rugby Union
355:Scottish Rugby Union
351:Scottish Rugby Union
289:Scottish Rugby Union
242:Scottish Rugby Union
806:. 5 September 1998.
677:(4 November 2023).
580:Glasgow Caledonians
468:English Rugby Union
330:from 1953 onwards.
93:
863:. 15 January 1999.
845:. 29 January 1999.
770:. 3 February 1999.
320:North and Midlands
91:
827:. 9 January 1999.
788:. 29 August 1998.
692:978-1-84596-062-9
584:Edinburgh Reivers
472:Welsh Rugby Union
287:Scotland and the
278:Welsh Rugby Union
246:Welsh Rugby Union
222:
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16:(Redirected from
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734:. 16 April 1998.
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716:. 27 March 1998.
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433:Glasgow Warriors
370:Glasgow Warriors
308:Glasgow Warriors
304:Glasgow District
216:WRU Championship
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57:this article by
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366:Keith Robertson
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362:Gavin Hastings
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571:Llanelli RFC
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476:Graham Henry
470:offered the
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398:Heineken Cup
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67:October 2023
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554:Swansea RFC
550:Cardiff RFC
271:World Rugby
230:rugby union
163:Most titles
101:Rugby union
59:introducing
938:Categories
904:ESPN scrum
675:Jim Telfer
653:References
449:David Sole
410:David Sole
402:Jim Aitken
232:league in
107:Instituted
42:references
925:wru.co.uk
495:Edinburgh
458:Edinburgh
250:1999–2000
248:from the
200:(1 title)
188:(1 title)
176:(1 title)
513:and the
380:and the
339:Connacht
335:Leinster
316:1872 Cup
244:and the
234:Scotland
198:Llanelli
145:Scotland
527:Georgia
515:Romania
491:Glasgow
454:Glasgow
343:Munster
260:History
186:Swansea
174:Cardiff
133:Nations
115: (
55:improve
689:
523:Canada
521:, the
347:Ulster
228:was a
154:
142:
44:, but
519:Natal
489:both
324:South
269:When
238:Wales
157:Wales
128:11–12
97:Sport
687:ISBN
582:and
552:and
509:and
493:and
483:IRFU
456:and
435:and
426:The
412:and
364:and
345:and
322:and
310:and
236:and
224:The
117:1999
110:1999
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