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2001–02 Celtic League

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2001–02 Celtic League
Countries
  • Ireland (4 teams)
  • Scotland (2 teams)
  • Wales (9 teams)
Number of teams15
Champions Leinster (1st title)
Runners-up Munster
Matches played56
Attendance252,213
(average 4,504 per match)
Tries scored271
(average 4.8 per match)
Top point scorerDavid Humphreys (Ulster), 122 points[1]
Top try scorer
Official website
www.rabodirectpro12.com

The 2001–02 Celtic League was the inaugural season of the Celtic League. The first season would see fifteen teams compete: the four Irish provinces: Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster; two Scottish teams: Edinburgh Reivers and Glasgow; and all nine Welsh Premier Division teams: Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Ebbw Vale, Llanelli, Neath, Newport, Pontypridd and Swansea.

Played alongside each country's own national competitions, the teams were split into two groups (of 8 and 7) and played a series of round-robin matches with each team playing the other only once. The top four teams from each group proceeded into the knock-out phase until a champion was found. Clashes between teams in the 2001–02 Welsh-Scottish League also counted towards the new competition.

The 2001–02 competition was dominated by the Irish teams with all four sides reaching the last eight, three progressing to the semi-finals, and the final played at Lansdowne Road contested between Leinster and Munster with Leinster running out 24–20 winners. Leinster's 10–0 debut 'perfect season' is one of only two in the history of the competition in its various forms. The other, a 17–0 record, was also achieved by Leinster was in 2020.

Background

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Wales and Scotland had joined forces for the 1999 and 2000 seasons, with the expansion of the Welsh Premier Division to include Edinburgh and Glasgow to form the Welsh-Scottish League.

In 2001, an agreement was made between the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) and Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) to create a new competition which would bring in the four Irish provinces. 2001 would see the very first incarnation of the Celtic League.

Teams and personnel

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Overview

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Country Team Stadia information Coach
Stadia Capacity Location
Ireland Connacht The Sportsground 6,129 Galway, County Galway Steph Nel
Leinster Donnybrook Stadium 6,000 Donnybrook, County Dublin Matt Williams
Munster Thomond Park 25,600 Limerick, County Limerick Declan Kidney
Musgrave Park 8,008 Ballyphehane, County Cork
Ulster Ravenhill Stadium 18,196 Belfast, Northern Ireland Alan Solomons
Scotland Edinburgh Myreside Stadium 13,799 Edinburgh, Lothian Frank Hadden
Glasgow Hughenden 6,000 Hyndland, Strathclyde Richie Dixon
Wales Bridgend Brewery Field 8,000 Bridgend, Bridgend County Borough Dennis John
Caerphilly Virginia Park 6,000 Caerphilly, Caerphilly County Borough Gareth Nicholas
Cardiff Cardiff Arms Park 12,125 Cardiff Rudy Joubert
Ebbw Vale Eugene Cross Park 8,000 Blaenau Gwent Mike Ruddock
Llanelli Stradey Park 10,800 Llanelli, Carmarthenshire Gareth Jenkins
Neath The Gnoll 6,000 Neath, Neath Port Talbot Lyn Jones
Newport Rodney Parade 8,700 Newport Ian McIntosh
Pontypridd Sardis Road 7,861 Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf Lynn Howells
Swansea St Helen's 4,500 Brynmill, Swansea John Plumtree

Locations

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Location of Irish, Scottish and Welsh teams:
2001–02 Celtic League (the United Kingdom and Ireland)
Location of Welsh teams:

Pool stage

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The teams were split into two pools and the pool stage consisted of a single round-robin; each team played the other teams in its pool once only.

Pool A

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Pool A standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Leinster (C) 7 7 0 0 281 114 +167 21 Advance to knockout stage
2 Ulster 7 4 1 2 194 157 +37 13
3 Glasgow 7 4 1 2 204 172 +32 13
4 Llanelli 7 4 0 3 175 123 +52 12
5 Swansea 7 3 0 4 124 158 −34 9
6 Bridgend 7 3 0 4 161 208 −47 9
7 Pontypridd 7 1 0 6 111 207 −96 3
8 Ebbw Vale 7 1 0 6 134 245 −111 3
Source: globalrugbyresults.com
(C) Champion

Pool A results

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17 August
19:15
Bridgend 19–27 Pontypridd
Report
Brewery Field
Attendance: 3,500
Referee: David McHugh (Ireland)
17 August
19:30
Ulster 30–13 Swansea
Report
Ravenhill Stadium
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Chris White (England)
17 August
19:35
Leinster 39–11 Glasgow
Report
Donnybrook Stadium
Attendance: 4,500
Referee: Paul Adams (Wales)
18 August
18:00
Llanelli 46–16 Ebbw Vale
Report
Stradey Park
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

24 August
19:05
Llanelli 17–19 Leinster
Report
Stradey Park
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
24 August
19:30
Ebbw Vale 18–13 Pontypridd
Report
Eugene Cross Park
Attendance: 3,000
24 August
19:30
Glasgow 25–25 Ulster
Report
Hughenden Stadium
Attendance: 6,095
Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
25 August
18:00
Swansea 16–25 Bridgend
Report
St Helen's
Attendance: 3,250[3]

28 August
19:00
Leinster 55–13 Ebbw Vale
Report
Donnybrook Stadium
Attendance: 3,200
Referee: John Barnard (England)
28 August
19:00
Ulster 26–27 Llanelli
Report
Ravenhill Stadium
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Rob Dickson (Scotland)
28 August
19:15
Pontypridd 6–11 Swansea
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
29 August
19:00
Bridgend 50–15 Glasgow
Report
Brewery Field
Attendance: 4,300

31 August
19:30
Glasgow 59–14 Pontypridd
Report
Hughenden Stadium
Attendance: 4,110
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
31 August
19:35
Leinster 31–9 Ulster
Report
Referee: Nigel Williams (Wales)
1 September
14:30
Ebbw Vale 21–26 Swansea
Report
Eugene Cross Park
Attendance: 3,500
Referee: David Davies (Wales)
1 September
14:30
Llanelli 36–3 Bridgend
Report
Stradey Park
Attendance: 3,000

7 September
19:05
Ebbw Vale 27–29 Ulster
Report
Eugene Cross Park
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)
8 September
14:30
Pontypridd 17–19 Llanelli
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
8 September
14:30
Swansea 13–21 Glasgow
Report
St Helen's
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: Donal Courtney (Ireland)
8 September
19:30
Bridgend 32–51 Leinster
Report
Brewery Field
Attendance: 2,650
Referee: Steve Lander (England)

11 September
19:00
Leinster 52–14 Pontypridd
Report
Donnybrook Stadium
Attendance: 3,056
Referee: Rob Dixon (England)
11 September
19:05
Llanelli 21–27 Swansea
Report
Stradey Park
Attendance: 4,500
Referee: David McHugh (Ireland)
11 September
19:30
Glasgow 58–22 Ebbw Vale
Report
Hughenden Stadium
Attendance: 2,179
Referee: Olan Trevor (Ireland)
12 September
19:30
Ulster 46–14 Bridgend
Report
Ravenhill Stadium
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

14 September
19:30
Glasgow 15–9 Llanelli
Report
Hughenden Stadium
Attendance: 5,375
Referee: David Tyndall (Ireland)
15 September
14:30
Ebbw Vale 17–18 Bridgend
Report
Eugene Cross Park
Attendance: 2,800
Referee: Nigel Williams (Wales)
15 September
14:30
Pontypridd 20–29 Ulster
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 3,200
Referee: Chris White (England)
15 September
14:30
Swansea 18–34 Leinster
Report
St Helen's
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Iain Ramage (Scotland)

Pool B standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Munster 6 5 0 1 228 120 +108 15 Advance to knockout stage
2 Connacht 6 4 0 2 152 97 +55 12
3 Neath 6 4 0 2 151 116 +35 12
4 Newport 6 3 0 3 147 109 +38 9
5 Cardiff 6 3 0 3 128 135 −7 9
6 Edinburgh 6 2 0 4 134 159 −25 6
7 Caerphilly 6 0 0 6 88 292 −204 0

Pool B results

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17 August
19:30
Edinburgh 22–25 Munster
Report
Myreside
Attendance: 5,410
Referee: Nigel Williams (Wales)
18 August
14:30
Caerphilly 13–43 Neath
Report
Virginia Park
Attendance: 3,500
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)
18 August
14:30
Cardiff 3–6 Connacht
Report
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Rob Dickson (Scotland)

24 August
18:15
Connacht 21–30 Edinburgh
Report
The Sportsground
Attendance: 1,800
24 August
19:00
Neath 25–14 Cardiff
Report
The Gnoll
Attendance: 5,000
25 August
14:30
Newport 50–22 Caerphilly
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 6,260

28 August
19:30
Edinburgh 20–32 Neath
Report
Myreside
Attendance: 3,075
Referee: Donal Courtney (Ireland)
28 August
19:35
Munster 40–19 Connacht
Report
Thomond Park
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Paul Adams (Wales)
29 August
19:00
Cardiff 20–14 Newport
Report
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 7,500
Referee: Steve Lander (England)

31 August
19:05
Neath 30–22 Munster
Report
The Gnoll
Attendance: 2,250
1 September
14:30
Caerphilly 15–49 Cardiff
Report
Virginia Park
Attendance: 1,900
Referee: Paul Adams (Wales)
1 September
14:30
Newport 29–11 Edinburgh
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 6,164
Referee: Olan Trevor (Ireland)

7 September
18:15
Connacht 28–10 Neath
Report
The Sportsground
Attendance: 550
Referee: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
7 September
19:30
Edinburgh 27–20 Caerphilly
Report
Myreside
Attendance: 2,648
7 September
19:35
Munster 29–21 Newport
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 4,560
Referee: Iain Ramage (Scotland)

11 September
19:15
Caerphilly 18–61 Munster
Report
Virginia Park
Attendance: 1,500
11 September
19:15
Cardiff 32–24 Edinburgh
Report
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)
11 September
19:30
Newport 14–16 Connacht
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 5,821

15 September
13:30
Munster 51–10 Cardiff
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 6,055
Referee: Rob Dickson (Scotland)
15 September
17:30
Neath 11–19 Newport
Report
The Gnoll
Attendance: 3,625[3]
Referee: Gareth Simmons (Wales)
16 September
15:00
Connacht 62–0 Caerphilly
Report
The Sportsground
Attendance: 455
Referee: Steve Leyshon (England)

Knockout stage

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Bracket

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Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
30 November – Dublin
 
 
Leinster34
 
7 December – Dublin
 
Newport22
 
Leinster35
 
1 December – Galway
 
Glasgow13
 
Connacht29
 
15 December – Dublin
 
Glasgow34
 
Leinster24
 
1 December – Limerick
 
Munster20
 
Munster13
 
8 December – Dublin
 
Llanelli6
 
Munster15
 
30 November – Belfast
 
Ulster9
 
Ulster38
 
 
Neath29
 

Quarter-finals

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30 November
19:05
Ulster 38–29 Neath
Report
Ravenhill Stadium
Attendance: 12,000

30 November
19:35
Leinster 34–22 Newport
Report
Donnybrook Stadium
Attendance: 7,300


1 December
17:30
Munster 13–6 Llanelli
Report
Thomond Park

Semi-finals

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7 December
19:30
Leinster 35–13 Glasgow
Report
Lansdowne Road
Attendance: 5,500

8 December
15:00
Munster 15–9 Ulster
Report
Lansdowne Road
Attendance: 12,500

Final

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15 December
15:00
Leinster 24–20 Munster
Report
Lansdowne Road
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
15 Girvan Dempsey
14 Denis Hickie
13 Brian O'Driscoll
12 Shane Horgan
11 Gordon D'Arcy
10 Nathan Spooner
9 Brian O'Meara
8 Victor Costello
7 Keith Gleeson
6 Eric Miller Red card
5 Malcolm O'Kelly
4 Leo Cullen
3 Paul Wallace
2 Shane Byrne
1 Reggie Corrigan (c)
Replacements:
16 Peter Coyle
17 Gavin Hickie
18 Bob Casey
19 Trevor Brennan
20 Ben Willis
21 Peter McKenna
Coach:
Matt Williams
15 Dominic Crotty
14 Anthony Horgan
13 John Kelly
12 Rob Henderson
11 John O'Neill
10 Ronan O'Gara
9 Mike Prendergast
8 Anthony Foley
7 Alan Quinlan
6 Jim Williams
5 Paul O'Connell
4 Mick Galwey (c)
3 Peter Clohessy
2 Frankie Sheahan
1 Marcus Horan
Replacements:
16 Martin Cahill
18 Mick O'Driscoll
19 Colm McMahon
21 Jason Holland
22 Mike Mullins
Coach:
Declan Kidney

Leading scorers

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Note: Flags to the left of player names indicate national team as has been defined under IRB eligibility rules, or primary nationality for players who have not yet earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-IRB nationalities.

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Leading Points-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "Leading Try-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Attendances". Rugby Network. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2008.