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.
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.
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.
^ ab"Leading Points-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
^ ab. RaboDirect PRO12. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
^Jim Stokes, "Ulster swamp Swansea", BBC Sport, 14 August 2001
^ ab"Attendances". Rugby Network. Retrieved 3 March 2008.
^"Llanelli snatch dramatic win", BBC Sport, 28 August 2001
^"D'Arcy double destroys Ulster", BBC Sport, 31 August 2001
^"Wallace stars in Ulster fightback", BBC Sport, 7 September 2001
^"Humphreys and Ulster in the mood", Irish Inependent, 13 September 2001
^"Humphreys saves Ulster", BBC Sport, 15 September 2001
^Micheal McGeary, "Home, Boys", Sunday Life, 16 September 2001
January 29, 2023
2001, celtic, league, inaugural, season, celtic, league, first, season, would, fifteen, teams, compete, four, irish, provinces, connacht, leinster, munster, ulster, scottish, teams, edinburgh, reivers, glasgow, nine, welsh, premier, division, teams, bridgend, . 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 2001 02 Celtic LeagueCountriesIreland Scotland WalesChampionsLeinster 1st title Runners upMunsterMatches played56Attendance252 213 average 4 504 per match Tries scored271 average 4 8 per match Top point scorerDavid Humphreys Ulster 122 points 1 Top try scorerGirvan Dempsey Leinster Denis Hickie Leinster 7 tries 2 Official websitewww wbr rabodirectpro12 wbr com2002 03 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 Contents 1 Background 2 Teams 3 Pool stage 3 1 Pool A Table 3 2 Pool A Fixtures 3 3 Pool B Table 3 4 Pool B Fixtures 4 Knockout stages 4 1 Quarter finals 4 2 Semi finals 4 3 Final 5 Leading scorers 5 1 Top points scorers 5 2 Top try scorers 6 Notes 7 External links 8 ReferencesBackground EditWales 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 Edit Connacht Leinster Munster Ulster Edinburgh Glasgow South Wales see map at rightclass notpageimage Location of 2001 02 Celtic League teams in Scotland and Ireland Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Ebbw Vale Llanelli Neath Newport Pontypridd Swanseaclass notpageimage Location of 2001 02 Celtic League teams in Wales Pool A Pool B Team Stadium Capacity City Area Bridgend Brewery Field 6 000 Bridgend Wales Caerphilly Virginia Park 5 000 Caerphilly Wales Cardiff Cardiff Arms Park 12 500 Cardiff Wales Connacht Galway Sportsgrounds 6 000 Galway Republic of Ireland Ebbw Vale Eugene Cross Park 8 000 Ebbw Vale Wales Edinburgh Myreside 5 500 Edinburgh Scotland Glasgow Hughenden Stadium 6 000 Glasgow Scotland Leinster Donnybrook Stadium 6 000 Dublin Republic of Ireland Llanelli Stradey Park 10 800 Llanelli Wales Munster Thomond ParkMusgrave Park 13 2008 500 Limerick Republic of IrelandCork Republic of Ireland Neath The Gnoll 6 000 Neath Wales Newport Rodney Parade 11 676 Newport Wales Pontypridd Sardis Road 7 861 Pontypridd Wales Swansea St Helen s 4 500 Swansea Wales Ulster Ravenhill 12 300 Belfast Northern IrelandPool stage EditThe 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 Table Edit Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Pts1 Leinster 7 7 0 0 281 114 167 35 8 212 Ulster 7 4 1 2 194 157 37 19 17 133 Glasgow 7 4 1 2 204 172 32 25 17 134 Llanelli 7 4 0 3 175 123 52 14 7 125 Swansea 7 3 0 4 124 158 34 9 12 96 Bridgend 7 3 0 4 161 208 47 17 25 97 Pontypridd 7 1 0 6 111 207 96 8 25 38 Ebbw Vale 7 1 0 6 134 245 111 13 29 3Match points were awarded as follows 3 points for a win 1 point for a drawGreen background rows 1 to 4 qualify for the knock out stage Source RaboDirect PRO12 Pool A Fixtures Edit 17 August 200119 15Bridgend 19 27 PontypriddReportBrewery Field Attendance 3 500 17 August 200119 30Ulster 30 13 SwanseaTry Free Shields ToppingCon Humphreys 3 Drop HumphreysReport 3 Match CentreTry PayneCon HensonPen HensonRavenhill Attendance 6 000Referee C White 17 August 200119 35Leinster 39 11 GlasgowTry Girvan DempseyGordon D ArcyAndrew DunneCon Brian O Meara x 3Pen Brian O Meara x 6PreviewPreviewReportReportReportReportTry Andy NicolPen Tommy Hayes x 2Donnybrook Stadium Attendance 4 500Referee Paul Adams Wales 18 August 200118 00Llanelli 46 16 Ebbw ValeReportStradey Park Attendance 3 000 24 August 200119 05Llanelli 17 19 LeinsterReportStradey Park Attendance 4 000 24 August 200119 30Ebbw Vale 18 13 PontypriddReportEugene Cross Park Attendance 3 000 24 August 200119 30Glasgow 25 25 UlsterTry Gordon Simpson x 2Andy NicolCon Tommy Hayes x 2Pen Tommy HayesJames McLarenPreviewPreviewPreviewReportReportReportTry Paddy WallaceRyan ConstableRussell NelsonCon Paddy WallaceDavid HumphreysPen David Humphreys x 2Hughenden Stadium Attendance 6 095Referee N Whitehouse Wales 25 August 200118 00Swansea 16 25 BridgendReportSt Helen s Attendance 3 250 4 28 August 200119 00Leinster 55 13 Ebbw ValeReportDonnybrook Attendance 3 200 28 August 200119 00Ulster 26 27 LlanelliTry B CunninghamPen Humphreys 7 Report 5 Match CentreTry Thomas Evans ProctorCon Jones 3 Pen Jones 2 Ravenhill Attendance 8 000Referee B Dickson 28 August 200119 15Pontypridd 6 11 SwanseaReportSardis Road Attendance 4 000 29 August 200119 00Bridgend 50 15 GlasgowTry Adrian DurstonGareth Thomas x 2Gareth JonesMaama MolitikaCon Cerith Rees x 5Pen Cerith Rees x 5PreviewReportReportReportReportReport dead link Try James CraigRoland ReidCon Barry IrvingPen Barry IrvingBrewery Field Attendance 4 300 31 August 200119 30Glasgow 59 14 PontypriddTry Glenn MetcalfeTommy HayesRoland Reid x 3Jason WhiteJames McLarenJon SteelLee HarrisonCon Tommy Hayes x 7PreviewReportReportReportReportReportTry Gareth WyattDale McIntoshCon Alex LawsonCeri SweeneyHughenden Stadium Attendance 4 110Referee A Rolland Ireland 31 August 200119 35Leinster 31 9 UlsterTry O Kelly D Arcy 2 HickieCon SpoonerPen Spooner 2 Drop DempseyReport 6 Match CentrePen Humphreys 2 WallaceDonnybrook Referee N Williams 1 September 200114 30Ebbw Vale 21 26 SwanseaReportEugene Cross Park Attendance 3 500 1 September 200114 30Llanelli 36 3 BridgendReportStradey Park Attendance 3 000 7 September 200119 05Ebbw Vale 27 29 UlsterTry Betts Wagstaff GreenCon Mitchell 3 Pen Cull MitchellReport 7 Match CentreTry Howe ConstableCon Wallace 2 Pen Wallace 5 Eugene Cross Park Attendance 2 000Referee T Spreadbury 8 September 200114 30Pontypridd 17 19 LlanelliReportSardis Road Attendance 5 000 8 September 200114 30Swansea 13 21 GlasgowReportSt Helen s Attendance 2 500 8 September 200119 30Bridgend 32 51 LeinsterReportBrewery Field Attendance 2 650 11 September 200119 00Leinster 52 14 PontypriddReportDonnybrook Attendance 3 056 11 September 200119 05Llanelli 21 27 SwanseaReportStradey Park Attendance 4 500 11 September 200119 30Glasgow 58 22 Ebbw ValeReportHughenden Attendance 2 179 12 September 200119 30Ulster 46 14 BridgendTry Shields McMillan Humphreys 2 Stewart Ward 2 Con Humphreys 4 Pen HumphreysReport 8 Match CentreTry Ringer JamesCon Rees DunstonRavenhill Attendance 8 000 14 September 200119 30Glasgow 15 9 LlanelliReportHughenden Attendance 5 375 15 September 200114 30Ebbw Vale 17 18 BridgendReportEugene Cross Park Attendance 2 800 15 September 200114 30Pontypridd 20 29 UlsterTry McIntoshPen Sweeney 5 Report 9 10 Match CentreTry Best Constable BlairCon HumphreysPen Humphreys 3 Drop HumphreysSardis Road Attendance 3 200Referee Chris White 15 September 200114 30Swansea 18 34 LeinsterReportSt Helen s Attendance 4 000 Pool B Table Edit Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Pts1 Munster 6 5 0 1 228 120 108 23 9 152 Connacht 6 4 0 2 152 97 55 16 8 123 Neath 6 4 0 2 151 116 35 14 10 124 Newport 6 3 0 3 147 109 38 15 10 95 Cardiff 6 3 0 3 128 135 7 15 15 96 Edinburgh 6 2 0 4 134 159 25 11 16 67 Caerphilly 6 0 0 6 88 292 204 11 37 0Match points were awarded as follows 3 points for a win 1 point for a drawGreen background rows 1 to 4 qualify for the knock out stage Source RaboDirect PRO12 Pool B Fixtures Edit 17 August 200119 30Edinburgh 22 25 MunsterReportMyreside Attendance 5 410 18 August 200114 30Caerphilly 13 43 NeathReportVirginia Park Attendance 3 500 18 August 200114 30Cardiff 3 6 ConnachtReportCardiff Arms Park Attendance 4 000 24 August 200118 15Connacht 21 30 EdinburghReportSportsground Attendance 1 800 24 August 200119 00Neath 25 14 CardiffReportThe Gnoll Attendance 5 000 25 August 200114 30Newport 50 22 CaerphillyReportRodney Parade Attendance 6 260 28 August 200119 30Edinburgh 20 32 NeathReportMyreside Attendance 3 075 28 August 200119 35Munster 40 19 ConnachtReportThomond Park Attendance 6 000 29 August 200119 00Cardiff 20 14 NewportReportCardiff Arms Park Attendance 7 500 31 August 200119 05Neath 30 22 MunsterReportThe Gnoll Attendance 2 250 1 September 200114 30Caerphilly 15 49 CardiffReportVirginia Park Attendance 1 900 1 September 200114 30Newport 29 11 EdinburghReportRodney Parade Attendance 6 164 7 September 200118 15Connacht 28 10 NeathReportSportsground Attendance 550 7 September 200119 30Edinburgh 27 20 CaerphillyReportMyreside Attendance 2 648 7 September 200119 35Munster 29 21 NewportReportMusgrave Park Attendance 4 560 11 September 200119 15Caerphilly 18 61 MunsterReportVirginia Park Attendance 1 500 11 September 200119 15Cardiff 32 24 EdinburghReportCardiff Arms Park Attendance 5 000 11 September 200119 30Newport 14 16 ConnachtReportRodney Parade Attendance 5 821 15 September 200113 30Munster 51 10 CardiffReportMusgrave Park Attendance 6 055 15 September 200117 30Neath 11 19 NewportReportThe Gnoll Attendance 3 625 4 16 September 200115 00Connacht 62 0 CaerphillyReportSportsground Attendance 455Knockout stages Edit Quarter finalsSemi finalsFinal 30 November 2001 Donnybrook Leinster34 7 December 2001 Lansdowne Road Newport22 Leinster35 1 December 2001 Sportsground Glasgow13 Connacht29 15 December 2001 Lansdowne Road Glasgow34 Leinster24 1 December 2001 Thomond Park Munster20 Munster13 8 December 2001 Lansdowne Road Llanelli6 Munster15 30 November 2011 Ravenhill Ulster9 Ulster38 Neath29 Quarter finals Edit 30 November 200119 05Ulster 38 29 NeathReportRavenhill Attendance 12 000 30 November 200119 35Leinster 34 22 NewportReportDonnybrook Attendance 7 300 1 December 200114 00Connacht 29 34 GlasgowReportSportsground 1 December 200117 30Munster 13 6 LlanelliReportThomond Park Semi finals Edit 7 December 200119 30Leinster 35 13 GlasgowReportLansdowne Road Attendance 5 500 8 December 200115 00Munster 15 9 UlsterReportLansdowne Road Attendance 12 500 Final Edit 15 December 200115 00Leinster 24 20 MunsterTry Gordon D Arcy Shane Horgan Con Nathan SpoonerPen Nathan Spooner 4 ReportTry Anthony Foley John O Neill Anthony Horgan Con Ronan O GaraPen Ronan O GaraLansdowne Road Dublin Attendance 30 000Referee Nigel Whitehouse Wales 15 Girvan Dempsey14 Denis Hickie13 Brian O Driscoll12 Shane Horgan11 Gordon D Arcy10 Nathan Spooner9 Brian O Meara8 Victor Costello7 Keith Gleeson6 Eric Miller 5 Malcolm O Kelly4 Leo Cullen3 Paul Wallace2 Shane Byrne1 Reggie Corrigan c Replacements 16 Peter Coyle17 Gavin Hickie18 Bob Casey19 Trevor Brennan20 Ben Willis21 Peter McKennaCoach Matt Williams 15 Dominic Crotty14 Anthony Horgan13 John Kelly12 Rob Henderson11 John O Neill10 Ronan O Gara9 Mike Prendergast8 Anthony Foley7 Alan Quinlan6 Jim Williams5 Paul O Connell4 Mick Galwey c 3 Peter Clohessy2 Frankie Sheahan1 Marcus HoranReplacements 16 Martin Cahill18 Mick O Driscoll19 Colm McMahon21 Jason Holland22 Mike MullinsCoach Declan KidneyLeading scorers EditNote 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 Top points scorers Edit Rank Player Club Points 1 1 David Humphreys Ulster 1222 Tommy Hayes Glasgow 1113 Lee Jarvis Neath 1004 Nathan Spooner Leinster 975 Stephen Jones Llanelli 89 Top try scorers Edit Rank Player Club Tries 2 1 Girvan Dempsey Leinster 7 Denis Hickie Leinster3 Craig Hudson Cardiff 6 Wayne Munn Connacht5 Mike Mullins Munster 5Notes EditExternal links EditOfficial Web site Tables Fixtures and results Season Archive at BBCReferences Edit a b Leading Points Scorers RaboDirect PRO12 Retrieved 13 November 2013 a b Leading Try Scorers RaboDirect PRO12 Archived from the original on 17 January 2014 Retrieved 13 November 2013 Jim Stokes Ulster swamp Swansea BBC Sport 14 August 2001 a b Attendances Rugby Network Retrieved 3 March 2008 Llanelli snatch dramatic win BBC Sport 28 August 2001 D Arcy double destroys Ulster BBC Sport 31 August 2001 Wallace stars in Ulster fightback BBC Sport 7 September 2001 Humphreys and Ulster in the mood Irish Inependent 13 September 2001 Humphreys saves Ulster BBC Sport 15 September 2001 Micheal McGeary Home Boys Sunday Life 16 September 2001 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2001 02 Celtic League amp oldid 1135596615, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
