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Celtic Warriors

For other uses, see Celtic warrior.

The Celtic Warriors (Welsh: Y Rhyfelwyr Celtaidd) were a rugby union team from Wales, who played in the 2003–04 Celtic League and the 2003–04 Heineken Cup following the introduction of regional rugby union teams in Wales. They were effectively a temporary merger of Pontypridd RFC and Bridgend RFC. The Celtic Warriors played just one season before disbanding.

Celtic Warriors
Founded2003
Disbanded2004; 20 years ago (2004)
LocationBridgend, Wales
Pontypridd, Wales
Ground(s)Brewery Field[n 1] (Capacity: 12,000)
ChairmanLeighton Samuel
Coach(es)Wales Lynn Howells
Captain(s)Wales Gareth Thomas
England Richard Bryan
Team kit

History

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The Celtic Warriors were one of the five original Welsh regional rugby sides. They were established in the summer of 2003 when the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) controversially elected to reduce the top tier of professional rugby in the country from nine clubs to five regions, attempting to mirror the successful formats of rugby union in Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Officially representing the Mid Glamorgan area, including Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare, Pontypridd, Caerphilly, Maesteg and Bridgend, as well as south Powys, in practice the Celtic Warriors were a combination of two Welsh Premier Division clubs: Pontypridd RFC and Bridgend RFC. With Bridgend RFC having clinched the 2002–03 Welsh Premier League title and Pontypridd RFC performing consistently well in domestic rugby, the Warriors were considered one of the strongest line-ups of the five Welsh regions.

However, problems dogged the region from the very start, as they similarly did with the other merged regions of the Neath–Swansea Ospreys and the Newport Gwent Dragons. Discussions and arguments abounded about the team name, colours and home grounds for most of the summer of 2003. The team originally adopted the name "RCT Ravens", reflecting the region's primary location in the county of Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) and Bridgend RFC's nickname, the Ravens; however, this name was rejected due to the fact that Bridgend is not in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Pontypridd supporters objected to the inclusion of Bridgend's nickname.[1] That name was dropped in June 2003,[2] and other names, including "Crusaders", "Glamorgan Gladiators" and "Glamorgan Celts", were also rejected,[3] before settling on the Celtic Warriors name in July 2003.[4] In response to the branding issues, as well as the structure of the region's board, Bridgend RFC owner Leighton Samuel resigned as chairman of the Warriors board.[5]

 
Celtic Warriors badge - 2004–05 season (unplayed)

Originally, the team decided to play an equal number of games at Bridgend's Brewery Field and Pontypridd's Sardis Road, ahead of plans to build a new stadium for the Warriors in either Treforest or Llantrisant,[6] financed by the sale of Brewery Field.[7] However, Pontypridd RFC went into administration in October 2003 with debts of £670,000, leading to the sale of their half of the Warriors to Samuel, which he in turn gave to the WRU.[8][9][10] In November 2003, they also made the decision to play all future Warriors games at Brewery Field,[11] due in part to the extra revenue brought in by the 16 hospitality boxes at the Bridgend ground,[12] though they did play one more game at Sardis Road at the start of April 2004.[13]

Financial difficulties at the Warriors led to talks of a merger with the Cardiff Blues, but these were quashed in January 2004.[14] In March 2004, Samuel announced that he would be withdrawing his financial backing for Bridgend RFC to focus entirely on the Warriors.[15] Two months later, it emerged that Samuel had agreed to sell his remaining 50% share of the Warriors to the WRU; however, on 19 May 2004, Samuel claimed that he had withdrawn the offer to sell the region, after the WRU missed his deadline of 14:00 to complete the purchase. The WRU counter-claimed that no deadline had been set and that the funds had been transferred to Samuel by 14:45 that day, making them 100% shareholders of the Warriors.[16] Samuel ultimately accepted that the WRU had bought his share of the team, but that he would be challenging the sale on the basis that the WRU had misrepresented their intention to keep the Warriors going.[17] Despite claims that the team would continue for at least another season,[18] it was expected that the union would dissolve the Warriors, following a review by WRU chief executive David Moffett, leaving just four regional sides in Wales.[19] The Warriors' players were then divided among the four remaining teams,[20] and the club was put into liquidation on 1 June 2004.[21]

Samuel first brought his legal challenge against the WRU in October 2004, also claiming that he was owed £1.75 million from the sale and in repayment of a "significant financial contribution" made by his company Décor Frame Ltd,[22] and proceedings began in the High Court in April 2005.[23] That June, Samuel was accused of making a death threat against a WRU lawyer, but no case was ever brought.[24] In July 2005, the WRU wrote to Bridgend RFC, threatening to sue for over £200,000 owed by the club if they lost the Warriors case;[25] however, the case was ultimately settled in October 2006 without having to go to court.[26]

Aftermath

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With the demise of the club, players' contracts were effectively torn up as they were pushed around to fill positions in the other four regional sides. A number simply chose to turn their back on the Welsh game and moved to teams in England and France. This left the ex-Warriors' fans feeling alienated from the professional game.

In the aftermath of the demise of the Warriors, a new rugby league club Celtic Crusaders was formed and played at Brewery Field. They were funded by Leighton Samuel, who claimed that they were the reincarnation of the Warriors franchise. The club lasted four seasons in Bridgend before relocating to Wrexham under new ownership.

Home ground

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The Warriors used both Brewery Field and Sardis Road for their home games.

Statistics

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Celtic League

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Season Pos Played Won Drawn Lost Bonus Points
2003–04 4th 22 14 0 8 9 65

Celtic Cup

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Season Opponent Round Score
2003–04 Glasgow 1st 19–9

Heineken Cup

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Season Pool/Round Pos. Played Won Drawn Lost Bonus Points
2003–04 Pool 6 2nd 6 4 0 2 4 20

Squad

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Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Mefin Davies Hooker Wales  Wales
Matthew Rees Hooker Wales  Wales
Andrew Joy Hooker Wales  Wales
Christian Balshen Hooker Wales  Wales
Gethin Jenkins Prop Wales  Wales
Chris Horsman Prop Wales  Wales
Christian Loader Prop Wales  Wales
Martin Jones Prop Wales  Wales
Phil Booth Prop Wales  Wales
Geraint Morris Prop Wales  Wales
Dwayne Goodfield Prop Wales  Wales
Robert Sidoli Lock Wales  Wales
Brent Cockbain Lock Wales  Wales
Ryan Jones Lock Wales  Wales
Deiniol Jones Lock Wales  Wales
Maama Molitika Flanker Tonga  Tonga
Richard Parks Flanker Wales  Wales
Nathan Budgett Flanker Wales  Wales
Nick Kelly Flanker Wales  Wales
Cory Harris Flanker Wales  Wales
Mark Lewis Number 8 Wales  Wales
Richard Bryan Number 8 England  England
Player Position Union
Gareth Cooper Scrum-half Wales  Wales
Sililo Martens Scrum-half Tonga  Tonga
Paul John Scrum-half Wales  Wales
Neil Jenkins Fly-half Wales  Wales
Ceri Sweeney Fly-half Wales  Wales
Sonny Parker Centre Wales  Wales
Dafydd James Centre Wales  Wales
Jon Bryant Centre Wales  Wales
Lee Thomas Centre Wales  Wales
David Bishop Centre Wales  Wales
Shaun James Centre Wales  Wales
Gareth Thomas (c) Wing Wales  Wales
Aisea Havili Wing Tonga  Tonga
Matthew Nuthall Wing Wales  Wales
Richard Mustoe Wing Wales  Wales
Emyr Lewis Wing Wales  Wales
Gareth Wyatt Fullback Wales  Wales
Kevin Morgan Fullback Wales  Wales
Gareth Cull Fullback Wales  Wales
  • Arwel Thomas and Caleb Ralph both agreed terms to join the Celtic Warriors for the 2004–05 season, as the region was disbanded before their contracts began, neither player represented the region.

British & Irish Lions

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The team also played their home games at Sardis Road, with capacity for 7,861.

References

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  1. ^ "Naming names shame for game". Wales Online. Media Wales. 9 June 2003. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  2. ^ "RCT Ravens ditch name". BBC Sport. 18 June 2003. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Celtic Warriors take up arms". ESPNscrum. ESPN Enterprises. 8 July 2003. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Celtic Warriors set for action". BBC Sport. 8 July 2003. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Samuel continues regional exodus". BBC Sport. 3 July 2003. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Warriors give valleys hope". BBC Sport. 14 November 2003. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Bridgend to sell home ground". BBC Sport. 25 November 2003. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Ponty go into administration but seek to go on". Wales Online. Media Wales. 26 September 2003. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Samuel offers Ponty 'gift'". BBC Sport. 25 September 2003. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Pontypridd relinquish regional stake". BBC Sport. 3 October 2003. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Warriors spurn Sardis". BBC Sport. 13 November 2003. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Ponty seek Warriors return". BBC Sport. 30 December 2003. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Warriors return to Sardis". BBC Sport. 29 January 2004. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  14. ^ Rees, Paul (16 January 2004). "Owner insists Warriors will battle on alone". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  15. ^ "Samuel drops Ravens". BBC Sport. 1 March 2004. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  16. ^ "Warriors sale 'void'". BBC Sport. 19 May 2004. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  17. ^ "Warriors change battle plan". BBC Sport. 24 May 2004. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Warriors slam WRU plans". BBC Sport. 18 May 2004. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  19. ^ "WRU to decide Warriors fate". BBC Sport. 18 May 2004. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  20. ^ "Warriors carve-up begins". BBC Sport. 18 May 2004. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  21. ^ "WRU axe falls on Warriors". BBC Sport. 1 June 2004. Retrieved 1 March 2008.
  22. ^ "WRU challenged over Warriors". BBC Sport. 13 October 2004. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Samuel begins WRU legal challenge". BBC Sport. 29 April 2005. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  24. ^ "Ex-rugby boss denies death threat". BBC News. 25 June 2005. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Bridgend members face WRU threat". BBC Sport. 22 July 2005. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  26. ^ "Samuel & WRU settle out of court". BBC Sport. 27 October 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
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