Further to the press statement issued by the Celtic League on Friday 17th June, the future of the Celtic League for a period of four years is now confirmed.
At present a detailed fixture list is being prepared which will follow certain principles:-
- Competition will commence and complete on the same dates for all teams.
- Irish and Scottish teams will not be playing on international weekends.
- Welsh teams will be required to play some mid-week matches to accommodate the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
- The extent to which they do so will be determined by the progress Welsh teams make to the knockout stages of the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Heineken Cup.
An offer from the W.R.U. to make a significant additional financial contribution has been accepted.
The potential future inclusion of the Italian teams is provided for in the four year agreement.
A further announcement will be made when the 2005/06-fixture list is finalised.