Celtic Warriors

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
Nickname(s)Warriors
Founded2003
Disbanded2004 (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
EnglandRichard Bryan
League(s)Celtic League
Heineken Cup
2003–044th
Team kit

History

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 from 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; despite an earlier promise to keep the team going, it was expected that the union would dissolve the Warriors, leaving just four regional sides in Wales.

This transaction was considered to be legally binding, and the Warriors became 100% owned by the WRU, who decided to liquidate the club on 1 June 2004.[16] Samuels claimed that the WRU had promised to keep the region going for a second season but reneged on the deal. He challenged the Union over this in a high court case which the Union settled just before it came to court.

Aftermath

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

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

Statistics

Celtic League

Season Pos Played Won Drawn Lost Bonus Points
2003–044th221408965

Celtic Cup

Season Opponent Round Score
2003–04Glasgow1st19–9

Heineken Cup

Season Pool/Round Pos. Played Won Drawn Lost Bonus Points
2003–04Pool 62nd6402420

Squad

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

See also

Notes

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

References

  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. "WRU axe falls on Warriors". BBC Sport. 1 July 2004. Retrieved 1 March 2008.
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