2001–02 Celtic League

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 League
CountriesIreland Ireland
 Scotland
 Wales
ChampionsIreland Leinster (1st title)
Runners-upIreland 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 scorerGirvan Dempsey (Leinster)
Denis Hickie (Leinster)
7 tries[2]
Official website
www.rabodirectpro12.com

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

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
Location of 2001–02 Celtic League teams in Scotland and Ireland.
Location of 2001–02 Celtic League teams in Wales.
Pool A; Pool B.
Team Stadium Capacity City, Area
Wales Bridgend Brewery Field 6,000 Bridgend, Wales
Wales Caerphilly Virginia Park 5,000 Caerphilly, Wales
Wales Cardiff Cardiff Arms Park 12,500 Cardiff, Wales
Ireland Connacht Galway Sportsgrounds 6,000 Galway, Republic of Ireland
Wales Ebbw Vale Eugene Cross Park 8,000 Ebbw Vale, Wales
Scotland Edinburgh Myreside 5,500 Edinburgh, Scotland
Scotland Glasgow Hughenden Stadium 6,000 Glasgow, Scotland
Ireland Leinster Donnybrook Stadium 6,000 Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Wales Llanelli Stradey Park 10,800 Llanelli, Wales
Ireland Munster Thomond Park
Musgrave Park		 13,200
8,500		 Limerick, Republic of Ireland
Cork, Republic of Ireland
Wales Neath The Gnoll 6,000 Neath, Wales
Wales Newport Rodney Parade 11,676 Newport, Wales
Wales Pontypridd Sardis Road 7,861 Pontypridd, Wales
Wales Swansea St Helen's 4,500 Swansea, Wales
Ireland Ulster Ravenhill 12,300 Belfast, Northern Ireland

Pool stage

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 Table
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Pts
1Ireland Leinster 7700281114+16735821
2Ireland Ulster 7412194157+37191713
3Scotland Glasgow 7412204172+32251713
4Wales Llanelli 7403175123+5214712
5Wales Swansea 7304124158−349129
6Wales Bridgend 7304161208−4717259
7Wales Pontypridd 7106111207−968253
8Wales Ebbw Vale 7106134245−11113293

Match points were awarded as follows:

  • 3 points for a win
  • 1 point for a draw
Green background (rows 1 to 4) qualify for the knock-out stage.
Source: RaboDirect PRO12

Pool A Fixtures
17 August 2001
19:15
Bridgend Wales19–27Wales Pontypridd
Report
Brewery Field
Attendance: 3,500
17 August 2001
19:30
Ulster Ireland30–13Wales Swansea
Try: Free, Shields, Topping
Con: Humphreys (3)
Drop: Humphreys		Report[3]
Match Centre		Try: Payne
Con: Henson
Pen: Henson
Ravenhill
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: C. White
17 August 2001
19:35
Leinster Ireland39–11Scotland Glasgow
Try: Girvan Dempsey
Gordon D'Arcy
Andrew Dunne
Con: Brian O'Meara x 3
Pen: Brian O'Meara x 6		Preview
Preview
Report
Report
Report
Report		Try: Andy Nicol
Pen: Tommy Hayes x 2
Donnybrook Stadium
Attendance: 4,500
Referee: Paul Adams (Wales)
18 August 2001
18:00
Llanelli Wales46–16Wales Ebbw Vale
Report
Stradey Park
Attendance: 3,000
24 August 2001
19:05
Llanelli Wales17–19Ireland Leinster
Report
Stradey Park
Attendance: 4,000
24 August 2001
19:30
Ebbw Vale Wales18–13Wales Pontypridd
Report
Eugene Cross Park
Attendance: 3,000
24 August 2001
19:30
Glasgow Scotland25–25Ireland Ulster
Try: Gordon Simpson x 2
Andy Nicol
Con: Tommy Hayes x 2
Pen: Tommy Hayes
James McLaren		Preview
Preview
Preview
Report
Report
Report		Try: Paddy Wallace
Ryan Constable
Russell Nelson
Con: Paddy Wallace
David Humphreys
Pen: David Humphreys x 2
Hughenden Stadium
Attendance: 6,095
Referee: N Whitehouse (Wales)
25 August 2001
18:00
Swansea Wales16–25Wales Bridgend
Report
St Helen's
Attendance: 3,250[4]
28 August 2001
19:00
Leinster Ireland55–13Wales Ebbw Vale
Report
Donnybrook
Attendance: 3,200
28 August 2001
19:00
Ulster Ireland26–27Wales Llanelli
Try: B. Cunningham
Pen: Humphreys (7)		Report[5]
Match Centre		Try: Thomas, Evans, Proctor
Con: Jones (3)
Pen: Jones (2)
Ravenhill
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: B. Dickson
28 August 2001
19:15
Pontypridd Wales6–11Wales Swansea
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 4,000
29 August 2001
19:00
Bridgend Wales50–15Scotland Glasgow
Try: Adrian Durston
Gareth Thomas x 2
Gareth Jones
Maama Molitika
Con: Cerith Rees x 5
Pen: Cerith Rees x 5		Preview
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report		Try: James Craig
Roland Reid
Con: Barry Irving
Pen: Barry Irving
Brewery Field
Attendance: 4,300
31 August 2001
19:30
Glasgow Scotland59–14Wales Pontypridd
Try: Glenn Metcalfe
Tommy Hayes
Roland Reid x 3
Jason White
James McLaren
Jon Steel
Lee Harrison
Con: Tommy Hayes x 7		Preview
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report		Try: Gareth Wyatt
Dale McIntosh
Con: Alex Lawson
Ceri Sweeney
Hughenden Stadium
Attendance: 4,110
Referee: A Rolland (Ireland)
31 August 2001
19:35
Leinster Ireland31–9Ireland Ulster
Try: O'Kelly, D'Arcy (2), Hickie
Con: Spooner
Pen: Spooner (2)
Drop: Dempsey		Report[6]
Match Centre		Pen: Humphreys (2), Wallace
Donnybrook
Referee: N Williams
1 September 2001
14:30
Ebbw Vale Wales21–26Wales Swansea
Report
Eugene Cross Park
Attendance: 3,500
1 September 2001
14:30
Llanelli Wales36–3Wales Bridgend
Report
Stradey Park
Attendance: 3,000
7 September 2001
19:05
Ebbw Vale Wales27–29Ireland Ulster
Try: Betts, Wagstaff, Green
Con: Mitchell (3)
Pen: Cull, Mitchell		Report[7] Match CentreTry: Howe, Constable
Con: Wallace (2)
Pen: Wallace (5)
Eugene Cross Park
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: T. Spreadbury
8 September 2001
14:30
Pontypridd Wales17–19Wales Llanelli
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 5,000
8 September 2001
14:30
Swansea Wales13–21Scotland Glasgow
Report
St Helen's
Attendance: 2,500
8 September 2001
19:30
Bridgend Wales32–51Ireland Leinster
Report
Brewery Field
Attendance: 2,650
11 September 2001
19:00
Leinster Ireland52–14Wales Pontypridd
Report
Donnybrook
Attendance: 3,056
11 September 2001
19:05
Llanelli Wales21–27Wales Swansea
Report
Stradey Park
Attendance: 4,500
11 September 2001
19:30
Glasgow Scotland58–22Wales Ebbw Vale
Report
Hughenden
Attendance: 2,179
12 September 2001
19:30
Ulster Ireland46–14Wales Bridgend
Try: Shields, McMillan, Humphreys (2), Stewart, Ward (2)
Con: Humphreys (4)
Pen: Humphreys		Report[8]
Match Centre		Try: Ringer, James
Con: Rees, Dunston
Ravenhill
Attendance: 8,000
14 September 2001
19:30
Glasgow Scotland15–9Wales Llanelli
Report
Hughenden
Attendance: 5,375
15 September 2001
14:30
Ebbw Vale Wales17–18Wales Bridgend
Report
Eugene Cross Park
Attendance: 2,800
15 September 2001
14:30
Pontypridd Wales20–29Ireland Ulster
Try: McIntosh
Pen: Sweeney (5)		Report[9][10]
Match Centre		Try: Best, Constable, Blair
Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys (3)
Drop: Humphreys
Sardis Road
Attendance: 3,200
Referee: Chris White
15 September 2001
14:30
Swansea Wales18–34Ireland Leinster
Report
St Helen's
Attendance: 4,000

Pool B Table
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Pts
1Ireland Munster 6501228120+10823915
2Ireland Connacht 640215297+5516812
3Wales Neath 6402151116+35141012
4Wales Newport 6303147109+3815109
5Wales Cardiff 6303128135−715159
6Scotland Edinburgh 6204134159−2511166
7Wales Caerphilly 600688292−20411370

Match points were awarded as follows:

  • 3 points for a win
  • 1 point for a draw
Green background (rows 1 to 4) qualify for the knock-out stage.
Source: RaboDirect PRO12

Pool B Fixtures
17 August 2001
19:30
Edinburgh Scotland22–25Ireland Munster
Report
Myreside
Attendance: 5,410
18 August 2001
14:30
Caerphilly Wales13–43Wales Neath
Report
Virginia Park
Attendance: 3,500
18 August 2001
14:30
Cardiff Wales3–6Ireland Connacht
Report
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 4,000
24 August 2001
18:15
Connacht Ireland21–30Scotland Edinburgh
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 1,800
24 August 2001
19:00
Neath Wales25–14Wales Cardiff
Report
The Gnoll
Attendance: 5,000
25 August 2001
14:30
Newport Wales50–22Wales Caerphilly
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 6,260
28 August 2001
19:30
Edinburgh Scotland20–32Wales Neath
Report
Myreside
Attendance: 3,075
28 August 2001
19:35
Munster Ireland40–19Ireland Connacht
Report
Thomond Park
Attendance: 6,000
29 August 2001
19:00
Cardiff Wales20–14Wales Newport
Report
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 7,500
31 August 2001
19:05
Neath Wales30–22Ireland Munster
Report
The Gnoll
Attendance: 2,250
1 September 2001
14:30
Caerphilly Wales15–49Wales Cardiff
Report
Virginia Park
Attendance: 1,900
1 September 2001
14:30
Newport Wales29–11Scotland Edinburgh
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 6,164
7 September 2001
18:15
Connacht Ireland28–10Wales Neath
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 550
7 September 2001
19:30
Edinburgh Scotland27–20Wales Caerphilly
Report
Myreside
Attendance: 2,648
7 September 2001
19:35
Munster Ireland29–21Wales Newport
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 4,560
11 September 2001
19:15
Caerphilly Wales18–61Ireland Munster
Report
Virginia Park
Attendance: 1,500
11 September 2001
19:15
Cardiff Wales32–24Scotland Edinburgh
Report
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 5,000
11 September 2001
19:30
Newport Wales14–16Ireland Connacht
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 5,821
15 September 2001
13:30
Munster Ireland51–10Wales Cardiff
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 6,055
15 September 2001
17:30
Neath Wales11–19Wales Newport
Report
The Gnoll
Attendance: 3,625[4]
16 September 2001
15:00
Connacht Ireland62–0Wales Caerphilly
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 455

Knockout stages
 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
30 November 2001 – Donnybrook
 
 
Ireland Leinster34
 
7 December 2001 – Lansdowne Road
 
Wales Newport22
 
Ireland Leinster35
 
1 December 2001 – Sportsground
 
Scotland Glasgow13
 
Ireland Connacht29
 
15 December 2001 – Lansdowne Road
 
Scotland Glasgow34
 
Ireland Leinster24
 
1 December 2001 – Thomond Park
 
Ireland Munster20
 
Ireland Munster13
 
8 December 2001 – Lansdowne Road
 
Wales Llanelli6
 
Ireland Munster15
 
30 November 2011 – Ravenhill
 
Ireland Ulster9
 
Ireland Ulster38
 
 
Wales Neath29
 

Quarter-finals
30 November 2001
19:05
Ulster Ireland38–29Wales Neath
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 12,000
30 November 2001
19:35
Leinster Ireland34–22Wales Newport
Report
Donnybrook
Attendance: 7,300
1 December 2001
14:00
Connacht Ireland29–34Scotland Glasgow
Report
Sportsground
1 December 2001
17:30
Munster Ireland13–6Wales Llanelli
Report
Thomond Park

Semi-finals
7 December 2001
19:30
Leinster Ireland35–13Scotland Glasgow
Report
Lansdowne Road
Attendance: 5,500
8 December 2001
15:00
Munster Ireland15–9Ireland Ulster
Report
Lansdowne Road
Attendance: 12,500

Final
15 December 2001
15:00
Leinster Ireland24–20Ireland Munster
Try: Gordon D'Arcy rugby ball
Shane Horgan rugby ball
Con: Nathan Spooner
Pen: Nathan Spooner (4)		ReportTry: Anthony Foley rugby ball
John O'Neill rugby ball
Anthony Horgan rugby ball
Con: Ronan O'Gara
Pen: Ronan O'Gara
Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
15Girvan Dempsey
14Denis Hickie
13Brian O'Driscoll
12Shane Horgan
11Gordon D'Arcy
10Nathan Spooner
9Brian O'Meara
8Victor Costello
7Keith Gleeson
6Eric Miller Red card
5Malcolm O'Kelly
4Leo Cullen
3Paul Wallace
2Shane Byrne
1Reggie Corrigan (c)
Replacements:
16Peter Coyle
17Gavin Hickie
18Bob Casey
19Trevor Brennan
20Ben Willis
21Peter McKenna
Coach:
Matt Williams
15Dominic Crotty
14Anthony Horgan
13John Kelly
12Rob Henderson
11John O'Neill
10Ronan O'Gara
9Mike Prendergast
8Anthony Foley
7Alan Quinlan
6Jim Williams
5Paul O'Connell
4Mick Galwey (c)
3Peter Clohessy
2Frankie Sheahan
1Marcus Horan
Replacements:
16Martin Cahill
18Mick O'Driscoll
19Colm McMahon
21Jason Holland
22Mike Mullins
Coach:
Declan Kidney

Leading scorers

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.

Notes

    References
    1. "Leading Points-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
    2. "Leading Try-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
    3. Jim Stokes, "Ulster swamp Swansea", BBC Sport, 14 August 2001
    4. "Attendances". Rugby Network. Retrieved 3 March 2008.
    5. "Llanelli snatch dramatic win", BBC Sport, 28 August 2001
    6. "D'Arcy double destroys Ulster", BBC Sport, 31 August 2001
    7. "Wallace stars in Ulster fightback", BBC Sport, 7 September 2001
    8. "Humphreys and Ulster in the mood", Irish Independent, 13 September 2001
    9. "Humphreys saves Ulster", BBC Sport, 15 September 2001
    10. Micheal McGeary, "Home, Boys", Sunday Life, 16 September 2001
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