Celtic Warriors

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.

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.

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

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 Matthew Rees Hooker Wales Andrew Joy Hooker Wales Christian Balshen Hooker Wales Gethin Jenkins Prop Wales Chris Horsman Prop Wales Christian Loader Prop Wales Martin Jones Prop Wales Phil Booth Prop Wales Geraint Morris Prop Wales Dwayne Goodfield Prop Wales Robert Sidoli Lock Wales Brent Cockbain Lock Wales Ryan Jones Lock Wales Deiniol Jones Lock Wales Maama Molitika Flanker Tonga Richard Parks Flanker Wales Nathan Budgett Flanker Wales Nick Kelly Flanker Wales Cory Harris Flanker Wales Mark Lewis Number 8 Wales Richard Bryan Number 8 England

Player Position Union Gareth Cooper Scrum-half Wales Sililo Martens Scrum-half Tonga Paul John Scrum-half Wales Neil Jenkins Fly-half Wales Ceri Sweeney Fly-half Wales Sonny Parker Centre Wales Dafydd James Centre Wales Jon Bryant Centre Wales Lee Thomas Centre Wales David Bishop Centre Wales Shaun James Centre Wales Gareth Thomas (c) Wing Wales Aisea Havili Wing Tonga Matthew Nuthall Wing Wales Richard Mustoe Wing Wales Emyr Lewis Wing Wales Gareth Wyatt Fullback Wales Kevin Morgan Fullback Wales Gareth Cull Fullback 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.

• Pro14
• Crusaders Rugby League
• Celtic League
• Heineken Cup
• European Rugby Shield

• Bridgend RFC
• Pontypridd RFC