2002–03 Celtic League

The 2002–03 Celtic League was the second season of the Celtic League, a rugby union tournament involving teams from Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

2002–03 Celtic League
Countries Ireland
 Scotland
 Wales
Champions Munster (1st title)
Runners-up Neath
Matches played63
Attendance308,374
(average 4,895 per match)
Tries scored302
(average 4.8 per match)
Top point scorerBrendan Laney (Edinburgh)
137 points[1]
Top try scorerMossie Lawlor (Munster)
Craig Morgan (Cardiff)
Mike Mullins (Munster)
6 tries[2]
Official website
www.rabodirectpro12.com

Teams

Location of 2002–03 Celtic League teams in Scotland and Ireland.
Location of 2002–03 Celtic League teams in Wales.
Pool A; Pool B.
Team Stadium Capacity City, Area
Borders Netherdale[lower-alpha 1] 6,000 Galashiels, Scotland
Bridgend Brewery Field 6,000 Bridgend, Wales
Caerphilly Virginia Park 5,000 Caerphilly, Wales
Cardiff Cardiff Arms Park 12,500 Cardiff, Wales
Connacht Galway Sportsgrounds 6,000 Galway, Republic of Ireland
Ebbw Vale Eugene Cross Park 8,000 Ebbw Vale, Wales
Edinburgh Meadowbank Stadium 16,500 Edinburgh, Scotland
Glasgow Hughenden Stadium 6,000 Glasgow, Scotland
Leinster Donnybrook Stadium 6,000 Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Llanelli Stradey Park 10,800 Llanelli, Wales
Munster Thomond Park
Musgrave Park
13,200
8,500
Limerick, Republic of Ireland
Cork, Republic of Ireland
Neath The Gnoll 6,000 Neath, Wales
Newport Rodney Parade 11,676 Newport, Wales
Pontypridd Sardis Road 7,861 Pontypridd, Wales
Swansea St Helen's 4,500 Swansea, Wales
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 Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
1 Munster 7601227129+9825124028
2 Edinburgh 7601231145+8624132127
3 Ulster 7502173111+621591122
4 Neath 7403153121+3215121118
5 Llanelli 7304191168+2323163217
6 Swansea 7304177212−3518223116
7 Ebbw Vale 7106140226−861627105
8 Caerphilly 7007144324−1801742213

Under the standard bonus point system, points are awarded as follows:

  • 4 points for a win
  • 2 points for a draw
  • 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries (or more) (Try bonus)
  • 1 bonus point for losing by 7 points (or fewer) (Losing bonus)
Green background (rows 1 to 4) qualify for the knock-out stage.
Source: RaboDirect PRO12

Pool A Fixtures

30 August 2002
19:00
Neath 25 – 6 Caerphilly
Report
The Gnoll
Attendance: 3,000
30 August 2002
19:15
Ebbw Vale 0 – 19 Ulster
Report
30 August 2002
19:30
Edinburgh 30 – 20 Swansea
Report
Meadowbank
Attendance: 3,141
31 August 2002
19:05
Llanelli 13 – 20 Munster
Report

6 September 2002
19:05
Swansea 16 – 20 Neath
Report
St Helen's
Attendance: 4,000
6 September 2002
19:30
Ulster 18 – 19 Edinburgh
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 7,500
6 September 2002
19:35
Munster 48 – 23 Ebbw Vale
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 3,500
7 September 2002
14:30
Caerphilly 34 – 43 Llanelli
Report
Virginia Park
Attendance: 1,300

13 September 2002
19:30
Edinburgh 21 – 28 Munster
Report
Meadowbank
Attendance: 4,500
14 September 2002
14:30
Ebbw Vale 45 – 25 Caerphilly
Report
Eugene Cross Park
Attendance: 1,000
14 September 2002
14:30
Swansea 38 – 10 Ulster
Report
St Helen's
Attendance: 2,500
14 September 2002
17:30
Neath 29 – 13 Llanelli
Report
The Gnoll
Attendance: 6,000

20 September 2002
19:30
Ulster 17 – 13 Neath
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 9,500
20 September 2002
19:35
Munster 38 – 27 Swansea
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,000
21 September 2002
14:30
Caerphilly 32 – 66 Edinburgh
Report
Virginia Park
Attendance: 800
21 September 2002
14:30
Llanelli 37 – 25 Ebbw Vale
Report
Stradey Park
Attendance: 3,000

27 September 2002
19:05
Neath 34 – 7 Ebbw Vale
Report
The Gnoll
Attendance: 3,500
27 September 2002
19:30
Edinburgh 38 – 14 Llanelli
Report
Meadowbank
Attendance: 3,890
27 September 2002
19:35
Ulster 26 – 17 Munster
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 6,000
28 September 2002
14:30
Swansea 37 – 32 Caerphilly
Report
St Helen's
Attendance: 2,500

4 October 2002
19:05
Llanelli 62 – 6 Swansea
Report
Stradey Park
Attendance: 6,883
Referee: David McHugh (Ireland) [3]
5 October 2002
14:30
Caerphilly 15 – 67 Ulster
Report
Virginia Park
Attendance: 750
5 October 2002
14:30
Ebbw Vale 20 – 30 Edinburgh
Report
5 October 2002
17:30
Neath 19 – 35 Munster
Report
The Gnoll
Attendance: 4,000

25 October 2002
19:30
Edinburgh 27 – 13 Neath
Report
Meadowbank
Attendance: 3,171
25 October 2002
19:30
Munster 41 – 0 Caerphilly
Report
Thomond Park
Attendance: 2,532
25 October 2002
19:35
Ulster 16 – 9 Llanelli
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 10,500
26 October 2002
14:30
Swansea 33 – 20 Ebbw Vale
Report
St Helen's
Attendance: 2,000

Pool B Table

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
1 Pontypridd 7601182120+6215122026
2 Glasgow 7502216166+5022202123
3 Cardiff 7403178151+2717122220
4 Connacht 7502126176−5011170020
5 Leinster 7304191154+3722143318
6 Borders 7205142169−2715111312
7 Bridgend 7205127187−6011201110
8 Newport 7106121160−39916048

Under the standard bonus point system, points are awarded as follows:

  • 4 points for a win
  • 2 points for a draw
  • 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries (or more) (Try bonus)
  • 1 bonus point for losing by 7 points (or fewer) (Losing bonus)
Green background (rows 1 to 4) qualify for the knock-out stage.
Source: RaboDirect PRO12

Pool B Fixtures

30 August 2002
19:05
Newport 5 – 13 Bridgend
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 6,165
30 August 2002
19:30
Borders 27 – 28 Connacht
Report
Philiphaugh
Attendance: 3,000
30 August 2002
19:35
Leinster 31 – 18 Pontypridd
Report
Donnybrook
Attendance: 4,500
31 August 2002
14:30
Cardiff 35 – 44 Glasgow
Report
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 7,000

6 September 2002
18:00
Connacht 23 – 22 Cardiff
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 2,500
6 September 2002
19:30
Glasgow 25 – 21 Leinster
Report
Hughenden
Attendance: 4,250
7 September 2002
14:30
Bridgend 41 – 9 Borders
Report
Brewery Field
Attendance: 3,000
7 September 2002
19:05
Pontypridd 21 – 16 Newport
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 5,800

13 September 2002
19:05
Bridgend 9 – 26 Pontypridd
Report
Brewery Field
Attendance: 4,500
13 September 2002
19:30
Borders 15 – 18 Cardiff
Report
Mansfield Park
Attendance: 4,213
13 September 2002
19:35
Leinster 23 – 26 Connacht
Report
Donnybrook
Attendance: 6,000
14 September 2002
14:30
Newport 25 – 31 Glasgow
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 4,500

20 September 2002
17:45
Connacht 18 – 12 Newport
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 3,000
20 September 2002
19:05
Pontypridd 28 – 27 Borders
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 4,600
20 September 2002
19:30
Glasgow 47 – 11 Bridgend
Report
Hughenden
Attendance: 4,500
21 September 2002
17:30
Cardiff 30 – 17 Leinster
Report
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 6,500

27 September 2002
19:30
Borders 23 – 18 Leinster
Report
Netherdale
Attendance: 4,000
28 September 2002
14:30
Bridgend 23 – 24 Connacht
Report
Brewery Field
Attendance: 2,000
28 September 2002
14:30
Pontypridd 34 – 28 Glasgow
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 5,500
28 September 2002
17:30
Newport 25 – 27 Cardiff
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 8,118

4 October 2002
19:30
Borders 33 – 12 Glasgow
Report
Netherdale
Attendance: 5,500
4 October 2002
19:35
Leinster 42 – 14 Newport
Report
Donnybrook
Attendance: 6,000
5 October 2002
14:30
Cardiff 37 – 12 Bridgend
Report
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 7,500
5 October 2002
15:00
Connacht 0 – 40 Pontypridd
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 3,000

25 October 2002
19:30
Glasgow 29 – 7 Connacht
Report
Hughenden
Attendance: 3,250
26 October 2002
14:30
Bridgend 18 – 39 Leinster
Report
Brewery Field
Attendance: 1,000
26 October 2002
14:30
Newport 24 – 8 Borders
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 5,700
26 October 2002
17:30
Pontypridd 15 – 9 Cardiff
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 7,500

Knockout stages

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
29 November 2002 - Musgrave Park
 
 
Munster33
 
3 January 2003 - Thomond Park
 
Connacht3
 
Munster42
 
30 November 2002 - Hughenden
 
Ulster10
 
Glasgow17
 
1 February 2003 - Millennium Stadium
 
Ulster20
 
Munster37
 
29 November 2002 - Sardis Road
 
Neath17
 
Pontypridd12
 
4 January 2003 - The Gnoll
 
Neath13
 
Neath32
 
30 November 2002 - Meadowbank
 
Cardiff10
 
Edinburgh22
 
 
Cardiff26
 

Quarter finals

29 November 2002
19:05
Pontypridd 12 – 13 Neath
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 6,000
29 November 2002
19:35
Munster 33 – 3 Connacht
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,000
30 November 2002
14:45
Glasgow 17 – 20 Ulster
Report
Hughenden
Attendance: 5,346
30 November 2002
17:30
Edinburgh 22 – 26 Cardiff
Report
Meadowbank
Attendance: 3,918

Semi finals

3 January 2003
19:35
Munster 42 – 10 Ulster
Report
Thomond Park
Attendance: 12,000
4 January 2003
17:30
Neath 32 – 10 Cardiff
Report
The Gnoll
Attendance: 6,471

Final

1 February 2003
14:45
Munster 37 - 17 Neath
Try: Alan Quinlan
Marcus Horan
Rob Henderson
Con: Jeremy Staunton (2)
Pen: Jeremy Staunton (2)
Ronan O'Gara (4)
Report Try: Adam Jones
Pen: Lee Jarvis (3)
Drop: Lee Jarvis
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 30,076
Referee: Chris White (England)
15Jeremy Staunton
14John Kelly
13Mike Mullins
12Jason Holland
11Mossie Lawlor
10Ronan O'Gara
9Peter Stringer
8Anthony Foley
7Alan Quinlan
6Jim Williams (c)
5Mick O'Driscoll
4Donncha O'Callaghan
3John Hayes
2Frankie Sheahan
1Marcus Horan
Replacements:
16James Blaney
17Martin Cahill
18Mick Galwey
19Denis Leamy
20Mike Prendergast
21Rob Henderson
22Killian Keane
Coach:
Alan Gaffney
15Adrian Durston
14Gareth Morris
13James Storey
12Tevita Tiueti
11Shane Williams
10Lee Jarvis
9Andy Moore
8Nathan Bonner-Evans
7Brett Sinkinson
6Alivereti 'Alfi' Mocelutu
5Gareth Llewellyn (c)
4Andy Newman
3Adam Jones
2Barry Williams
1Duncan Jones
Replacements:
16Allan Bateman
17Shaun Connor
18Steve Tandy
19Adam Matthews
20Rowland Phillips
21Lyndon Bateman
22Andrew Millward
Coach:
Lyn Jones

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. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  2. "Leading Try-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  3. "'We got what we deserved' - Connolly". www.walesonline.co.uk. 5 October 2002. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.