2019–20 Celtic Cup

The 2019–20 Celtic Cup was the second edition of the Celtic Cup rugby union competition, which features development regional and provincial teams from Ireland and Wales. It ran from August 2019 until October 2019, with a change to a single table format from the original conference system.

2019–20 Celtic Cup
Countries Ireland
Wales
Date23 August – 13 October 2019
ChampionsLeinster A (2nd title)
Runners-upUlster A
Matches played29

Leinster A, winners of the inaugural edition, defended their title by beating first time finalists Ulster A in an all-Ireland final 31–10.[1]

Formation and purpose

The Irish Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union created a new development competition, the Celtic Cup, for the emerging professional players from the four Irish provinces and four Welsh regions, announcing the tournament in August 2018.

The tournament, which features development squads from Pro14 teams Connacht, Leinster, Munster, Ulster, Cardiff Blues, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets, aims to provide a learning environment for development players, coaches and referees by recreating the week-to-week challenges presented by senior professional rugby.[2]

2019–20 season

In a change from the 2018–19 tournament, the 2019–20 edition of the competition featured all eight teams in a single round-robin league format, rather than two conferences. Each team playing seven matches and the top two teams advanced to the final.[3]

Table
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1 Leinster A (CH)770035114021155227035
2 Ulster A (RU)75021981702828235025
3 Connacht Eagles75021911692224243023
4 Scarlets A74032171942329284222
5 Dragons A7205205236-3130345215
6 Munster A7214165206-4122313013
7 Ospreys Development7115133229-961932208
8 Cardiff Blues A7106109225-1161730217
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order -
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams that advance to the final
(Q) Qualified for the final (CH) Champions (RU) Runners-up
Updated: 5 October 2019
Source: Munster Rugby

Pool Stage

Round 1
24 August 2019
14:30
(1 BP) Cardiff Blues A 28–47 Leinster A (1 BP)
Report
Cardiff Arms Park
Referee: Mike English (WRU)
23 August 2019
19:30
Munster A 20–20 Ospreys Development
Report
Irish Independent Park
Attendance: 200
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)
24 August 2019
14:30
(2 BP) Scarlets A 32–35 Ulster A (1 BP)
Report
23 August 2019
14:00
Connacht Eagles 24–19 Dragons A (1 BP)
Report

Round 2
31 August 2019
17:30
(1 BP) Leinster A 50–12 Scarlets A
Report
30 August 2019
19:00
(1 BP) Dragons A 36–10 Munster A
Report
31 August 2019
19:30
(1 BP) Ulster A 32–5 Cardiff A
Report
31 August 2019
12:00
Ospreys Development 19–40 Connacht Eagles (1 BP)
Report

Round 3
6 September 2019
19:30
Munster A 21–47 Leinster A (1 BP)
Report
Irish Independent Park
Attendance: 200
Referee: Jonny Erskine (IRFU)
6 September 2019
16:00
(1 BP) Ulster A 33–13 Connacht Eagles
Report
Eaton Park
Referee: Stuart Gaffikin (IRFU)
7 September 2019
14:30
(1 BP) Scarlets A 55–14 Ospreys Development
Report
7 September 2019
15:30
(1 BP) Cardiff Blues A 40–31 Dragons A (1 BP)
Report

Round 4
14 September 2019
13:00
(1 BP) Connacht Eagles 38–27 Munster A
Report
Galway Sportsground
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)
14 September 2019
15:00
(1 BP) Leinster A 55–24 Ulster A (1 BP)
Report
Energia Park
Referee: Robert O'Sullivan (IRFU)
13 September 2019
19:15
Ospreys Development 29–5 Cardiff Blues A
Report
14 September 2019
(2 BP) Dragons A 35–40 Scarlets A (1 BP)
Report

Round 5
20 September 2019
19:15
(1 BP) Ospreys Development 24–54 Leinster A (1 BP)
Report
20 September 2019
18:00
(1 BP) Munster A 28–7 Cardiff Blues A
Report
21 September 2019
15:00
(1 BP) Dragons A 31–43 Ulster A (1 BP)
Report
20 September 2019
19:00
Connacht Eagles 20–16 Scarlets A (1 BP)
Report

Round 6
28 September 2019
15:00
(1 BP) Leinster A 55–17 Dragons A
Report
28 September 2019
13:00
(1 BP) Scarlets A 46–28 Munster A (1 BP)
Report
Carmarthen Park
Referee: Elgan Williams (WRU)
27 September 2019
17:00
Ulster A 19–3 Ospreys Development
Report
28 September 2019
14:30
Cardiff Blues A 12–42 Connacht Eagles (1 BP)
Report

Round 7
4 October 2019
13:00
Connacht Eagles 14–43 Leinster A (1 BP)
Report
4 October 2019
17:00
Ulster A 12–31 Munster A (1 BP)
Report
Shaw's Bridge
Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU)
4 October 2019
19:15
(1 BP) Cardiff Blues A 12–16 Scarlets A
Report
Cardiff Arms Park
Referee: Mike English (WRU)
5 October 2019
15:00
(1 BP) Dragons A 36–24 Ospreys Development (1 BP)
Report

Final
13 October 2019
15:00
Leinster A 31–10 Ulster A
Report
Energia Park
Referee: Robert O'Sullivan (IRFU)

References
  1. "Match Report: Leinster 'A' 31 Ulster 'A' 10". Leinster Rugby. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  2. "Celtic Cup Announced".
  3. "Celtic Cup A Proving Ground For Emerging Talent". Irish Rugby Football Union. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
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