2002–03 Celtic League

2002–03 Celtic League
Countries Ireland Ireland
 Scotland
 Wales
Champions Ireland Munster (1st title)
Runners-up Wales Neath
Matches played 63
Attendance 308,374 (average 4,895 per match)
Tries scored 302 (average 4.794 per match)
Top point scorer Brendan Laney (Edinburgh)
137 points[1]
Top try scorer Mossie Lawlor (Munster)
Craig Morgan (Cardiff)
Mike Mullins (Munster)
6 tries[2]
Official website
www.rabodirectpro12.com

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

Teams

Team Stadium Capacity City, Area
Scotland Borders Netherdale[lower-alpha 1] 6,000 Galashiels, Scotland
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 Meadowbank Stadium 16,500 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 Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
1Ireland Munster 7601227129+9825124028
2Scotland Edinburgh 7601231145+8624132127
3Ireland Ulster 7502173111+621591122
4Wales Neath 7403153121+3215121118
5Wales Llanelli 7304191168+2323163217
6Wales Swansea 7304177212−3518223116
7Wales Ebbw Vale 7106140226−861627105
8Wales 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 Wales 25 – 6 Wales Caerphilly
Report
The Gnoll
Attendance: 3,000
30 August 2002
19:15
Ebbw Vale Wales 0 – 19 Ireland Ulster
Report
30 August 2002
19:30
Edinburgh Scotland 30 – 20 Wales Swansea
Report
Meadowbank
Attendance: 3,141
31 August 2002
19:05
Llanelli Wales 13 – 20 Ireland Munster
Report

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

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

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

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

4 October 2002
19:05
Llanelli Wales 62 – 6 Wales Swansea
Report
Stradey Park
Attendance: 6,883
5 October 2002
14:30
Caerphilly Wales 15 – 67 Ireland Ulster
Report
Virginia Park
Attendance: 750
5 October 2002
14:30
Ebbw Vale Wales 20 – 30 Scotland Edinburgh
Report
5 October 2002
17:30
Neath Wales 19 – 35 Ireland Munster
Report
The Gnoll
Attendance: 4,000

25 October 2002
19:30
Edinburgh Scotland 27 – 13 Wales Neath
Report
Meadowbank
Attendance: 3,171
25 October 2002
19:30
Munster Ireland 41 – 0 Wales Caerphilly
Report
Thomond Park
Attendance: 2,532
25 October 2002
19:35
Ulster Ireland 16 – 9 Wales Llanelli
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 10,500
26 October 2002
14:30
Swansea Wales 33 – 20 Wales 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
1Wales Pontypridd 7601182120+6215122026
2Scotland Glasgow 7502216166+5022202123
3Wales Cardiff 7403178151+2717122220
4Ireland Connacht 7502126176−5011170020
5Ireland Leinster 7304191154+3722143318
6Scotland Borders 7205142169−2715111312
7Wales Bridgend 7205127187−6011201110
8Wales 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 Wales 5 – 13 Wales Bridgend
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 6,165
30 August 2002
19:30
Borders Scotland 27 – 28 Ireland Connacht
Report
Philiphaugh
Attendance: 3,000
30 August 2002
19:35
Leinster Ireland 31 – 18 Wales Pontypridd
Report
Donnybrook
Attendance: 4,500
31 August 2002
14:30
Cardiff Wales 35 – 44 Scotland Glasgow
Report
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 7,000

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

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

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

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

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

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

Knockout stages

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
29 November 2002 - Musgrave Park        
 Ireland Munster  33
3 January 2003 - Thomond Park
 Ireland Connacht  3  
 Ireland Munster  42
30 November 2002 - Hughenden
     Ireland Ulster  10  
 Scotland Glasgow  17
1 February 2003 - Millennium Stadium
 Ireland Ulster  20  
 Ireland Munster  37
29 November 2002 - Sardis Road    
   Wales Neath  17
 Wales Pontypridd  12
4 January 2003 - The Gnoll
 Wales Neath  13  
 Wales Neath  32
30 November 2002 - Meadowbank
     Wales Cardiff  10  
 Scotland Edinburgh  22
 Wales Cardiff  26  
 

Quarter finals

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

Semi finals

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


Final

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

Top points scorers

Rank Player Club Points[1]
1 Scotland Brendan Laney Scotland Edinburgh 137
2 Cook Islands Tommy Hayes Scotland Glasgow 105
3 Wales Iestyn Harris Wales Cardiff 95
Wales Lee Jarvis Wales Neath
5 Wales Arwel Thomas Wales Swansea 86

Top try scorers

Rank Player Club Tries[2]
1 Ireland Mossie Lawlor Ireland Munster 6
Wales Craig Morgan Wales Cardiff
Ireland Mike Mullins Ireland Munster
4 Ireland Denis Hickie Ireland Leinster 5
Scotland Derrick Lee Scotland Edinburgh

External links

Notes

References

  1. 1 2 "Leading Points-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Leading Try-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
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