Celtic Warriors

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Celtic Warriors
logo
Full name Celtic Warriors
Founded 2003 (dissolved in 2004)
Stadion Brewery Field
Places 12,000
Trainer -
Homepage -
league Celtic League
2003/04 4th rank
home
Away

The Celtic Warriors ( Wal .: Rhyfelwyr Celtaidd ) were a professional rugby union team from Wales . She played in the Celtic League for one season in 2003/04 and was subsequently disbanded. The home games were played at Brewery Field in Bridgend and on Sardis Road in Pontypridd .

history

Until the 2003/04 season, Welsh rugby was structured in a typical league pyramid, with nine professional clubs in the top division. The system was thus similar to the Guinness Premiership in England and the Top 14 in France. However, the Welsh market turned out to be too small for nine professional teams. Then the nine professional clubs began to combine to form regional teams. In the case of the Celtic Warriors, these were the Bridgend RFC and the Pontypridd RFC . Due to the performance of the two clubs in the previous season, the Warriors were considered the strongest of the newly formed teams.

From the start, the Warriors had problems to contend with. Initially, there was disagreement about the name, the shirt colors and the home stadium of the team. The name "Valley Ravens" seemed to be a good compromise, as Bridgend Nickname Ravens (Ravens) was and Pontypridd in the South Wales valleys ( valley lies). The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) preferred Celtic Crusaders , which was rejected by the fans. Ultimately, the choice fell on Celtic Warriors .

The Pontypridd RFC got into financial difficulties and had to sell its 50 percent stake in the Warriors to Leighton Samuel, the owner of the Bridgend RFC. Then Samuel decided to play the home games of the Warriors only in Bridgend, which angered more than half of the fans against him. As a result, the average viewership dropped rapidly. In 2004 Samuel sold his shares to the WRU, which then decided to liquidate the team. Before the end of the season, which ended the Warriors in fourth place, the best players moved to clubs outside of Wales.

The WRU split up the Warriors franchise. Part of the previously covered area went to the Ospreys , the other to the Cardiff Blues . In 2005, Samuel founded a new club, the Celtic Crusaders , but they play rugby league .

Known players