Celtic Warriors
Founded	2003 (disbanded in 2004)
Location	Bridgend, Wales Pontypridd, Wales
Ground	Brewery Field Sardis Road
Capacity	12,000 7,861
League	Celtic League

The Celtic Warriors were a regional rugby union team from Wales, playing in the Celtic League and European Rugby Cup/European Rugby Shield. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 596 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (994 × 1000 pixel, file size: 713 KB, MIME type: image/png) This club badge can also be found in an uncropped form at [1]. As it is the logo of a sports team, I believe it should... Bridgend (Welsh: Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr) is a town in the traditional county of Glamorgan and the main town in the county borough of Bridgend in south Wales. ... This article is about the country. ... Pontypridd is a town in Glamorgan, Wales, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff. ... This article is about the country. ... Brewery Field is a multi-use stadium in Bridgend, Wales. ... Pontypridd Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team from Wales, playing in the Welsh Premier Division. ... The Celtic League, currently known as the Magners League for sponsorship reasons, is an annual rugby union competition involving regional sides from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales. ... Welsh Rugby regions 2003 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A rugby union scrum. ... The Celtic League, currently known as the Magners League for sponsorship reasons, is an annual rugby union competition involving regional sides from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. ... The Heineken Cup sponsored by Heineken (known as the H Cup in France due to alcohol advertising laws) is an annual rugby union competition involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. ... The European Challenge Cup in rugby union, known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003, is the sister competition to the Heineken Cup. ...

History

The Warriors were one of the five original regions of the Welsh Regional Rugby Era. The club came into being in the summer of 2003 when the WRU controversially elected to reduce the current top tier of Welsh Professional Rugby from nine clubs into five regions, attempting to mirror the successful formats in Ireland and the Southern Hemisphere countries of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is the governing body of the rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board. ... southern hemisphere highlighted in yellow (Antarctica not depicted). ...

Officially representing the Mid-Glamorgan Valleys area, including Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare, Pontypridd, Caerphilly and Bridgend, and south Powys, the Celtic Warriors was in practice a combination of the Pontypridd RFC and Bridgend RFC Welsh Premier League Clubs. With Bridgend RFC having clinched the 2002/2003 Welsh Premier League title and Pontypridd RFC being consistently strong in that competitions, the Warriors were considered one of the strongest line-ups out of the Welsh regions. Mid Glamorgan is a ceremonial preserved county of Wales, one of the divisions of the traditional county of Glamorgan. ... Pontypridd Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team from Wales, playing in the Welsh Premier Division. ... Bridgend RFC or the Bridgend Ravens are a Welsh rugby union club based in Bridgend in south Wales. ... Bridgend RFC or the Bridgend Ravens are a Welsh rugby union club based in Bridgend in south Wales. ... Pontypridd Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team from Wales, playing in the Welsh Premier Division. ...

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 name "Valley Ravens" was a controversial choice but seen by many as a fair compromise (Bridgend's nickname was the Ravens while Pontypridd fans welcomed the Valley reference), however various marketing persons within the WRU did not like it. "The Crusaders" and "Celtic Crusaders" met with widespread dissaproval from both sets of fans as it incorporated neither teams identity. "Celtic Warriors" was finally decided upon more out of the need for actually needing a name than from any real agreement. Official website www. ... The Newport Gwent Dragons (Welsh: Dreigiau Gwent Casnewydd) are a Rugby Union team from Wales. ... The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) (Welsh: ) is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board. ...

Argument over team colours ran alongside the naming problem until a compromise blue, black and white shirt was unveiled and satisfied most people, as did the initial decision to play an equal number of games at Bridgend's Brewery Field and Pontypridd's Sardis Road. Bridgend (Welsh: Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr) is a town in the traditional county of Glamorgan and the main town in the county borough of Bridgend in south Wales. ... Bridgend RFC or the Bridgend Ravens are a Welsh rugby union club based in Bridgend in south Wales. ... Pontypridd is a town in Glamorgan, Wales, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff. ... Pontypridd Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team from Wales, playing in the Welsh Premier Division. ...

The team itself performed admirably well for a squad almost completely rebuilt over the summer, acquitting themselves well in both the Celtic League and European Rugby Cup. However financial problems at Pontypridd RFC led to the sale of their half of the Warriors to Bridgend RFC owner Leighton Samuel, which he in turn gifted to the WRU, a move that would later condemn the club. Further problems abounded as Samuel made the decision to abandon Pontypridd's Sardis Road in favour of playing all Warriors games in Bridgend. This brought the club into conflict with over 50% of its fan base and attendances (which were not great before) fell even further. The Celtic League, currently known as the Magners League for sponsorship reasons, is an annual rugby union competition involving regional sides from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. ... The Heineken Cup sponsored by Heineken (known as the H Cup in France due to alcohol advertising laws) is an annual rugby union competition involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. ... Pontypridd Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team from Wales, playing in the Welsh Premier Division. ... Bridgend RFC or the Bridgend Ravens are a Welsh rugby union club based in Bridgend in south Wales. ... Pontypridd is a town in Glamorgan, Wales, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff. ... Bridgend (Welsh: Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr) is a town in the traditional county of Glamorgan and the main town in the county borough of Bridgend in south Wales. ...

A farcical episode followed in the Spring and early Summer of 2004 where Leighton Samuel repeatedly threatened and revoked threats of selling the club; one such instance went as far as Samuel accepting an offer from the WRU before changing his mind. Unfortunately, the transaction was already considered to be legally binding, and so the Warriors became 100% owned by the WRU who controversially decided to liquidate the club in the Summer of 2004. The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is the governing body of the rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board. ... The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is the governing body of the rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board. ...

What followed was scandalous even by the standards of Welsh rugby, with players' contracts effectively torn up as they were pushed around to fill holes in the other four regional sides. A number simply chose to turn their back on the Welsh game and head for England, France, Ireland or even Italy. This left the ex-Warriors' fans feeling alienated from the professional game. Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto)1 Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Monarch Queen Elizabeth II...

In the aftermath of the demise of the Warriors, a new rugby league club Celtic Crusaders was formed that play out of Brewery field. They are funded by Leighton Samuel, who has claimed that they are the reincarnation of the Warriors franchise. The Celtic Crusaders are a rugby league club based in Bridgend, Wales. ...

Home Ground

The "Warriors" shared their home games between Bridgend's Brewery Field ground (home of Bridgend RFC) and Pontypridd's Sardis Road ground (home of Pontypridd RFC). Bridgend (Welsh: Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr) is a town in the traditional county of Glamorgan and the main town in the county borough of Bridgend in south Wales. ... Bridgend RFC or the Bridgend Ravens are a Welsh rugby union club based in Bridgend in south Wales. ... Bridgend RFC or the Bridgend Ravens are a Welsh rugby union club based in Bridgend in south Wales. ... Pontypridd is a town in Glamorgan, Wales, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff. ... Pontypridd Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team from Wales, playing in the Welsh Premier Division. ... Pontypridd Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team from Wales, playing in the Welsh Premier Division. ...

The region included three Welsh Premiership teams namely Glamorgan Wanderers Bridgend RFC and Pontypridd RFC Glamorgan Wanderers are a Welsh rugby union club based in Cardiff in south Wales. ... Bridgend RFC or the Bridgend Ravens are a Welsh rugby union club based in Bridgend in south Wales. ... Pontypridd Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team from Wales, playing in the Welsh Premier Division. ...

Statistics

Celtic League

The Celtic League, currently known as the Magners League for sponsorship reasons, is an annual rugby union competition involving regional sides from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. ...

Celtic League Cup

The Celtic League, currently known as the Magners League for sponsorship reasons, is an annual rugby union competition involving regional sides from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. ... The Glasgow Warriors, formerly Glasgow Rugby, is one of three professional rugby union teams in Scotland, Edinburgh and Border Reivers being the other two. ...

European Rugby Cup

The Heineken Cup sponsored by Heineken (known as the H Cup in France due to alcohol advertising laws) is an annual rugby union competition involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. ... The 2003-4 Heineken Cup (the rugby club championship of Europe) is the ninth of the series. ...

Notable Former Players

• Brent Cockbain (Lock) - Wales International, British and Irish Lions 2005
• Gareth Cooper (Scrum Half) - Wales International, British and Irish Lions 2005
• Mefin Davies (Hooker) - Wales International
• Chris Horsman (Prop) - Wales International
• Dafydd James (Wing/Centre) - Wales International, British and Irish Lions 2001
• Ryan Jones (Flanker/No.8) - Wales International, British and Irish Lions 2005
• Gethin Jenkins (Prop) - Wales International, British and Irish Lions 2005
• Neil Jenkins (Outside-Half) - Wales International, British and Irish Lions 1997 and 2001, World Record Points Scorer, Wales' most capped player
• Christian Loader (Prop) - Wales International
• Sililo Martins (Scrum-Half) - Tonga International
• Maama Molitika (Flanker) - Tonga International
• Kevin Morgan (Full-back) - Wales International
• Sonny Parker (Centre) - Wales International
• Richard Parks (Flanker) - Wales International
• Robert Sidoli (Lock) - Wales International
• Ceri Sweeney (Outside-Half) - Wales International
• Gareth Thomas (Wing/Centre/Full-back) - Wales International, British and Irish Lions 2005 (Captain 2nd and 3rd Tests)- Welsh Record Try Scorer
• Lee Thomas (Centre/Outside-Half) - Wales Youth International
• Gareth Wyatt (Wing) - Wales International

Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_2. ... Brent Cockbain (born 15 November 1974 in New South Wales) is a Welsh rugby union player who has won 20 caps for Wales as a lock. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_2. ... Gareth Cooper (born 7 May 1979 in Bridgend) is a rugby union player who plays at scrum-half for Newport Gwent Dragons and has won 26 caps for Wales. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_2. ... David Mefin Davies (born 2 September 1972 in Nantcaredig) is a Welsh rugby union footballer who plays as a hooker in the Wales national rugby union team. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_2. ... Chris Horsman (born 2 February 1977) is a Welsh rugby union footballer, currently playing for English side, the Worcester Warriors in the top level of English rugby, the Guinness Premiership. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_2. ... Dafydd Rhys James (born 24 July 1975 in Mufulira) is a rugby union footballer who plays at centre for Llanelli Scarlets and Wales. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_2. ... Ryan Paul Jones (born 13 March 1981 in Newport) is a rugby union player who plays number 8 for the Ospreys and Wales. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_2. ... Gethin Jenkins is a Welsh rugby player. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_2. ... Neil Jenkins (born 8 July 1971) is a former rugby union footballer who played fly-half, centre, or full back for Pontypridd and Cardiff, Wales and the British and Irish Lions. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_2. ... Christian David Loader (Born 26 October 1973) is a former Welsh rugby union footballer who played prop. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Tonga. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Tonga. ... Maama Molitika (26 August 1974) is a Tongan rugby union footballer. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_2. ... Kevin Andrew Morgan (born 23 February 1977 in Pontypridd) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Newport Gwent Dragons and has won 34 caps for Wales, mainly at full back but also as a winger. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_2. ... Sonny Toi Parker (born 27 August 1977 in Thames, New Zealand) is a welsh rugby union footballer who plays for the Wales national rugby union team. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_2. ... Richard Parks is a former Wales international rugby union player. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_2. ... Robert Sidoli (born 21 June 1979) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Cardiff Blues and has won 25 caps for Wales as a lock. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_2. ... Ceri Sweeney (born 21 January 1980 in Glyncoch) is a rugby union footballer who plays at fly-half for Newport Gwent Dragons and Wales. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_2. ... Gareth Alfie Thomas (25 July 1974, Sarn nr. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_2. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_2. ... Gareth Wyatt (born 4 March 1977), is a Welsh rugby union player. ...

See also

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

The Celtic Crusaders are a rugby league club based in Bridgend, Wales. ... The Celtic League, currently known as the Magners League for sponsorship reasons, is an annual rugby union competition involving regional sides from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. ... The Heineken Cup sponsored by Heineken (known as the H Cup in France due to alcohol advertising laws) is an annual rugby union competition involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. ... The European Challenge Cup in rugby union, known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003, is the sister competition to the Heineken Cup. ...

External links

• [1] Celtic Warriors video
• Bridgend RFC official site
• Pontypridd RFC official site
• Celtic Warriors Fan site