EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS

SCOTT HASTINGS today reacted to the break up of the Celtic League with amazement, calling the situation a "mess".

It was announced last night that as a result of the Welsh clubs signing an agreement to play in an Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2005/06 the Scottish and Irish clubs are to play in a league on their own.

Hastings said: "My initial reaction is one of shock. How after ten years of professional rugby in this country a situation like this can occur is beyond me.

"I cannot believe the representatives from the three nations could not have sat down and sorted something out between them."

The Watsonian legend believes those hit hardest from a lack of competitive fixtures will be the players, whilst supporters "will turn their back on the pro game" given the uncertainties surrounding the future.

"Once again players and supporters alike are entering a season going into the unknown. It is unfair for everything to be up in the air. The players won't know which sides they are going to be playing against.

"It is like the problems faced in Scottish football recently when no one knew the plan for promotion and relegation until half way through the season. Uncertainty can never be a good thing."

The decision was taken after the Welsh Rugby Union announced the new Anglo-Welsh Cup and stated that five key dates during the season would need to be used for the tournament.

This would mean Celtic League fixtures being played on international weekends.

In a statement the Celtic League Association said: "The Scottish and Irish rugby unions are disappointed that the WRU did not consult its partners in the Celtic League prior to making commitments to the Anglo-Welsh Cup, given the serious negative consequences it has on the Celtic League."

Hastings hopes the situation can be resolved by the start of the season. He said: "It was strange that all of this came out of the blue and it is now time for the three unions to discuss this properly.

"There is still time and, fingers crossed, the Welsh will come back to the table for talks and this will all be resolved."

Meanwhile, Edinburgh internationalist Craig Joiner said that without full-time professional rugby in Scotland the game would suffer serious harm.

"I urge the authorities to get round the table as soon as possible and save the Celtic League. This is an absolute disaster.

"The past season has seen the Celtic League really start to grow. You only have to look at all the end of term clashes with teams desperate to try and find their way into the top four so as to claim a home tie in the knockout phase to know how enjoyable it was.

"Every game seemed to be meaningful and it is a travesty for the three [Scottish] clubs to no longer be a part of that.

"Critics say it is possible to compete on the world stage at semi pro level but that's not the case.

"Without a full Celtic League there are not going to be enough games to satisfy what in Edinburgh is an increased squad."

This article was posted on 1-Jun-2005, 11:48 by Hugh Barrow.