EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REVEALS
Teams poised for shake-up in Celtic League

BILL LOTHIAN
SCOTLAND'S domestic rugby teams are set to have to become even more competitive – if changes to the Celtic League being proposed by Wales succeed.


While there will be concern today that both Edinburgh and Glasgow could be denied European Cup access – despite assurances given to the Murrayfield authorities that their teams would have protected status for five years – benefits, in the longer term, could stem from a more pressurised environment.

The aim is to base qualification purely on league positions, with only eight of the ten Celtic League teams going into Europe's blue riband event. A Welsh source said: "There is a need to overhaul league rules so as to encourage sides to field stronger teams throughout the season."

Added a Welsh rugby union insider: "What we have to do as Celtic nations is make sure we increase the value of the Magners League. We have put forward a variety of proposals, one of which would see European qualification being based on the league."

It is understood Scottish rugby bosses have been approached and are giving the matter consideration.

While Murrayfield authorities may see themselves having everything to lose and little to gain fans will clearly benefit if Edinburgh are obliged to field a full strength team as often as possible with the hot-house environment ensuring Scotland are eventually sharper than they have been in losing all three Six Nations games so far including in Ireland on Saturday.

Players started being "rested" by Andy Robinson-coached Edinburgh a fortnight before the Six Nations got underway.

Similarly, the most recent fixture with Munster which came during a break in the Six Nations saw a string of front liners drop out causing some frustration among fans and possibly contributing to the team dropping from third to fifth in the table.

At the moment the bottom two teams in the Magner's Celtic League are filled by Ulster and Connacht. In the unwelcome event of any Scottish team occupying those places there would at least be a possible escape route into Europe with the second lowest going into a play off against Italian opposition for the final European Cup slot.

This article was posted on 25-Feb-2008, 13:26 by Hugh Barrow.