Leinster and Munster to begin against the Welsh

RUGBY: Leinster open the defence of their Celtic League title with a home tie against Welsh Cup winners Pontypridd on the weekend of August 30th/31st, writes John O'Sullivan

Reggie Corrigan's side lifted the inaugural title last December when they beat Munster 24-20 at Lansdowne Road.

Leinster, who went through the first season of the Celtic League with a 100 per cent record, will also face Bridgend, Cardiff, Connacht, Glasgow Rugby, Newport and the newly formed Scottish Borders in Pool B.

The Scottish side are a new addition to the tournament, making it 16-strong for 2002/2003 as opposed to the 15 teams who lined-up last season.

They have recruited several Scottish internationals.

Another change to the format will see the semi-finals and final being played in the new year, with the final being staged two weeks before the start of the Six Nations Championship.

Munster kick-off their campaign against Welsh champions Llanelli. The two teams are in Pool A, a group which includes Caerphilly, Ebbw Vale, Edinburgh Rugby, Neath, Swansea and Ulster.

Matt Williams, who guided Leinster to the title last season, said: "It will be great for us to launch our defence of the Celtic title at 'Fortress Donnybrook'.

Ulster open their campaign away to Ebbw Vale with Connacht travelling to Scotland.

CELTIC LEAGUE

POOL A: Caerphilly, Ebbw Vale, Edinburgh Rugby, Llanelli, Munster, Neath, Swansea, Ulster.

POOL B: Bridgend, Cardiff, Connacht, Glasgow Rugby, Leinster, Newport, Pontypridd, Scottish Borders.

FIXTURES

Aug 30th/31st: Edinburgh v Swansea; Leinster v Pontypridd; Ebbw Vale v Ulster; Cardiff v Glasgow; Llanelli v Munster; Newport v Bridgend; Neath v Caerphilly; Borders v Connacht. Sept 6th/7th: Ulster v Edinburgh; Connacht v Cardiff; Caerphilly v Llanelli; Glasgow v Leinster; Munster v Ebbw Vale; Pontypridd v Newport; Swansea v Neath; Bridgend v Borders. Sept 13th/14th: Swansea v Ulster; Bridgend v Pontypridd; Edinburgh v Munster; Newport v Glasgow; Ebbw Vale v Caerphilly; Leinster v Connacht; Neath v Llanelli; Borders v Cardiff. Sept 20th/21st: Caerphilly v Edinburgh; Cardiff v Leinster; Munster v Swansea; Connacht v Newport; Llanelli v Ebbw Vale; Glasgow v Bridgend; Ulster v Neath; Pontypridd v Borders. Sept 27th/28th: Ulster v Munster; Pontypridd v Glasgow; Swansea v Caerphilly; Bridgend v Connacht; Edinburgh v Llanelli; Newport v Cardiff; Neath v Ebbw Vale; Borders v Leinster. Oct 4th/5th: Ebbw Vale v Edinburgh; Connacht v Pontypridd; Llanelli v Swansea; Leinster v Newport; Caerphilly v Ulster; Cardiff v Bridgend; Neath v Munster; Borders v Glasgow. Oct 25th/26th: Munster v Caerphilly; Glasgow v Connacht; Ulster v Llanelli; Pontypridd v Cardiff; Swansea v Ebbw Vale; Bridgend v Leinster; Edinburgh v Neath; Newport v Borders. Quarter-finals: Weekend of November 30th. Semi-finals: Weekend of January 4th, 2003. Final: Weekend of February 1st, 2003.