The 2019–20 Celtic Cup was the second edition of the Celtic Cup rugby union competition, which features development regional and provincial teams from Ireland and Wales. It ran from August 2019 until October 2019, with a change to a single table format from the original conference system.

2019–20 Celtic Cup
CountriesIreland Ireland
Wales Wales
Date23 August – 13 October 2019
ChampionsLeinster A (2nd title)
Runners-upUlster A
Matches played29

Leinster A, winners of the inaugural edition, defended their title by beating first time finalists Ulster A in an all-Ireland final 31–10.[1]

Formation and purpose

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The Irish Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union created a new development competition, the Celtic Cup, for the emerging professional players from the four Irish provinces and four Welsh regions, announcing the tournament in August 2018.

The tournament, which features development squads from Pro14 teams Connacht, Leinster, Munster, Ulster, Cardiff Blues, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets, aims to provide a learning environment for development players, coaches and referees by recreating the week-to-week challenges presented by senior professional rugby.[2]

2019–20 season

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In a change from the 2018–19 tournament, the 2019–20 edition of the competition featured all eight teams in a single round-robin league format, rather than two conferences. Each team playing seven matches and the top two teams advanced to the final.[3]

Table

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Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1   Leinster A (CH) 7 7 0 0 351 140 211 55 22 7 0 35
2   Ulster A (RU) 7 5 0 2 198 170 28 28 23 5 0 25
3   Connacht Eagles 7 5 0 2 191 169 22 24 24 3 0 23
4   Scarlets A 7 4 0 3 217 194 23 29 28 4 2 22
5   Dragons A 7 2 0 5 205 236 -31 30 34 5 2 15
6   Munster A 7 2 1 4 165 206 -41 22 31 3 0 13
7   Ospreys Development 7 1 1 5 133 229 -96 19 32 2 0 8
8   Cardiff Blues A 7 1 0 6 109 225 -116 17 30 2 1 7
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order -
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams that advance to the final
(Q) Qualified for the final (CH) Champions (RU) Runners-up
Updated: 5 October 2019
Source: Munster Rugby

Pool Stage

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Round 1

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24 August 2019
14:30
(1 BP) Cardiff Blues A  28–47  Leinster A (1 BP)
Report
Cardiff Arms Park
Referee: Mike English (WRU)
23 August 2019
19:30
Munster A  20–20  Ospreys Development
Report
Irish Independent Park
Attendance: 200
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)
24 August 2019
14:30
(2 BP) Scarlets A  32–35  Ulster A (1 BP)
Report
Church Bank Playing Fields

Round 2

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31 August 2019
17:30
(1 BP) Leinster A  50–12  Scarlets A
Report
Energia Park
30 August 2019
19:00
(1 BP) Dragons A  36–10  Munster A
Report
Rodney Parade
31 August 2019
19:30
(1 BP) Ulster A  32–5  Cardiff A
Report
Gibson Park

Round 3

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6 September 2019
19:30
Munster A  21–47  Leinster A (1 BP)
Report
Irish Independent Park
Attendance: 200
Referee: Jonny Erskine (IRFU)
6 September 2019
16:00
(1 BP) Ulster A  33–13  Connacht Eagles
Report
Eaton Park
Referee: Stuart Gaffikin (IRFU)
7 September 2019
14:30
(1 BP) Scarlets A  55–14  Ospreys Development
Report
Parc y Scarlets
7 September 2019
15:30
(1 BP) Cardiff Blues A  40–31  Dragons A (1 BP)
Report
Cardiff Arms Park

Round 4

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14 September 2019
13:00
(1 BP) Connacht Eagles  38–27  Munster A
Report
Galway Sportsground
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)
14 September 2019
15:00
(1 BP) Leinster A  55–24  Ulster A (1 BP)
Report
Energia Park
Referee: Robert O'Sullivan (IRFU)
14 September 2019
(2 BP) Dragons A  35–40  Scarlets A (1 BP)
Report
Rodney Parade

Round 5

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20 September 2019
19:15
(1 BP) Ospreys Development  24–54  Leinster A (1 BP)
Report
St. Helen's
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
21 September 2019
15:00
(1 BP) Dragons A  31–43  Ulster A (1 BP)
Report
CCB Centre
20 September 2019
19:00
Connacht Eagles  20–16  Scarlets A (1 BP)
Report
Corinthian Park

Round 6

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28 September 2019
15:00
(1 BP) Leinster A  55–17  Dragons A
Report
Energia Park
28 September 2019
13:00
(1 BP) Scarlets A  46–28  Munster A (1 BP)
Report
Carmarthen Park
Referee: Elgan Williams (WRU)
28 September 2019
14:30
Cardiff Blues A  12–42  Connacht Eagles (1 BP)
Report
Cardiff Arms Park

Round 7

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4 October 2019
17:00
Ulster A  12–31  Munster A (1 BP)
Report
Shaw's Bridge
Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU)
4 October 2019
19:15
(1 BP) Cardiff Blues A  12–16  Scarlets A
Report
Cardiff Arms Park
Referee: Mike English (WRU)
5 October 2019
15:00
(1 BP) Dragons A  36–24  Ospreys Development (1 BP)
Report
CCB Centre

Final

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13 October 2019
15:00
Leinster A  31–10  Ulster A
Report
Energia Park
Referee: Robert O'Sullivan (IRFU)

References

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  1. ^ "Match Report: Leinster 'A' 31 Ulster 'A' 10". Leinster Rugby. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Celtic Cup Announced".
  3. ^ "Celtic Cup A Proving Ground For Emerging Talent". Irish Rugby Football Union. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.