Cardiff Blues A will kick-off their season with a home clash against the reigning champions Leinster A when the Celtic Cup starts on the weekend of 23-25 August. Gethin Jenkins and Thomas Rhys Thomas will lead the coaching team, assisted by Craig Everett and Aled James.
Gruff Rees, Cardiff Blues Academy Manager said: “The Celtic Cup has become a really important stepping stone for us and proved invaluable last year in terms of development and linking the young guys in the academy alongside senior professionals.
“It allows us to align our rugby philosophy and throughout the academy to the senior squad. You only have to look at the likes of Shane Lewis-Hughes, Keiron Assiratti, Alun Lawrence and Harri Millard to see how the competition can be used as a springboard.
“It’s also really good for the development of coaches, who have the chance to replicate the routines of the professional game and in particular the PRO14. These guys have done it as players but to lead a programme over a sustained period is really beneficial for them.
“Being able to work with our semi-professional clubs, to give some of their players opportunities in the competition is also a really exciting proposition.”
There have been changes made to the organisation of the development tournament for its second season. Last year there were two Conferences, split into Irish and Welsh teams, with the winner of each contesting the final.
This year all teams will be ranked in one league and the top two teams will contest the final on Saturday, 12 October. Due to only seven league games, four teams will play four home games, and four teams will play three home games.
Last season’s runners-up, Scarlets A, will also launch their campaign at home, while the Ospreys and Dragons travel to Ireland for their opening round. There are three rounds of Regional Derbies in Wales – on 6-8 and 13-15 September and 4-6 October.
The competition will run alongside some of the early rounds of the Indigo Group Premiership and the first round of the Specsavers Cup, in Wales. It will also take place while the Rugby World Cup is being played in Japan.
The opening round of the Guinness PRO14 will be on the weekend of 27-29 September, which means there will be a clash of fixtures over the last two league weekend and for the Final.
Entry to Cardiff Blues A’s home fixtures will be included in Season Memberships, with kick off times to be confirmed. Find out more HERE
CELTIC CUP FIXTURES 2019
Aug 23 – 25
Cardiff Blues v Leinster
Munster v Ospreys
Scarlets v Ulster
Connacht v Dragons
Aug 30 – Sep 1
Leinster v Scarlets
Dragons v Munster
Ulster v Cardiff Blues
Ospreys v Connacht
Sept 6 – 8
Munster v Leinster
Ulster v Connacht
Cardiff Blues v Dragons
Scarlets v Ospreys
Sept 13 – 15
Connacht v Munster
Leinster v Ulster
Dragons v Scarlets
Ospreys v Cardiff Blues
Sept 20 – 22
Ospreys v Leinster
Munster v Cardiff Blues
Dragons v Ulster
Connacht v Scarlets
Sept 27 – 29
Leinster v Dragons
Scarlets v Munster
Ulster v Ospreys
Cardiff Blues v Connacht
Oct 4 – 6
Connacht v Leinster
Ulster v Munster
Cardiff Blues v Scarlets
Dragons v Ospreys
Saturday, Oct 12
Final