Irish provinces top tip for Celtic League title

IRISH provinces have been tipped to dominate the Celtic League season ahead of today’s kick-off, with last year’s finalists Leinster and Munster installed as joint 5/2 favourites by British bookmaker William Hill.

Leinster lifted the League crown last time round with their narrow defeat of the Munstermen in a gripping Lansdowne Road final.

Australian coach Matt Williams also led the Dublin-based side to the Irish Interprovincial crown over their rivals.

Welsh/Scottish League champions and Heineken Cup semi-finalists Llanelli top the Welsh sides tipped to be contenders, with coach Gareth Jenkins’s side at 9/2, and Newport next in at 8/1.

Alan Solomons’s Ulster outfit at 10/1 are ahead of 14/1 Cardiff in the betting offices’ forecast, with Swansea and Neath next at 16/1.

Principality Cup winners and Parker Pen Shield finalists Pontyprodd could provide value at 20/1 after a productive year, but down at 28/1 is the highest-placed Scottish team in the bookmakers’ minds, Glasgow.

Their countrymen Edinburgh are well out at 33/1, with Irish province Connacht, new-look Bridgend and newly-created Scottish side Borders at 40/1 for the prize.

The rank outsiders are last year’s strugglers Ebbw Vale, and bottom team Caerphilly, at 150/1.