Future format of Celtic League unclear

Confusion reigns over the future format of the Celtic League, as the sponsorless competition aims to find the perfect formula for next season, with the Irish provinces reportedly snubbing a fully blown home-and-away schedule.

According to the Western Mail, Ireland's position will be relayed to the Welsh clubs at Thursday's joint-management meeting of the Association of Welsh Premier Clubs (AWPC), with the Celtic League heirarchy still unclear as to how exactly next year's competition will be organised.

Hopes that the nine Welsh clubs will eventually slim down in numbers had prompted expectations of the full home-and-away format coming in as soon as next season in some quarters, with the Scottish Rugby Union seemingly behind the idea.

Irish objections to that however appear to centre around their four provinces being unwilling to play a regular season of around 22 Celtic League matches, that number excluding the later knockout rounds.