Clash of the champions planned

Celtic League officials want their champions to begin next season with a match against the English Zurich Premiership title holders.

It has been proposed that the winners of the Celtic League meet the Premiership champions in a curtain-raiser to the new season.

“We are in talks about the game at the moment and hopefully we will agree terms,” Celtic Rugby tournament director Keith Grainger told BBC Sport.

“We would put it on before the start of next season – either the last weekend in August or the second last weekend.

“It is something we are both trying to pull together, ourselves and the Rugby Football Union, so hopefully it will go ahead.”