CELTIC LEAGUE – POOL A.
EDINBURGH RUGBY v NEATH (at Meadowbank Stadium, 7.30pm).Edinburgh: (not yet available)
Neath: (Squad) Backs – G Morris, J Storey, D Tieuti, A Bateman, S Williams, K James, S Connor, Matthew Jones, S Marsden, P Horgan. Forwards – S Jones, D Jones, P James, B Williams, A Jones, A Millward, H Jenkins, N Bonner-Evans, S Tandy, G Llewellyn (capt), S Martin, A Newman, A Mocelutu.
Out – Neath: B Sinkinson (knee), A Matthews (knee), A Durston (bicep), A Moore (ribs), L Jarvis.
Previous meetings: 4-4 on wins with Neath leading 4-2 in the Welsh/Scottish League, including the match that doubled as the Celtic League last season when Neath won 32-20 away. Edinburgh won both Heineken Cup meetings by 31-20 away and 23-20 home in season 1999/2000.
Last season: Edinburgh 20 Neath 32; Neath 36 Edinburgh 3.
Form guide: Both sides have won away on one occasion. Neath need to win to gain a quarter-final spot.
CELTIC LEAGUE – POOL A.
MUNSTER v CAERPHILLY (at Thomond Park, Limerick, 7.35pm).
Munster: D Crotty; J Kelly, M Mullins, J Holland, M Lawlor; R O’Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, M Galwey, M O’Driscoll, A Quinlan, A Foley (capt), D Leamy. Replacements: J Blaney, S Kerr, P Malone, M Prendergast, J O’Neill, K Keane.
Caerphilly: S Tuipulotu; R Howells, S Cox, R Boobyer, T Taufahema; J Murphy, S Headington; L Manning, C Ferris (capt), R Skuse, M Workman, N Rouse, R Lloyd, A Williams, J El-Abd. Replacements: F McLoughlin, O Ashman, Steve Goddard, P Jones, G Lidden, G Williams, A N Other.
Out – Munster: J Williams (knee).
Caerphilly: T Taufahema (ankle), S Grainger (dislocated thumb), L Richards (collar bone), S Jarman.
Previous meetings: Munster won 61-18 at Caerphilly last season with Jeremy Staunton scoring 21 poins and Mike Mullins four of their eight tries.
Form guide: Caerphilly have lost 18 matches in all competitions since winning at Narberth last February in a round seven Principality Cup match.
CELTIC LEAGUE – POOL A.
ULSTER v LLANELLI (at Ravenhill, Belfast, 7.35pm).
Ulster: B Cunningham; J Topping, S Stewart, A Larkin, S Young; D Humphreys (capt), N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, M Sexton, R Kempson, G Longwell, M Blair, W Brosnihan, T McWhirter, N McMillan. Replacements: S Best, P Shields, M McCullough, N Best, K Campbell, R Constable, S Coulter.
Llanelli: G Evans; M Jones, M Watkins, S Finau, T Selley; S Jones, G Easterby; I Thomas, R McBryde, J Davies, L Gross, C Wyatt, D Hodges, S Quinnell, D Jones. Replacements: M Madden, P John, V Cooper, J Cudmore, D Peel, G Bowen, B Davies.
Out – Ulster: J Bell (knee), T Howe (hamstring), J Davidson (leg).Llanelli: N Boobyer (foot fracture), D Williams (knee), S Easterby (shoulder), M Cardey (knee), W Proctor (shoulder), I Boobyer (shoulder), L Davies (head).
Previous meetings: Llanelli lead 3-0, winning 27-26 away in the Celtic League in August 2001 and by 20-3 home and 29-6 away in the Heineken Cup of season 1999/2000.
Saturday, October 26.
CELTIC LEAGUE – POOL A.
SWANSEA v EBBW VALE (at St Helen’s, 2.30pm).
Swansea: TBA
Ebbw Vale: TBA
Out – Swansea: K Morgan (knee), C Wells (knee), H Bennett (shoulder), B
Brereton (leg).Ebbw Vale: C Billen (back), D Penisini (knee).
Previous meetings: Swansea lead 11-2 in league rugby including 6-0 at St
Helen’s.Celtic League – Ebbw Vale 21 Swansea 26 (1/9/01).
Last season: Swansea won 26-21 away and 22-14 at home.
Form guide: Both clubs are out of contention for the quarter-finals and are due to meet again at Ebbw Vale next Tuesday in a Premier League match.Swansea have conceded 160 points in their last three outings, but have beaten Ebbw Vale in all four cup outings at home as well as six league matches.
CELTIC LEAGUE – POOL B
BRIDGEND v LEINSTER LIONS (at the Brewery Field, 2.30pm).
Bridgend: M James; R Mustoe, J Funnell, D James, P Jones: C Warlow, H Harries; P Booth, B Phillips, C Horsman, A Moore, M Powell, R Bryan, S van Rensburg, J Ringer. Replacements: C Harris, M Molitika, D Jones, J Thiel, C Loader, S Martens, A Carter.
Leinster: G Dempsey; D Hickie, B O’Driscoll, S Horgan, G D’Arcy; C Warner, B O’Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, P Wallace, L Cullen, M O’Kelly, A McCullen, V Costello, K Gleeson. Replacements: E Byrne, P Smyth, A Kearney, D Dillon, B O’Riordan, D Quinlan, A Magro.
Out – Bridgend: S Taumalolo (knee), Ryan Jones (broken collar bone), A Havili, G Williams.
Leinster: P McKenna, P Coyle, E Miller, A Dunne, B Willis, N Spooner, N Treston.
Previous meetings: Leinster won 51-32 at the Brewery Field in the Celtic League last season.
Form guide: The Irish province have a formidable lineup and are the current Celtic League holders. Neither side can progress to the quarter-finals however.
CELTIC LEAGUE – POOL B.
NEWPORT v BORDERS (at Rodney Parade, 2.30pm).
Newport: M Pini (capt); A Cadwallader, H Luscombe, S Williams, A Wagstaff; J Strange, D Burn; D Pattison, P Young, A Garvey, M Veater, J Powell, S Ojomoh, R Jones, G Gravell. Replacements: C Anthony, J Richards, S Raiwalui/M Voyle, C Hill, N Palmer, S Howarth, L Lane.
Borders: T Vili; N Walker, J Stuart, K Utterson, S Paterson; G Townsend (capt), I Fairley; P Thomson, S Scott, B Douglas, D Weir, R Metcalfe, A Rennick, S Sititi, M Taylor. Replacements: G Morton, C Laidlaw, C Cusiter, A Mower, C Stewart, G Graham, S Gunn.
Out – Newport: J Jones-Hughes (knee), J Pritchard (broken foot bone), B Breeze (knee), I Gough (back).
Borders: S Longstaff (knee), G Armstrong (knee), S Cranston (knee), C Murray (shoulder), C Moir (thigh).
Previous meeting: Nil.
Form guide: Newport have lost all six Celtic League match, three ‘friendlies’ and both Heineken Cup matches. Borders have won their last four outings. Neither side can reach the quarter-finals.
CELTIC LEAGUE – POOL B.
PONTYPRIDD v CARDIFF (at Sardis Road, 5.30pm).
Pontypridd: from B Davey, G Wyatt, S Parker, J Bryant, S James, J Lewis, E Lewis, N Jenkins, C Sweeney, P John, G Baber; G Jenkins, M Davies (capt), M Rees, N Hennessey, S Cronk, B Cockbain, D McIntosh, R Sidoli, N Kelly, G Lewis, R Parks, W O’Connor, M Owen
Cardiff: R Williams; A Sullivan, J Robinson, P Muller, C Morgan; I Harris, R Powell; P Rogers, A Lewis, K Fourie, H Senekal, J Tait, R Appleyard, D Baugh, M Williams (capt). Replacements: G Powell, G Woods, L Tait, E Lewis, D Dewdney, N Robinson, D van Vuuren.
Out – Pontypridd: D Bell (back spasms)
Cardiff: R Sowden-Taylor (knee ligaments), J Brownrigg (shoulder), S John (neck), M Allen (concussion), R Smith (knee), N Walne (rested), A Jones (knee).
Previous meetings: Cardiff lead 8-2 with one draw in league meetings at Sardis Road and by 8-3 at the Arms Park.
Form Guide: Ponty’s last win in a league match at Sardis Road was by 24-14 in 1996/97. The only other home win over Cardiff in league rugby was by 17-12 in season 1991/92.
