Rugby League Amateur Four Nations

Last updated

The Amateur Four Nations was a rugby league competition contested annually by England Amateurs, Ireland Amateurs, Scotland Amateurs, and Wales Amateurs. The teams from the Celtic nations would pick players from their domestic competitions, while England's squad would be picked from teams in the Rugby League Conference. Players would also come from university teams and the armed forces. The competition, sometimes referred to as the Four Nations Championship, had previously been sponsored by Cheltenham Regency and Parkhouse Recruitment and Skanska. In 2014 the tournament was renamed the Celtic Nations Cup following England's withdrawal

Contents

History

Friendly matches between A sides were played between 1998 and 2001 with Scotland facing Wales twice and Ireland three times and Wales taking on England once.

The success of these one-off friendly internationals saw the advent of the first Home Nations Championship in 2002.

Until the final match between Wales and England at Cheltenham, the tournament was low-key and had little publicity. But the England v Wales match received unprecedented national coverage with highlights on Sky Sports and resulted in a shock Wales win.

Wales would continue to "shock" for the next four years as they continued to win the title, only losing two matches in this period. It took the introduction of the Crusaders to weaken the Wales side and allow England to win the title for the first time in 2006. Even then Wales only lost by two penalties and travelled with a weakened injury-laden side.

The tournament has been successful in introducing new players to international rugby league in particular with the Celtic nations where some players have progressed to the senior side and also into semi-professional rugby league teams.

Overall Record

NationNicknamePldWDLTitles
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Dragonhearts38251128
Flag of England.svg  England Lionhearts36190173
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Bravehearts37150221
Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland Wolfhounds37141221

Results and Tables

2002

TeamPWDLForAgnPtsDiff
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales330012060660
Flag of England.svg England320110846462
Four Provinces Flag.svg Ireland31021009426
Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland3003401680-128

15 June - Scotland A 22 Wales A 40 at Old Anniesland, Glasgow

16 June - Ireland A 10 England A 32 at Dublin

20 July - Scotland A 8 England A 58 at Glasgow

21 July - Wales A 52 Ireland A 20 at Old Penarthians RFC, Cardiff

18 August - Ireland A 70 Scotland A 10 at Belfast

15 September - England A 18 Wales A 28 at Prince of Wales Stadium, Cheltenham

2003

TeamPWDLForAgnPtsDiff
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales320110472432
Flag of England.svg England32018062418
Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland310290962-6
Four Provinces Flag.svg Ireland3102661102-44

21 June - England A 28 Scotland A 20 at Elmpark Way, York [1]

28 June - Ireland A 32 Wales A 28 at Castle Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin

27 July - Wales A 48 Scotland A 22 at Brewery Field, Bridgend

27 July - England A 34 Ireland A 14 at Prince of Wales Stadium, Cheltenham

9 August - Scotland A 48 Ireland A 20 at Cartha Queens Park RFC, Glasgow

14 September - Wales A 28 England A 18 at Talbot Athletic Ground, Aberavon

2004

TeamPWDLForAgnPtsDiff
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales330012470654
Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland310276782-2
Flag of England.svg England310263882-25
Four Provinces Flag.svg Ireland310256832-27

15 May - Wales A 56 Ireland A 12 at Cardiff Athletics Stadium

13 June - Scotland A 26 England A 28 at Hamilton RFC

3 July - Scotland A 26 Wales A 34 at Glasgow

3 July - Ireland A 28 England A 24 at Castle Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin

22 August - Ireland A 16 Scotland A 24 at Navan R.F.C.

12 September - England A 32 Wales A 34 at Butts Park Arena, Coventry

2005

TeamPWDLForAgnPtsDiff
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales320112054466
Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland3201691024-33
Flag of England.svg England310260752-15
Four Provinces Flag.svg Ireland310252702-18

12 June - Wales A 70 Scotland A 8 at Brewery Field, Bridgend

2 July - England A 8 Ireland A 26 at Odsal, Bradford

16 July - Ireland A 10 Wales A 18 at Terenure College RFC, Dublin

23 July - England A 16 Scotland A 17 at New River Stadium, London Skolars

14 August - Scotland A 44 Ireland A 16 at Glasgow

11 September - Wales A 32 England A 36 at Brewery Field, Bridgend

2006

TeamPWDLForAgnPtsDiff
Flag of England.svg England330012063657
Four Provinces Flag.svg Ireland3201858441
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales310258702-12
Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland3003601060-46

Saturday 15 July - Ireland A 23 England A 44 at Terenure College RFC, Dublin

Saturday 3 June - Ireland A 38 Scotland A 30 at St Marys RFC, Limerick

Sunday 16 July - Scotland A 16 Wales A 22 at Lochinch RFC, Glasgow

Sunday 13 August - Scotland A 14 England A 46 at Glasgow

Saturday 19 August - Wales A 10 Ireland A 24 at Brewery Field, Bridgend

Sunday 10 September England A 30 Wales A 26 at Post Office Road, Featherstone

2007

TeamPWDLForAgnPtsDiff
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales32109964535
Four Provinces Flag.svg Ireland32107256516
Flag of England.svg England3102811072-26
Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland3003881140-26

Saturday 16 June - Wales A 44 Scotland A 30 at Cardiff Demons, St Peters rugby ground

Saturday 23 June - England A 22 Ireland A 28 at Leigh Sports Village

Saturday 14 July - Ireland A 16 Wales 16 at Carlow Crusaders Cill Dara RFC, Kildare

Saturday 14 July - England A 42 Scotland A 40 at Gateshead International Stadium

Saturday 11 August - Scotland A 18 Ireland A 28 at Old Anniesland, Glasgow

Sunday 19 August - Wales A 39 England A 18 at Blackwood Bulldogs, Glan-yr-Afon Park, Blackwood

2008

PosNationPldWDLFAPtsDiff
1Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 3300118526+66
2Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 3201741124-38
3Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 310286842+2
4Flag of England.svg  England 300356860-30

Saturday 21 June - Scotland A 20 Wales A 62 at Cartha Queens Park RFC, Glasgow

Sunday 6 July - Wales A 32 Ireland A 24 at South Road Ground, Porthcawl RFC

Sunday 20 July - England A 8 Wales A 24 at Haworth Park, Hull

Saturday 26 July - Ireland A 26 Scotland A 28 at Dublin

Saturday 16 August - Scotland A 26 England A 24 at Edinburgh

Saturday 6 September - Ireland A 36 England A 24 at Tullamore

2009

PosNationPldWDLFAPtsDiff
1Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 32O1100424+58
2Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 320170764-6
3Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 310274862-12
4Flag of England.svg  England 310256942-38

Saturday 13 June - Wales A 42 England A 4 at Brewery Field, Bridgend

Saturday 13 June - Scotland A 22 Ireland A 30 at Edinburgh

Saturday 11 July - Wales A 32 Scotland A 12 at Glan-yr-Afon Park, Blackwood

Saturday 11 July - England A 28 Ireland A 12 at Broughton Park RUFC, Manchester

Saturday 8 August - Ireland A 28 Wales A 26 at ALSAA Sports Complex, Dublin

Saturday 8 August - England A 24 Scotland A 40 at Staines RFC, London

2010

PosNationPldWDLFAPtsDiff
1Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 330079606+19
2Flag of England.svg  England 3201110764+34
3Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 310286772+9
4Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 300326880-62

Sunday 13 June - Wales A 34 Ireland A 8 at The Gnoll, Neath

Sunday 13 June - Scotland A 34 England A 32 at GHA RFC, Glasgow

Saturday 10 July - England A 34 Wales A 30 at Somerset Vikings, Morganians RFC, Bridgwater

Saturday 10 July - Ireland A 6 Scotland A 10 at Terenure College RFC, Dublin

Saturday 14 August - Ireland A 12 England A 44 at Limerick

Saturday 14 August - Scotland A 35 Wales A 22 at Edinburgh

2011

PosNationPldWDLFAPtsDiff
1Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 3300118686+50
2Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 310270722-2
3Flag of England.svg  England 310266782-12
4Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 310256922-36

Saturday 25 June - England A 30 Scotland A 22 at Stanningley Rugby League club, Leeds

Saturday 2 July - Ireland A 22 Wales A 54 at Limerick

Saturday 16 July - Wales A 34 Scotland A 22 at Virginia Park, Caerphilly

Saturday 16 July - England A 12 Ireland A 26 at Pennine Way stadium, Hemel Hempstead

Saturday 6 August - Wales A 30 England A 24 at Virginia Park, Caerphilly

Saturday 13 August - Scotland A 26 Ireland A 8 at Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow

2012

PosNationPldWDLFAPtsDiff
1Flag of England.svg  England 3201108564+52
2Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 220084304+54
3Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 3102521182-66
4Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 200226660-40

Saturday 23 June - Ireland A v Scotland A postponed

Saturday 23 June - England A 56 Wales A 8 at Leigh Sports Village

Saturday 21 July - Scotland A 48 England A 14 at Falkirk RFC

Saturday 21 July - Wales A 28 Ireland A 26 at Bonymaen RFC

Saturday 6 August - Ireland A 0 England A 38 at Bruff R.F.C., Limerick

Saturday 13 August - Scotland A 36 Wales A 16 at Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow

2013

PosNationPldWDLFAPtsDiff
1Flag of England.svg  England 330020006+200
2Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 3201112864+26
3Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 3102561842-128
4Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 3003401380-98

Sunday 14 July - Wales A 0 England A 54 at The Gnoll, Neath

Saturday 3 August - Ireland A 14 Wales A 48 at Limerick

Saturday 10 August - Scotland A 38 Ireland A 26 at Falkirk RFC

Friday 23 August - England A 52 Ireland A 0 at Pennine Way stadium, Hemel Hempstead

Saturday 24 August - Wales A 54 Scotland A 18 at Eirias Stadium, Colwyn Bay

Saturday 15 September - England A 94 Scotland A 0 at Wath Brow Hornets ARLFC

Celtic Nations Cup

2014

PosNationPldWDLFAPtsDiff
1Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 220072324+40
2Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 210128602-32
3Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 200238460-8

Sunday 10 August - Scotland A 18 Wales A 16 at Woodside Sports Complex, Aberdeen

Saturday 16 August - Ireland A 44 Scotland A 10 at Ashbourne RFC

Saturday 23 August - Wales A 22 Ireland A 28 at Eirias Stadium, Colwyn Bay

See also

References

  1. "Mason double for England". The Press . 23 June 2003. Retrieved 7 May 2025.