The day Welsh rugby hard men were left in tears as Celtic Warriors were ruthlessly axed

Professional rugby has been the subject of a never-ending debate since David Moffett first brought in the regions back in 2003.

Nor is getting rid of one of them anything new - just ask fans of Valleys team the Celtic Warriors. They were one of five regions originally formed by the WRU, but lasted barely a year before they were ruthlessly disbanded. To this day the decision causes outcry among some, who say it spelt the end of Welsh rugby in the valleys.

The Warriors had a truly star-studded squad, including a number of Wales captains in Ryan Jones, Gareth Thomas, Gethin Jenkins and Mefin Davies. Grand Slam winners like Brent Cockbain and Rob Sidoli were also on board, so too the legend that is Neil Jenkins.

It's fair to say their demise caused bitterness, fury and even tears shed among some of the players.

As the WRU consider acting ruthlessly once again, here is a story that will resonate.

Sample this from Lynn Howells, in his book Despite the Knock-backs: “The ba***rds. Those were my thoughts as I slumped down in my chair at our training complex at Pencoed after I realised what had happened... For rugby in the Valleys, the heartland of Welsh rugby, it was the final curtain.”

Or have a flavour of Gareth Thomas’ mood back then.

He was heading for Toulouse that summer, but the sight of his Warriors team-mates being distributed around the other regions left him less than impressed.

“What annoyed me was the cattle auction that had gone on behind the players’ backs among Wales’ other regions as soon as it became apparent that the Warriors were in their death throes,” he wrote in his book Alfie! “Players were divvied out among the four surviving sides with a bit of haggling here and there over selected individuals.

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