The Amateur Four Nations was a rugby league competition contested annually by Wales A, Ireland A, Scotland A and England A. 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
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.
| Nation | Nickname | Pld | W | D | L | Titles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragonhearts | 38 | 25 | 1 | 12 | 8 | ||
| Lionhearts | 36 | 19 | 0 | 17 | 3 | ||
| Bravehearts | 37 | 15 | 0 | 22 | 1 | ||
| Wolfhounds | 37 | 14 | 1 | 22 | 1 |
| Team | P | W | D | L | For | Agn | Pts | Diff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 60 | 6 | 60 | |
| England | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 108 | 46 | 4 | 62 | |
| Ireland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 100 | 94 | 2 | 6 | |
| Scotland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 40 | 168 | 0 | -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
| Team | P | W | D | L | For | Agn | Pts | Diff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 104 | 72 | 4 | 32 | |
| England | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 80 | 62 | 4 | 18 | |
| Scotland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 90 | 96 | 2 | -6 | |
| Ireland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 66 | 110 | 2 | -44 |
21 June - England A 28 Scotland A 20 at Haworth RLFC, York 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
| Team | P | W | D | L | For | Agn | Pts | Diff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 124 | 70 | 6 | 54 | |
| Scotland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 76 | 78 | 2 | -2 | |
| England | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 63 | 88 | 2 | -25 | |
| Ireland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 56 | 83 | 2 | -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
| Team | P | W | D | L | For | Agn | Pts | Diff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 120 | 54 | 4 | 66 | |
| Scotland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 69 | 102 | 4 | -33 | |
| England | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 60 | 75 | 2 | -15 | |
| Ireland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 52 | 70 | 2 | -18 |
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
| Team | P | W | D | L | For | Agn | Pts | Diff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 63 | 6 | 57 | |
| Ireland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 85 | 84 | 4 | 1 | |
| Wales | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 58 | 70 | 2 | -12 | |
| Scotland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 60 | 106 | 0 | -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 SeptemberEngland A 30 Wales A 26 at Post Office Road, Featherstone
| Team | P | W | D | L | For | Agn | Pts | Diff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 99 | 64 | 5 | 35 | |
| Ireland | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 72 | 56 | 5 | 16 | |
| England | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 81 | 107 | 2 | -26 | |
| Scotland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 88 | 114 | 0 | -26 |
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
| Pos | Nation | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Diff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 118 | 52 | 6 | +66 | ||
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 74 | 112 | 4 | -38 | ||
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 86 | 84 | 2 | +2 | ||
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 56 | 86 | 0 | -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
| Pos | Nation | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Diff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 2 | O | 1 | 100 | 42 | 4 | +58 | ||
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 70 | 76 | 4 | -6 | ||
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 74 | 86 | 2 | -12 | ||
| 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 56 | 94 | 2 | -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
| Pos | Nation | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Diff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 79 | 60 | 6 | +19 | ||
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 110 | 76 | 4 | +34 | ||
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 86 | 77 | 2 | +9 | ||
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 88 | 0 | -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
| Pos | Nation | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Diff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 118 | 68 | 6 | +50 | ||
| 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 70 | 72 | 2 | -2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 66 | 78 | 2 | -12 | ||
| 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 56 | 92 | 2 | -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
| Pos | Nation | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Diff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 108 | 56 | 4 | +52 | ||
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 84 | 30 | 4 | +54 | ||
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 52 | 118 | 2 | -66 | ||
| 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 66 | 0 | -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
| Pos | Nation | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Diff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 200 | 0 | 6 | +200 | ||
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 112 | 86 | 4 | +26 | ||
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 56 | 184 | 2 | -128 | ||
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 40 | 138 | 0 | -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
| Pos | Nation | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Diff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 32 | 4 | +40 | ||
| 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 60 | 2 | -32 | ||
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 38 | 46 | 0 | -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