AFTER months of negotiations the Celtic League has finally been given the go ahead to start next season.

Wales, Ireland and Scotland met this week and signed the Celtic Accord, ratifying the decision to start the new league in August.

It will mean nine Welsh clubs, four Irish provinces and two Scottish districts in the competition, which will kick-off on Saturday, August 18.

The Unions have decided the event will be played in two conferences before knock-out stages.

The list of fixtures has been agreed, but will not be released until consultations with relevant commercial bodies.

A sponsorship announcement will also follow in the near future. "I'm convinced the Celtic League can only be good for the development of our three countries and that can only be benefit the overall strength of Northern Hemisphere rugby," said Syd Millar, who has chaired the group which has formed the league. The league will run for three years before being reviewed.

Teams involved next season will be Newport, Cardiff, Swansea, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Ebbw Vale, Llanelli, Neath and Pontypridd from Wales; Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster from Ireland and Edinburgh Reivers and Glasgow Caledonians from Scotland. l The WRU claim there is no case to answer in the row which has broken out over the appointment of New Zealander Steve Hansen as Wales forwards coach.

New Zealand are threatening action against the WRU for an illegal approach to Hansen, who is under contract to Canterbury Crusaders until November.

There is even a suggestion that they want Wales coach Graham Henry thrown out of the game.

But WRU secretary Dennis Gethin said, "We feel there is no case to answer. We have advertised a position and Steve Hansen simply advertised for the job. "There is no question of any attempt to induce him to break his current contract."