Editing Cardiff RFC (section)

====Rudy Joubert====
2001–02 was the first year of the Celtic League, containing teams from Wales, Ireland and Scotland. The pool stage would begin in mid-August and continue on for a month. Cardiff were drawn into the smaller, seven-team pool (with four teams going through to the quarter-finals).and started their campaign in unconvincing fashion, winning three games but still being knocked out of the competition on points difference.
In the Heineken Cup, rugby league convert Iestyn Harris, signed for £1million scored a hat-trick on his debut in a 46–7 against Glasgow.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2001/oct/28/rugbyunion.heinekencup200102|title=Heineken Cup: Cardiff 46 - 7 Glasgow|first=Eddie|last=Butler|date=28 October 2001|website=The Guardian|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304125252/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2001/oct/28/rugbyunion.heinekencup200102|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Overall the club's European form was mediocre however, as despite winning all their home games they failed to register an away win and were eliminated at the pool stage for the first time in their history
On the domestic front, Cardiff again went unbeaten at home until the final game of the season, but again were unable to back it up on the road and finished fourth – their first season out of the top three in a decade.