Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland will meet at a friendly tourmanent in 2011. The tournament should be held every year from then on.
As the four countries failed to qualify for last year s European Championships, the idea arose or organising a friendly tournament. England immediately rejected the possibility, but the remaining four nations have now decided to make the plan come true.
A similar tournament existed in the past. The Home Championship involved Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England but was cancelled in 1984 due to the increasing number of international matches on the calendar.
The first edition of this new tournament, dubbed the Celtic Cup , is expected to take place in Ireland s capital city Dublin.