2007-08 Magners League

The 2007-08 Magners League will be the seventh Celtic League season and the second with Magners as title sponsor. The season began on 31 August 2007 and is scheduled to finish the weekend beginning 10 May 2008. Some disruption to fixtures occurred as a result of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, which took place during September and October 2007.

The teams competing remains the same as the previous season with one exception; only two Scottish teams are participating, as the Scottish Rugby Union scrapped the Border Reivers region at the end of the 2006-07 season. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/6498449.stm Scottish union axes Borders team] ] As in previous seasons, the league is played on a home and away basis, with teams earning four points for a win, and a bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match. The losing team may also earn a bonus point if they lose by seven points or less. The losing bonus point system is intended to ensure that both teams compete fully in all matches.Fact|date=August 2007

The ten teams competing will consist of the four Irish provinces, Munster, Leinster, Connacht and Ulster, two Scottish regions; Edinburgh Rugby, and Glasgow Warriors and four Welsh regions; Llanelli Scarlets, Cardiff Blues, Ospreys and Newport Gwent Dragons.

Pre-season

Following the end of the 2006-07 Magners League season, a number of controversial events occurred in Celtic rugby. Mike Phillips moved from the Cardiff Blues to the Ospreys, in a move that would earn him £180,000 a year. The Border Reivers was officially closed as a rugby club, and Edinburgh Rugby were almost expelled from the competition, because of a row with the Scottish Rugby Union.

As a result of increased revenue from governing bodies and TV rights, most clubs were able to expand their squads with the signing of several new players.

Table

Week 3

Week 6

Week 9

Week 12

Week 15

Week 18

Rearranged fixture

Tries

* loan return** loaned out

Broadcast rights

Television rights for the league are split between three broadcasters, BBC Wales, S4C and Setanta Sports. BBC Wales and S4C will continue to cover Magners League until the end of the 2009-10 season. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/5298322.stm BBC extends Welsh rugby contract] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.magnersleague.com/ Official Magners League website]
* [http://www.magnersleague.com/live Live Scores from the Magners League website]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/live_scores/4776533.stm Live Scores from the BBC]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/results/4776859.stm Magners League results from the BBC]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/fixtures/4776951.stm Magners League fixtures from the BBC]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/tables/4777185.stm Magners League table from the BBC]