2007–08 Celtic League
2007–08 Celtic League | |
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Countries | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Champions | ![]() |
Runners-up | ![]() |
Matches played | 90 |
Attendance | 609,015 (average 6,767 per match) |
Tries scored | 341 (average 3.8 per match) |
Top point scorer | Dan Parks (Glasgow) (159 points)[1] |
Top try scorer | Tom James (Cardiff Blues) (9 tries)[2] |
Official website | |
www | |
The 2007–08 Celtic League (known as the 2007–08 Magners League for sponsorship reasons) was the seventh Celtic League season and the second with Magners as title sponsor. The season began on 31 August 2007 and finished on 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 were the same as the previous season with one exception; only two Scottish teams participated, as the Scottish Rugby Union scrapped the Border Reivers region at the end of the 2006–07 season.[3] As in previous seasons, the league was 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.[citation needed]
The ten teams competing were 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.
Teams[]
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Team | Stadium | Capacity | City, Area |
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Cardiff Arms Park | 12,500 | Cardiff, Wales |
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Galway Sportsgrounds | 5,500 | Galway, Republic of Ireland |
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Murrayfield Stadium | 67,144[a] | Edinburgh, Scotland |
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Firhill Stadium | 10,887 | Glasgow, Scotland |
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RDS Arena | 18,500 | Dublin, Republic of Ireland |
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Stradey Park | 10,800 | Llanelli, Wales |
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Musgrave Park | 8,300 | Cork, Republic of Ireland |
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Rodney Parade | 12,000 | Newport, Wales |
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Liberty Stadium | 20,500 | Swansea, Wales |
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Ravenhill | 12,800 | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
Pre-season[]
Following the end of the 2006–07 Celtic 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[]
Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | Try bonus | Losing bonus | Pts | |
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18 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 428 | 283 | +145 | 44 | 30 | 4 | 3 | 61 | |
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18 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 395 | 315 | +80 | 48 | 31 | 6 | 2 | 56 | |
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18 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 330 | 258 | +72 | 33 | 26 | 2 | 4 | 48 | |
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18 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 313 | 285 | +28 | 35 | 29 | 3 | 3 | 48 | |
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18 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 340 | 349 | −9 | 31 | 38 | 1 | 3 | 46 | |
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18 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 403 | 362 | +41 | 45 | 38 | 6 | 5 | 39 | |
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18 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 321 | 255 | +66 | 24 | 24 | 2 | 9 | 37 | |
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18 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 282 | 394 | −112 | 31 | 44 | 1 | 3 | 34 | |
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18 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 278 | 407 | −129 | 33 | 41 | 2 | 1 | 29 | |
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18 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 214 | 396 | −182 | 16 | 39 | 0 | 2 | 24 | |
Under the standard bonus point system, points are awarded as follows:
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Source: RaboDirect PRO12 |
Results[]
A provisional fixture list was released on 23 July 2007, with the opening game featuring Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys.
Welsh Round 1[]
- All-Welsh Round 5 matches played early to allow Welsh teams to play in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
1 September 2007
17:30 |
Llanelli Scarlets ![]() |
23–30 | ![]() |
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Report |
Stradey Park
Attendance: 5,923 |
Welsh Round 2[]
- All-Welsh Round 6 matches played early to allow Welsh teams to play in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
7 September 2007
18:10 |
Newport Gwent Dragons ![]() |
13–40 | ![]() |
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Report |
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 5,673 |
Round 1[]
21 September 2007
18:10 |
Cardiff Blues ![]() |
32–16 | ![]() |
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Report |
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 5,425 |
Round 2[]
Round 3[]
Round 4[]
Round 5[]
Round 6[]
Round 7[]
Round 8[]
Round 9[]
26 December 2007
14:05 |
Cardiff Blues ![]() |
11–6 | ![]() |
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Report |
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 12,532 |
1872 Cup 1st round[]
Welsh Round 3[]
- All-Welsh Round 8 matches rescheduled to allow Welsh teams to play in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
1 January 2008
16:10 |
Newport Gwent Dragons ![]() |
15–13 | ![]() |
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Report |
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 6,782 |
Round 10[]
4 January 2008
19:30 |
Glasgow Warriors ![]() |
16–18 | ![]() |
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Report |
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 1,798 |
Round 11[]
Round 12[]
Round 13[]
Round 14[]
30 March 2008
16:05 |
Newport Gwent Dragons ![]() |
14–20 | ![]() |
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Report |
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 5,949 |
Round 15[]
1872 Cup 2nd round[]
Round 16[]
Rearranged fixtures[]
- Round 13 match postponed from 22 March because of the Ospreys' participation in the Anglo-Welsh Cup semi-final
- Round 10 match postponed from 4 January because of adverse weather conditions at Ravenhill.
Round 17[]
Rearranged fixture[]
- Round 15 match postponed from 12 April because of the Ospreys' participation in the Anglo-Welsh Cup final.
Round 18[]
Leading scorers[]
Note: Flags to the left of player names indicate national team as has been defined under IRB eligibility rules, or primary nationality for players who have not yet earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-IRB nationalities.
Top points scorers[]
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Top try scorers[]
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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 Celtic League until the end of the 2009–10 season.[4]
Notes[]
- ^ Although Murrayfield's full capacity is 67,144, only the lower section of the West Stand, with a capacity of 12,464, is generally opened for Edinburgh fixtures.
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Leading Points-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Leading Try-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ "Scottish union axes Borders team". BBC. 27 March 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ "BBC extends Welsh rugby contract". BBC. 30 August 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
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- 2007–08 Celtic League
- United Rugby Championship seasons
- 2007–08 in European rugby union leagues
- 2007–08 in Irish rugby union
- 2007–08 in Welsh rugby union
- 2007–08 in Scottish rugby union