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.
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.
Under the standard bonus point system, points are awarded as follows:
4 points for a win
2 points for a draw
1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries (or more) (Try bonus)
1 bonus point for losing by 7 points (or fewer) (Losing bonus)
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.
31 Aug 2007 19:40
Cardiff Blues
17–15
Ospreys
Report
Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 9,187
1 September 2007 17:30
Llanelli Scarlets
23–30
Newport Gwent Dragons
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
Cardiff Blues
Report
Rodney Parade Attendance: 5,673
11 September 2007 19:35
Ospreys
9–14
Llanelli Scarlets
Report
Liberty Stadium Attendance: 10,143
Round 1
21 September 2007 18:00
Connacht
22–7
Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Sportsground Attendance: 1,141
21 September 2007 18:10
Cardiff Blues
32–16
Glasgow Warriors
Report
Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 5,425
21 September 2007 18:30
Ulster
17–16
Ospreys
Report
Ravenhill Attendance: 8,142
22 September 2007 17:30
Leinster
23–8
Edinburgh
Report
Royal Dublin Society Attendance: 9,630
22 September 2007 17:30
Munster
26–16
Llanelli Scarlets
Report
Musgrave Park Attendance: 3,400
Round 2
28 September 2007 18:10
Newport Gwent Dragons
16–26
Munster
Report
Rodney Parade Attendance: 4,537
28 September 2007 19:10
Llanelli Scarlets
34–11
Connacht
Report
Stradey Park Attendance: 6,560
28 September 2007 19:30
Cardiff Blues
19–30
Leinster
Report
Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 5,991
28 September 2007 19:30
Edinburgh
24–10
Ulster
Report
Murrayfield Attendance: 1,389
30 September 2007 15:00
Ospreys
37–23
Glasgow Warriors
Report
Liberty Stadium Attendance: 5,417
Round 3
5 October 2007 19:10
Leinster
23–52
Llanelli Scarlets
Report
Royal Dublin Society Attendance: 9,439
5 October 2007 19:30
Edinburgh
13–13
Ospreys
Report
Murrayfield Attendance: 1,326
5 October 2007 19:30
Glasgow Warriors
16–15
Connacht
Report
Firhill Stadium Attendance: 1,226
5 October 2007 19:30
Munster
17–19
Cardiff Blues
Report
Musgrave Park Attendance: 6,075
6 October 2007 17:30
Newport Gwent Dragons
31–11
Ulster
Report
Rodney Parade Attendance: 4,139
Round 4
12 October 2007 19:10
Llanelli Scarlets
32–8
Ulster
Report
Stradey Park Attendance: 6,480
12 October 2007 19:30
Cardiff Blues
30–16
Connacht
Report
Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 6,921
12 October 2007 19:30
Edinburgh
13–19
Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Murrayfield Attendance: 1,412
12 October 2007 19:30
Glasgow Warriors
21–17
Leinster
Report
Firhill Stadium Attendance: 1,580
14 October 2007 16:10
Ospreys
16–3
Munster
Report
Liberty Stadium Attendance: 7,740
Round 5
26 October 2007 18:30
Connacht
14–14
Edinburgh
Report
Sportsground Attendance: 1,690
26 October 2007 19:30
Glasgow Warriors
11–11
Munster
Report
Firhill Stadium Attendance: 1,829
26 October 2007 19:30
Ulster
16–16
Leinster
Report
Ravenhill Attendance: 13,132
Round 6
2 November 2007 19:30
Glasgow Warriors
25–6
Ulster
Report
Firhill Stadium Attendance: 2,631
2 November 2007 19:30
Leinster
29–9
Connacht
Report
Royal Dublin Society Attendance: 16,753
3 November 2007 19:30
Munster
19–16
Edinburgh
Report
Musgrave Park Attendance: 8,300
Round 7
23 November 2007 19:10
Ospreys
19–26
Leinster
Report
Liberty Stadium Attendance: 6,097
23 November 2007 19:30
Connacht
13–30
Ulster
Report
Sportsground Attendance: 2,541
23 November 2007 19:30
Glasgow Warriors
17–5
Cardiff Blues
Report
Firhill Stadium Attendance: 1,638
24 November 2007 19:30
Munster
45–19
Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Musgrave Park Attendance: 8,250
25 November 2007 16:10
Edinburgh
27–17
Llanelli Scarlets
Report
Murrayfield Attendance: 1,638
Round 8
30 November 2007 18:30
Connacht
10–6
Glasgow Warriors
Report
Sportsground Attendance: 1,145
30 November 2007 19:30
Munster
3–10
Leinster
Report
Musgrave Park Attendance: 8,300
30 November 2007 19:30
Ulster
14–20
Edinburgh
Report
Ravenhill Attendance: 9,750
Round 9
26 December 2007 14:05
Cardiff Blues
11–6
Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 12,532
26 December 2007 15:00
Leinster
29–0
Ulster
Report
Royal Dublin Society Attendance: 18,230
27 December 2007 19:30
Munster
17–0
Connacht
Report
Musgrave Park Attendance: 6,125
27 December 2007 19:35
Llanelli Scarlets
17–12
Ospreys
Report
Stradey Park Attendance: 10,739
1872 Cup 1st round
28 December 2007 19:30
Edinburgh
35–31
Glasgow Warriors
Report
Murrayfield Attendance: 6,225
Welsh Round 3
All-Welsh Round 8 matches rescheduled to allow Welsh teams to play in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
31 December 2007 14:05
Ospreys
22–3
Cardiff Blues
Report
Liberty Stadium Attendance: 16,509
1 January 2008 16:10
Newport Gwent Dragons
15–13
Llanelli Scarlets
Report
Rodney Parade Attendance: 6,782
Round 10
4 January 2008 18:30
Connacht
20–18
Llanelli Scarlets
Report
Sportsground Attendance: 1,681
4 January 2008 19:10
Cardiff Blues
10–11
Edinburgh
Report
Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 6,125
4 January 2008 19:30
Glasgow Warriors
16–18
Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Firhill Stadium Attendance: 1,798
5 January 2008 19:30
Leinster
26–15
Ospreys
Report
Royal Dublin Society Attendance: 13,385
Round 11
15 February 2008 19:10
Llanelli Scarlets
30–7
Glasgow Warriors
Report
Stradey Park Attendance: 6,190
15 February 2008 19:30
Edinburgh
7–11
Munster
Report
Murrayfield Attendance: 4,100
15 February 2008 19:30
Ulster
38–13
Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Ravenhill Attendance: 9,246
16 February 2008 17:30
Ospreys
37–7
Connacht
Report
Liberty Stadium Attendance: 7,396
16 February 2008 19:30
Leinster
24–17
Cardiff Blues
Report
Royal Dublin Society Attendance: 14,322
Round 12
29 February 2008 19:10
Newport Gwent Dragons
10–10
Edinburgh
Report
Rodney Parade Attendance: 4,734
29 February 2008 19:30
Connacht
10–16
Leinster
Report
Sportsground Attendance: 3,851
29 February 2008 19:30
Glasgow Warriors
9–6
Ospreys
Report
Firhill Stadium Attendance: 2,058
29 February 2008 19:30
Ulster
20–8
Llanelli Scarlets
Report
Ravenhill Attendance: 8,869
1 March 2008 17:30
Cardiff Blues
25–22
Munster
Report
Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 11,269
Round 13
21 March 2008 19:10
Llanelli Scarlets
35–17
Cardiff Blues
Report
Stradey Park Attendance: 8,045
21 March 2008 19:30
Edinburgh
38–8
Connacht
Report
Murrayfield Attendance: 2,506
21 March 2008 19:30
Leinster
34–18
Glasgow Warriors
Report
Royal Dublin Society Attendance: 11,730
22 March 2008 19:30
Munster
42–6
Ulster
Report
Musgrave Park Attendance: 7,500
Round 14
28 March 2008 19:10
Ospreys
32–7
Ulster
Report
Liberty Stadium Attendance: 9,087
28 March 2008 19:30
Connacht
5–16
Munster
Report
Sportsground Attendance: 5,368
28 March 2008 19:30
Edinburgh
0–20
Cardiff Blues
Report
Murrayfield Attendance: 2,395
29 March 2008 17:30
Llanelli Scarlets
10–24
Leinster
Report
Stradey Park Attendance: 7,407
30 March 2008 16:05
Newport Gwent Dragons
14–20
Glasgow Warriors
Report
Rodney Parade Attendance: 5,949
Round 15
11 April 2008 18:30
Ulster
18–6
Connacht
Report
Ravenhill Attendance: 9,248
11 April 2008 19:10
Cardiff Blues
35–26
Llanelli Scarlets
Report
Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 10,216
12 April 2008 18:30
Leinster
21–12
Munster
Report
Royal Dublin Society Attendance: 18,500
1872 Cup 2nd round
11 April 2008 20:00
Glasgow Warriors
23–14
Edinburgh
Report
Firhill Stadium Attendance: 4,731
Round 16
18 April 2008 19:10
Newport Gwent Dragons
11–13
Connacht
Report
Rodney Parade Attendance: 5,748
18 April 2008 19:30
Edinburgh
15–13
Leinster
Report
Murrayfield Attendance: 3,138
18 April 2008 19:30
Glasgow Warriors
25–23
Llanelli Scarlets
Report
Firhill Stadium Attendance: 2,012
19 April 2008 17:30
Cardiff Blues
30–17
Ulster
Report
Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 6,500
19 April 2008 19:30
Munster
9–8
Ospreys
Report
Musgrave Park Attendance: 7,500
Rearranged fixtures
Round 13 match postponed from 22 March because of the Ospreys' participation in the Anglo-Welsh Cup semi-final
25 April 2008 19:35
Ospreys
16–3
Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Liberty Stadium Attendance: 9,166
Round 10 match postponed from 4 January because of adverse weather conditions at Ravenhill.
30 April 2008 19:30
Ulster
19–9
Munster
Report
Ravenhill Attendance: 12,300
Round 17
2 May 2008 18:30
Connacht
11–39
Cardiff Blues
Report
Sportsground Attendance: 1,463
2 May 2008 19:10
Ospreys
18–19
Edinburgh
Report
Liberty Stadium Attendance: 7,625
3 May 2008 14:45
Llanelli Scarlets
23–24
Munster
Report
Stradey Park Attendance: 7,020
3 May 2008 15:00
Ulster
24–35
Glasgow Warriors
Report
Ravenhill Attendance: 6,592
3 May 2008 18:00
Leinster
41–8
Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Royal Dublin Society Attendance: 17,260
Rearranged fixture
Round 15 match postponed from 12 April because of the Ospreys' participation in the Anglo-Welsh Cup final.
6 May 2008 19:35
Newport Gwent Dragons
18–10
Ospreys
Report
Rodney Parade Attendance: 6,308
Round 18
9 May 2008 18:30
Connacht
24–20
Ospreys
Report
Sportsground Attendance: 1,463
9 May 2008 19:10
Newport Gwent Dragons
31–26
Leinster
Report
Rodney Parade Attendance: 5,112
9 May 2008 19:30
Ulster
17–26
Cardiff Blues
Report
Ravenhill Attendance: 9,672
10 May 2008 17:00
Munster
18–21
Glasgow Warriors
Report
Musgrave Park Attendance: 5,360
10 May 2008 17:30
Llanelli Scarlets
12–29
Edinburgh
Report
Stradey Park Attendance: 7,338
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.
Television rights for the league were split between three broadcasters: BBC Wales, S4C and Setanta Sports. BBC Wales and S4C continued to cover the Celtic League until the end of the 2009–10 season.[4]
Notes
^Although Murrayfield's full capacity is 67,800, only the lower section of the West Stand, with a capacity of 12,464, is generally opened for Edinburgh fixtures.
References
^ ab"Leading Points-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
^ ab"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 Sport. 30 August 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2013.