2008–09 Celtic League

2008–09 Celtic League
Countries Ireland Ireland
 Scotland
 Wales
Champions Ireland Munster (2nd title)
Runners-up Scotland Edinburgh
Matches played 90
Attendance 731,328 (average 8,126 per match)
Tries scored 352 (average 3.911 per match)
Top point scorer Felipe Contepomi (Leinster)
James Hook (Ospreys)
(161 points)[1]
Top try scorer Thom Evans (Glasgow)
(9 tries)[2]
Official website
www.rabodirectpro12.com

The 2008–09 Celtic League (known as the 2008–09 Magners League for sponsorship reasons) was the eighth Celtic League season and the third with Magners as title sponsor. The season began in September 2008 and ended in May 2009. Ten teams played each other 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. Losing teams also earned a bonus point if they lost by seven points or less.

The ten competing teams consisted of the four Irish provinces, Munster, Leinster, Connacht and Ulster; two Scottish regions, Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors; and four Welsh regions, Cardiff Blues, Newport Gwent Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets. The Scarlets were originally known as the "Llanelli Scarlets", but renamed themselves at the start of the season, in order to reflect their regional identity.[3]

Munster were crowned champions on 30 April 2009 after the Ospreys beat the Newport Gwent Dragons 27–18 but failed to claim a bonus point.[4]

Teams

Team Stadium Capacity City, Area
Wales Cardiff Blues Cardiff Arms Park 12,500 Cardiff, Wales
Ireland Connacht Galway Sportsgrounds 5,500 Galway, Republic of Ireland
Scotland Edinburgh Murrayfield Stadium 12,464[lower-alpha 1] Edinburgh, Scotland
Scotland Glasgow Warriors Firhill Stadium 10,887 Glasgow, Scotland
Ireland Leinster RDS Arena 18,500 Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Ireland Munster Thomond Park
Musgrave Park
26,500
8,300
Limerick, Republic of Ireland
Cork, Republic of Ireland
Wales Newport Gwent Dragons Rodney Parade 12,000 Newport, Wales
Wales Ospreys Liberty Stadium 20,500 Swansea, Wales
Wales Scarlets Parc y Scarlets
Stradey Park
14,870
10,800
Llanelli, Wales
Ireland Ulster Ravenhill 12,800 Belfast, Northern Ireland

Table

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
1Ireland Munster 18140 4405257+14849236163
2Scotland Edinburgh 18110 7416296+12040306555
3Ireland Leinster 18111 6401270+13138204252
4Wales Ospreys 18110 7397319 +7839283552
5Wales Scarlets 18 90 9376395 −1941463140
6Wales Cardiff Blues 18 81 9322361 −3931362238
7Scotland Glasgow Warriors 18 7011349375 −2636414537
8Ireland Ulster 18 7011298331 −3330332636
9Wales Newport Gwent Dragons 18 7011305429−12426391433
10Ireland Connacht 18 4014224460−23620541320

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

Round 1

5 September 2008
18:30
Connacht Ireland 316 Wales Ospreys
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 829
5 September 2008
19:05
Newport Gwent Dragons Wales 612 Scotland Glasgow Warriors
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 4,113
5 September 2008
19:30
Edinburgh Scotland 1520 Ireland Munster
Report
Murrayfield
Attendance: 5,443
5 September 2008
19:30
Ulster Ireland 916 Wales Scarlets
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 7,368
6 September 2008
18:30
Cardiff Blues Wales 1616 Ireland Leinster
Report
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 8,017

Welsh Round 1

9 September 2008
19:35
Ospreys 3210 Wales Cardiff Blues
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 8,499
10 September 2008
19:05
Newport Gwent Dragons Wales 2527 Wales Scarlets
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 5,057

Round 2

12 September 2008
19:05
Cardiff Blues Wales 1615 Ireland Ulster
Report
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 8,619
12 September 2008
19:30
Glasgow Warriors Scotland 1821 Wales Ospreys
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,651
12 September 2008
19:30
Leinster Ireland 526 Scotland Edinburgh
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 14,840
13 September 2008
17:30
Scarlets Wales 453 Ireland Connacht
Report
Stradey Park
Attendance: 6,041
14 September 2008
18:00
Munster Ireland 506 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685

Round 3

19 September 2008
18:30
Connacht Ireland 158 Scotland Glasgow Warriors
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 1,252
19 September 2008
19:30
Edinburgh Scotland 3212 Wales Scarlets
Report
Murrayfield
Attendance: 2,655
19 September 2008
19:30
Ulster Ireland 1416 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 7,885
19 September 2008
19:35
Leinster Ireland 1913 Wales Ospreys
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 15,140
20 September 2008
19:30
Munster Ireland 2820 Wales Cardiff Blues
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685

Round 4

26 September 2008
19:05
Cardiff Blues Wales 580 Ireland Connacht
Report
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 7,542
26 September 2008
19:30
Glasgow Warriors Scotland 3420 Wales Scarlets
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,450
26 September 2008
19:30
Newport Gwent Dragons Wales 119 Scotland Edinburgh
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 4,676
27 September 2008
17:30
Ospreys Wales 430 Ireland Ulster
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 7,225
28 September 2008
19:00
Leinster Ireland 018 Ireland Munster
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 18,500

Round 5

3 October 2008
19:30
Ulster Ireland 139 Scotland Edinburgh
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 8,418
4 October 2008
19:00
Munster Ireland 2517 Scotland Glasgow Warriors
Report
Thomond Park Stadium
Attendance: 22,885
5 October 2008
18:00
Connacht Ireland 1918 Ireland Leinster
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 2,820

Round 6

24 October 2008
18:30
Connacht Ireland 1427 Scotland Edinburgh
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 1,868
24 October 2008
19:30
Glasgow Warriors Scotland 1512 Ireland Leinster
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,523
25 October 2008
19:30
Ulster Ireland 226 Ireland Munster
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 10,058

Round 7

28 November 2008
19:05
Scarlets Wales 1618 Ireland Munster
Report
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 8,435
28 November 2008
19:30
Edinburgh Scotland 3216 Wales Ospreys
Report
Murrayfield
Attendance: 2,670
28 November 2008
19:30
Glasgow Warriors Scotland 280 Wales Cardiff Blues
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,364
28 November 2008
19:30
Ulster Ireland 5313 Ireland Connacht
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 8,841
29 November 2008
17:30
Leinster Ireland 2913 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 15,240

Welsh Round 2

19 December 2008
19:35
Newport Gwent Dragons Wales 3024 Wales Ospreys
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 7,138
20 December 2008
17:30
Scarlets Wales 2713 Wales Cardiff Blues
Report
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 7,610

Round 8

26 December 2008
14:05
Newport Gwent Dragons Wales 1921 Wales Cardiff Blues
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 10,180
26 December 2008
19:30
Edinburgh Scotland 396 Scotland Glasgow Warriors
Report
Murrayfield
Attendance: 12,534
27 December 2008
17:30
Ospreys Wales 206 Wales Scarlets
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 20,520
27 December 2008
19:30
Ulster Ireland 1321 Ireland Leinster
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 13,500
28 December 2008
18:00
Connacht Ireland 126 Ireland Munster
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 5,000

Round 9

31 December 2008
14:05
Cardiff Blues Wales 1216 Wales Ospreys
Report
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 12,813
1 January 2009
17:15
Scarlets Wales 2924 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 7,050
2 January 2009
15:00
Glasgow Warriors Scotland 2520 Scotland Edinburgh
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 6,665
2 January 2009
19:30
Leinster Ireland 2618 Ireland Connacht
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 16,350
3 January 2009
19:30
Munster Ireland 1137 Ireland Ulster
Report
Thomond Park Stadium
Attendance: 25,623

Round 10

9 January 2009
18:30
Connacht Ireland 1417 Wales Scarlets
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 2,063
9 January 2009
19:05
Ospreys Wales 2125 Ireland Munster
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 9,003
9 January 2009
19:30
Glasgow Warriors Scotland 2025 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,217
9 January 2009
19:45
Edinburgh Scotland 2115 Ireland Ulster
Report
Murrayfield
Attendance: 3,393
10 January 2009
19:30
Leinster Ireland 2120 Wales Cardiff Blues
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 14,470

Round 11

20 February 2009
19:05
Cardiff Blues Wales 3430 Scotland Glasgow Warriors
Report
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 7,603
21 February 2009
17:30
Scarlets Wales 1731 Ireland Leinster
Report
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 6,436
21 February 2009
19:30
Munster Ireland 2814 Scotland Edinburgh
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685
22 February 2009
14:15
Ospreys Wales 2210 Ireland Connacht
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 6,127
22 February 2009
16:10
Newport Gwent Dragons Wales 2616 Ireland Ulster
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 6,112

Round 12

6 March 2009
18:30
Connacht Ireland 1419 Wales Cardiff Blues
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 1,373
6 March 2009
19:05
Ospreys Wales 813 Ireland Leinster
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 8,046
7 March 2009
17:30
Newport Gwent Dragons Wales 920 Ireland Munster
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 6,865
7 March 2009
19:30
Ulster Ireland 120 Scotland Glasgow Warriors
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 8,286
8 March 2009
16:10
Scarlets Wales 136 Scotland Edinburgh
Report
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 6,302

Round 13

27 March 2009
19:30
Edinburgh Scotland 325 Ireland Connacht
Report
Murrayfield
Attendance: 2,208
27 March 2009
19:45
Glasgow Warriors Scotland 1326 Ireland Munster
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 3,615
29 March 2009
17:30
Leinster Ireland 326 Ireland Ulster
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 15,940

Round 14

3 April 2009
18:30
Connacht Ireland 3917 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 1,272
3 April 2009
19:30
Edinburgh Scotland 163 Wales Cardiff Blues
Report
Murrayfield
Attendance: 2,540
3 April 2009
19:35
Ulster Ireland 1316 Wales Ospreys
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 9,600
4 April 2009
17:30
Scarlets Wales 2138 Scotland Glasgow Warriors
Report
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 6,103
4 April 2009
19:30
Munster Ireland 225 Ireland Leinster
Report
Thomond Park Stadium
Attendance: 26,043

Round 15

17 April 2009
19:30
Glasgow Warriors Scotland 1920 Ireland Ulster
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,960
17 April 2009
19:45
Edinburgh Scotland 2716 Ireland Leinster
Report
Murrayfield
Attendance: 2,747
18 April 2009
17:30
Scarlets Wales 1928 Wales Ospreys
Report
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 11,444
18 April 2009
19:30
Munster Ireland 2510 Ireland Connacht
Report
Thomond Park Stadium
Attendance: 26,043

Round 16

24 April 2009
19:30
Ulster Ireland 911 Wales Cardiff Blues
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 7,809
24 April 2009
19:35
Munster Ireland 2910 Wales Scarlets
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685
25 April 2009
19:30
Ospreys Wales 3032 Scotland Edinburgh
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 6,015
25 April 2009
19:35
Leinster Ireland 3613 Scotland Glasgow Warriors
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 10,910
26 April 2009
17:05
Newport Gwent Dragons Wales 2714 Ireland Connacht
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 5,233

Rearranged fixtures

30 April 2009
19:05
Ospreys Wales 2718 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 5,010
6 May 2009
19:05
Cardiff Blues Wales 2612 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 6,608

Round 17

8 May 2009
19:00
Connacht Ireland 1214 Ireland Ulster
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 1,425
8 May 2009
19:45
Leinster Ireland 458 Wales Scarlets
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 11,160
9 May 2009
14:30
Edinburgh Scotland 433 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Murrayfield
Attendance: 2,105
10 May 2009
14:35
Ospreys Wales 3423 Scotland Glasgow Warriors
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 5,204
10 May 2009
16:35
Cardiff Blues Wales 2012 Ireland Munster
Report
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 7,428

Rearranged fixture

13 May 2009
19:35
Cardiff Blues Wales 930 Wales Scarlets
Report
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 8,212

Round 18

15 May 2009
19:45
Glasgow Warriors Scotland 309 Ireland Connacht
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 1,851
15 May 2009
19:45
Munster Ireland 3610 Wales Ospreys
Report
Thomond Park Stadium
Attendance: 26,043
16 May 2009
17:30
Newport Gwent Dragons Wales 189 Ireland Leinster
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 5,426
16 May 2009
19:30
Scarlets Wales 4317 Ireland Ulster
Report
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 6,219
17 May 2009
15:35
Cardiff Blues Wales 1436 Scotland Edinburgh
Report
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 11,212

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

Rank Player Club Points[1]
1 Argentina Felipe Contepomi Ireland Leinster 161
Wales James Hook Wales Ospreys
3 Scotland Chris Paterson Scotland Edinburgh 159
4 Ireland Ian Keatley Ireland Connacht 124
5 Scotland Dan Parks Scotland Glasgow Warriors 117

Top try scorers

Rank Player Club Tries[2]
1 Scotland Thom Evans Scotland Glasgow Warriors 9
2 Ireland Fionn Carr Ireland Connacht 8
Ireland Keith Earls Ireland Munster
4 Scotland Ben Cairns Scotland Edinburgh 7
Ireland Luke Fitzgerald Ireland Leinster

Broadcast rights

Television rights for the league are split between three broadcasters, BBC Wales, S4C and Setanta Sports. BBC Wales and S4C continues to cover the Pro12.[5]

Notes

  1. 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

  1. 1 2 "Leading Points-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Leading Try-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  3. "Scarlets drop Llanelli from name". BBC Sport. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2008.
  4. "Ospreys 27-18 Dragons". BBC Sport. 2009-04-30. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
  5. BBC extends Welsh rugby contract
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