2008–09 Celtic League

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.

2008–09 Celtic League
CountriesIreland Ireland
 Scotland
 Wales
ChampionsIreland Munster (2nd title)
Runners-upScotland Edinburgh
Matches played90
Attendance731,328
(average 8,126 per match)
Tries scored352
(average 3.9 per match)
Top point scorerFelipe Contepomi (Leinster)
James Hook (Ospreys)
(161 points)[1]
Top try scorerThom Evans (Glasgow)
(9 tries)[2]
Official website
www.rabodirectpro12.com

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

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Location of 2008–09 Celtic League teams in Great Britain and Ireland.
  Winners;   2nd–4th place;   Other teams.
Team Stadium Capacity City, Area
  Cardiff Blues Cardiff Arms Park 12,500 Cardiff, Wales
  Connacht Galway Sportsgrounds 5,500 Galway, Republic of Ireland
  Edinburgh Murrayfield Stadium 12,464[a] Edinburgh, Scotland
  Glasgow Warriors Firhill Stadium 10,887 Glasgow, Scotland
  Leinster RDS Arena 18,500 Dublin, Republic of Ireland
  Munster Thomond Park
Musgrave Park
26,500
8,300
Limerick, Republic of Ireland
Cork, Republic of Ireland
  Newport Gwent Dragons Rodney Parade 12,000 Newport, Wales
  Ospreys Liberty Stadium 20,500 Swansea, Wales
  Scarlets Parc y Scarlets
Stradey Park
14,870
10,800
Llanelli, Wales
  Ulster Ravenhill 12,800 Belfast, Northern Ireland

Table

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Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
1   Munster 18 14 0 4 405 257 +148 49 23 6 1 63
2   Edinburgh 18 11 0 7 416 296 +120 40 30 6 5 55
3   Leinster 18 11 1 6 401 270 +131 38 20 4 2 52
4   Ospreys 18 11 0 7 397 319 +78 39 28 3 5 52
5   Scarlets 18 9 0 9 376 395 −19 41 46 3 1 40
6   Cardiff Blues 18 8 1 9 322 361 −39 31 36 2 2 38
7   Glasgow Warriors 18 7 0 11 349 375 −26 36 41 4 5 37
8   Ulster 18 7 0 11 298 331 −33 30 33 2 6 36
9   Newport Gwent Dragons 18 7 0 11 305 429 −124 26 39 1 4 33
10   Connacht 18 4 0 14 224 460 −236 20 54 1 3 20
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 Archived 22 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine

Results

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Round 1

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5 September 2008
18:30
Connacht  3–16  Ospreys
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 829
5 September 2008
19:05
Newport Gwent Dragons  6–12  Glasgow Warriors
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 4,113
5 September 2008
19:30
Edinburgh  15–20  Munster
Report
Murrayfield
Attendance: 5,443
5 September 2008
19:30
Ulster  9–16  Scarlets
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 7,368
6 September 2008
18:30
Cardiff Blues  16–16  Leinster
Report
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 8,017

Welsh Round 1

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  • All-Welsh Round 5 matches played mid-week to allow Welsh teams to play in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
9 September 2008
19:35
Ospreys  32–10  Cardiff Blues
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 8,499
10 September 2008
19:05
Newport Gwent Dragons  25–27  Scarlets
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 5,057

Round 2

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12 September 2008
19:05
Cardiff Blues  16–15  Ulster
Report
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 8,619
12 September 2008
19:30
Glasgow Warriors  18–21  Ospreys
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,651
12 September 2008
19:30
Leinster  52–6  Edinburgh
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 14,840
13 September 2008
17:30
Scarlets  45–3  Connacht
Report
Stradey Park
Attendance: 6,041
14 September 2008
18:00
Munster  50–6  Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685

Round 3

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19 September 2008
18:30
Connacht  15–8  Glasgow Warriors
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 1,252
19 September 2008
19:30
Edinburgh  32–12  Scarlets
Report
Murrayfield
Attendance: 2,655
19 September 2008
19:30
Ulster  14–16  Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 7,885
19 September 2008
19:35
Leinster  19–13  Ospreys
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 15,140
20 September 2008
19:30
Munster  28–20  Cardiff Blues
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685

Round 4

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26 September 2008
19:05
Cardiff Blues  58–0  Connacht
Report
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 7,542
26 September 2008
19:30
Glasgow Warriors  34–20  Scarlets
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,450
26 September 2008
19:30
Newport Gwent Dragons  11–9  Edinburgh
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 4,676
27 September 2008
17:30
Ospreys  43–0  Ulster
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 7,225
28 September 2008
19:00
Leinster  0–18  Munster
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 18,500

Round 5

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3 October 2008
19:30
Ulster  13–9  Edinburgh
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 8,418
4 October 2008
19:00
Munster  25–17  Glasgow Warriors
Report
Thomond Park Stadium
Attendance: 22,885
5 October 2008
18:00
Connacht  19–18  Leinster
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 2,820

Round 6

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24 October 2008
18:30
Connacht  14–27  Edinburgh
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 1,868
24 October 2008
19:30
Glasgow Warriors  15–12  Leinster
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,523
25 October 2008
19:30
Ulster  22–6  Munster
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 10,058

Round 7

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28 November 2008
19:05
Scarlets  16–18  Munster
Report
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 8,435
28 November 2008
19:30
Edinburgh  32–16  Ospreys
Report
Murrayfield
Attendance: 2,670
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)[5]
28 November 2008
19:30
Glasgow Warriors  28–0  Cardiff Blues
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,364
28 November 2008
19:30
Ulster  53–13  Connacht
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 8,841
29 November 2008
17:30
Leinster  29–13  Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 15,240

Welsh Round 2

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  • All-Welsh Round 6 matches played mid-week to allow Welsh teams to play in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
19 December 2008
19:35
Newport Gwent Dragons  30–24  Ospreys
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 7,138
20 December 2008
17:30
Scarlets  27–13  Cardiff Blues
Report
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 7,610

Round 8

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26 December 2008
14:05
Newport Gwent Dragons  19–21  Cardiff Blues
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 10,180
27 December 2008
17:30
Ospreys  20–6  Scarlets
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 20,520
27 December 2008
19:30
Ulster  13–21  Leinster
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 13,500
28 December 2008
18:00
Connacht  12–6  Munster
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 5,000

1872 Cup 1st round

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26 December 2008
19:30
Edinburgh  39–6  Glasgow Warriors
Report
Murrayfield
Attendance: 12,534

Round 9

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31 December 2008
14:05
Cardiff Blues  12–16  Ospreys
Report
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 12,813
1 January 2009
17:15
Scarlets  29–24  Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 7,050
2 January 2009
19:30
Leinster  26–18  Connacht
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 16,350
3 January 2009
19:30
Munster  11–37  Ulster
Report
Thomond Park Stadium
Attendance: 25,623

1872 Cup 2nd round

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2 January 2009
15:00
Glasgow Warriors  25–20  Edinburgh
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 6,665

Round 10

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9 January 2009
18:30
Connacht  14–17  Scarlets
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 2,063
9 January 2009
19:05
Ospreys  21–25  Munster
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 9,003
9 January 2009
19:30
Glasgow Warriors  20–25  Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,217
9 January 2009
19:45
Edinburgh  21–15  Ulster
Report
Murrayfield
Attendance: 3,393
10 January 2009
19:30
Leinster  21–20  Cardiff Blues
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 14,470

Round 11

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20 February 2009
19:05
Cardiff Blues  34–30  Glasgow Warriors
Report
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 7,603
21 February 2009
17:30
Scarlets  17–31  Leinster
Report
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 6,436
21 February 2009
19:30
Munster  28–14  Edinburgh
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685
22 February 2009
14:15
Ospreys  22–10  Connacht
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 6,127
22 February 2009
16:10
Newport Gwent Dragons  26–16  Ulster
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 6,112

Round 12

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6 March 2009
18:30
Connacht  14–19  Cardiff Blues
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 1,373
6 March 2009
19:05
Ospreys  8–13  Leinster
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 8,046
7 March 2009
17:30
Newport Gwent Dragons  9–20  Munster
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 6,865
7 March 2009
19:30
Ulster  12–0  Glasgow Warriors
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 8,286
8 March 2009
16:10
Scarlets  13–6  Edinburgh
Report
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 6,302

Round 13

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27 March 2009
19:30
Edinburgh  32–5  Connacht
Report
Murrayfield
Attendance: 2,208
27 March 2009
19:45
Glasgow Warriors  13–26  Munster
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 3,615
29 March 2009
17:30
Leinster  32–6  Ulster
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 15,940

Round 14

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3 April 2009
18:30
Connacht  39–17  Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 1,272
3 April 2009
19:30
Edinburgh  16–3  Cardiff Blues
Report
Murrayfield
Attendance: 2,540
3 April 2009
19:35
Ulster  13–16  Ospreys
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 9,600
4 April 2009
17:30
Scarlets  21–38  Glasgow Warriors
Report
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 6,103
4 April 2009
19:30
Munster  22–5  Leinster
Report
Thomond Park Stadium
Attendance: 26,043

Round 15

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17 April 2009
19:30
Glasgow Warriors  19–20  Ulster
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,960
17 April 2009
19:45
Edinburgh  27–16  Leinster
Report
Murrayfield
Attendance: 2,747
18 April 2009
17:30
Scarlets  19–28  Ospreys
Report
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 11,444
18 April 2009
19:30
Munster  25–10  Connacht
Report
Thomond Park Stadium
Attendance: 26,043

Round 16

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24 April 2009
19:30
Ulster  9–11  Cardiff Blues
Report
Ravenhill
Attendance: 7,809
24 April 2009
19:35
Munster  29–10  Scarlets
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685
25 April 2009
19:30
Ospreys  30–32  Edinburgh
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 6,015
25 April 2009
19:35
Leinster  36–13  Glasgow Warriors
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 10,910
26 April 2009
17:05
Newport Gwent Dragons  27–14  Connacht
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 5,233

Rearranged fixtures

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30 April 2009
19:05
Ospreys  27–18  Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 5,010
6 May 2009
19:05
Cardiff Blues  26–12  Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 6,608

Round 17

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8 May 2009
19:00
Connacht  12–14  Ulster
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 1,425
8 May 2009
19:45
Leinster  45–8  Scarlets
Report
RDS Arena
Attendance: 11,160
9 May 2009
14:30
Edinburgh  43–3  Newport Gwent Dragons
Report
Murrayfield
Attendance: 2,105
10 May 2009
14:35
Ospreys  34–23  Glasgow Warriors
Report
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 5,204
10 May 2009
16:35
Cardiff Blues  20–12  Munster
Report
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 7,428

Rearranged fixture

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13 May 2009
19:35
Cardiff Blues  9–30  Scarlets
Report
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 8,212

Round 18

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15 May 2009
19:45
Glasgow Warriors  30–9  Connacht
Report
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 1,851
15 May 2009
19:45
Munster  36–10  Ospreys
Report
Thomond Park Stadium
Attendance: 26,043
16 May 2009
17:30
Newport Gwent Dragons  18–9  Leinster
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 5,426
16 May 2009
19:30
Scarlets  43–17  Ulster
Report
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 6,219
17 May 2009
15:35
Cardiff Blues  14–36  Edinburgh
Report
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 11,212

Leading scorers

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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.

Broadcast rights

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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.[6]

Notes

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  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

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  1. ^ a b "Leading Points-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Leading Try-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. 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. 30 April 2009. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
  5. ^ "John Lacey". www.pro14rugby.org. 23 October 2017. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  6. ^ BBC extends Welsh rugby contract