2008–09 Celtic League - Wikipedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 2008–09 Celtic League | |
|---|---|
| Countries |  Ireland Scotland Wales |
| Champions | Munster (2nd title) |
| Runners-up | Edinburgh |
| Matches played | 90 |
| Attendance | 731,328 (average 8,126 per match) |
| Tries scored | 352 (average 3.9 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]
| 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 |
| 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:
| |||||||||||||
| Source: RaboDirect PRO12 Archived 22 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine |
Sportsground
Attendance: 829
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 4,113
Murrayfield
Attendance: 5,443
Ravenhill
Attendance: 7,368
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 8,017
- All-Welsh Round 5 matches played mid-week to allow Welsh teams to play in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 8,499
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 5,057
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 8,619
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,651
RDS Arena
Attendance: 14,840
Stradey Park
Attendance: 6,041
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685
Sportsground
Attendance: 1,252
Murrayfield
Attendance: 2,655
Ravenhill
Attendance: 7,885
RDS Arena
Attendance: 15,140
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 7,542
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,450
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 4,676
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 7,225
RDS Arena
Attendance: 18,500
Ravenhill
Attendance: 8,418
Thomond Park Stadium
Attendance: 22,885
Sportsground
Attendance: 2,820
Sportsground
Attendance: 1,868
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,523
Ravenhill
Attendance: 10,058
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 8,435
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,364
Ravenhill
Attendance: 8,841
RDS Arena
Attendance: 15,240
- All-Welsh Round 6 matches played mid-week to allow Welsh teams to play in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 7,138
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 7,610
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 10,180
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 20,520
Ravenhill
Attendance: 13,500
Sportsground
Attendance: 5,000
Murrayfield
Attendance: 12,534
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 12,813
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 7,050
RDS Arena
Attendance: 16,350
Thomond Park Stadium
Attendance: 25,623
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 6,665
Sportsground
Attendance: 2,063
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 9,003
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,217
Murrayfield
Attendance: 3,393
RDS Arena
Attendance: 14,470
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 7,603
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 6,436
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 6,127
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 6,112
Sportsground
Attendance: 1,373
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 8,046
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 6,865
Ravenhill
Attendance: 8,286
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 6,302
Murrayfield
Attendance: 2,208
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 3,615
RDS Arena
Attendance: 15,940
Sportsground
Attendance: 1,272
Murrayfield
Attendance: 2,540
Ravenhill
Attendance: 9,600
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 6,103
Thomond Park Stadium
Attendance: 26,043
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,960
Murrayfield
Attendance: 2,747
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 11,444
Thomond Park Stadium
Attendance: 26,043
Ravenhill
Attendance: 7,809
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 6,015
RDS Arena
Attendance: 10,910
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 5,233
Rearranged fixtures
[edit]
- Round 13 match rescheduled to allow Ospreys to play in the Anglo-Welsh Cup semi-final.
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 5,010
- Round 15 match rescheduled to allow Cardiff Blues to play in the Anglo-Welsh Cup final.
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 6,608
Sportsground
Attendance: 1,425
RDS Arena
Attendance: 11,160
Murrayfield
Attendance: 2,105
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 5,204
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 7,428
- Round 13 match rescheduled to allow Cardiff Blues to play in the Anglo-Welsh Cup semi-final.
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 8,212
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 1,851
Thomond Park Stadium
Attendance: 26,043
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 5,426
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 6,219
Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 11,212
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 are split between three broadcasters, BBC Wales, S4C and Setanta Sports. BBC Wales and S4C continues to cover the Pro12.[6]
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Leading Points-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ a b "Leading Try-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
- ^ "Scarlets drop Llanelli from name". BBC Sport. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2008.
- ^ "Ospreys 27-18 Dragons". BBC Sport. 30 April 2009. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
- ^ "John Lacey". www.pro14rugby.org. 23 October 2017. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ BBC extends Welsh rugby contract