# 2007–08 Celtic League

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. 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.
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

* ConnachtLeinsterMunsterUlsterEdinburghGlasgow WarriorsBluesDragonsOspreysScarletsclass=notpageimage| Location of 2007–08 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 | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Glasgow Warriors | Firhill Stadium | 10,887 | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Leinster | RDS Arena | 18,500 | Dublin, Republic of Ireland |
| Llanelli Scarlets | Stradey Park | 10,800 | Llanelli, Wales |
| Munster | Musgrave Park | 8,300 | Cork, Republic of Ireland |
| Newport Gwent Dragons | Rodney Parade | 12,000 | Newport, Wales |
| Ospreys | Liberty Stadium | 20,500 | Swansea, Wales |
| Ulster | 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 |
| Leinster | 18 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 428 | 283 | +145 | 44 | 30 | 4 | 3 | 61 |
| Cardiff Blues | 18 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 395 | 315 | +80 | 48 | 31 | 6 | 2 | 56 |
| Munster | 18 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 330 | 258 | +72 | 33 | 26 | 2 | 4 | 48 |
| Edinburgh | 18 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 313 | 285 | +28 | 35 | 29 | 3 | 3 | 48 |
| Glasgow Warriors | 18 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 340 | 349 | −9 | 31 | 38 | 1 | 3 | 46 |
| Llanelli Scarlets | 18 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 403 | 362 | +41 | 45 | 38 | 6 | 5 | 39 |
| Ospreys | 18 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 321 | 255 | +66 | 24 | 24 | 2 | 9 | 37 |
| Newport Gwent Dragons | 18 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 282 | 394 | −112 | 31 | 44 | 1 | 3 | 34 |
| Ulster | 18 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 278 | 407 | −129 | 33 | 41 | 2 | 1 | 29 |
| Connacht | 18 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 214 | 396 | −182 | 16 | 39 | 0 | 2 | 24 |
| 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.

## Broadcast rights

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.