2006-07 Magners League

The 2006-07 Magners League was the sixth Celtic League season and the first with Magners as title sponsor. The season commenced on September 1 and was completed on May 12.

The teams competing remained the same as the previous season with four Irish provinces; Munster, Leinster, Connacht and 2005-06 champions Ulster, three Scottish regions; Edinburgh Rugby, Border Reivers and Glasgow Warriors and four Welsh regions; Llanelli Scarlets, Cardiff Blues, Ospreys and Newport Gwent Dragons.

The league was won for the second time in three seasons by the Ospreys, with a final-day win over the Borders, playing their last ever match, as the Scottish Rugby Union have announced that the Borders will not exist next season [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/6498449.stm]

Pre-season

Ulster began the season as the reigning champions whilst Munster are Heineken Cup champions of the 2005-06 season. Prior to the season commencing it was announced by the Irish Rugby Football Union that some of their internationals were to be rested during part of the season as the Rugby World Cup takes place at the end. This would include the first four matches of the season, to allow for recovery from the June internationals. Those who did not play much during the internationals may return sooner.cite web | title=Irish stars could be back sooner | work=bbc.co.uk | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/ulster/5292952.stm | accessdate=3 September|accessyear=2006] Major signings during the off-season include Justin Marshall for the Ospreyscite web | title=Marshall completes Ospreys switch | work=bbc.co.uk | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/4941160.stm | accessdate=3 September|accessyear=2006] and Stephen Jones for the Scarlets.cite web | title=Jones secures return to Scarlets | work=bbc.co.uk | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/4941160.stm | accessdate=3 September|accessyear=2006] The free weekend scheme, where each team that did not compete in a match on a weekend due to the odd number of teams in the league would receive 4 points, was scrapped.cite web | title=Points changes for Magners League | work=bbc.co.uk | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/5280012.stm | accessdate=3 September|accessyear=2006]

Table

Results

The bonus point system is used in the Magners League. An extra point in the league table is awarded to a team either by scoring 4 or more tries in a game, or by finishing within 7 points of the match winner. If a team does both, two bonus points are awarded. These are indicated by 1BP or 2BP in the results below.

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15

Week 16

Week 17

Week 18

Week 19

Week 20

Week 21

Week 22

Week 23

Week 24

Week 25

Broadcast rights

Television rights for the league are split between three broadcasters, BBC Wales, S4C and Setanta Sports. At the start of the season it was announced that the BBC Wales and S4C had extended their contract to show Magners League until the end of the 2009/10 season.cite web | title=Welsh rugby contract | work=bbc.co.uk | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/5298322.stm | accessdate=3 September|accessyear=2006]

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.magnersleague.com/ Official website]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/5280012.stm Magners League] on BBC.co.uk
* [http://www.planet-rugby.com/Tournaments/Celtic_League/index.shtml Magners League] on planet-rugby.com