Magners League

Infobox sports league
title= Magners League
current_season= 2008-09 Magners League

caption= The Magners League logo
sport= Rugby union
founded= 2001
teams= 10
country= flag|Ireland|rugby
SCO
WAL
champion= flagicon|Ireland|rugby LeinsterThe Magners League is an annual rugby union competition involving regional sides from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It is one of the three major leagues in Europe, along with the English Guinness Premiership and the French Top 14. The league champion is currently determined solely from league performance, however from the 2009-10 season, it is intended to introduce a play-off structure, similar to the Guinness Premiership. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7341673.stm BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Magners set to bring in play-offs ] ] . It was originally known as The Celtic League (Welsh: "Y Gynghrair Geltaidd" [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/chwaraeon/safle/rygbi_rhanbarthol/pages/canlyniadau_celtaidd.shtml BBC Cymru'r Byd - Chwaraeon - Y Gynghrair Geltaidd ] ] )The Magners League season takes place between September and May, with each team playing every other team on a home and away basis. Magners League matches avoid the traditional international weekends in November and during the Six Nations Championship. The Welsh, Irish and Scottish rugby unions now use the Magners League as the sole determinant for European qualification.

Other nations

Talks have been held intermittently with both Italy [ [http://talkingrugbyballs.welshblogs.co.uk/2008/02/italian_celts_non_starter.html WalesOnline - Rugby ] ] [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20061217/ai_n16899777 How Italy became Europe's fall guys | Independent on Sunday, The | Find Articles at BNET ] ] and South Africa [ [http://www.talkrugbyunion.co.uk/guides/rugby_union_organisations.html Major Organisations in Rugby Union ] ] about the possible expansion of the Magners League. A Rainbow Cup involving South African and Italian teams was announced in 2005, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/4533261.stm BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Celtic nations in new Rainbow Cup ] ] but following changes in the membership of the South African Rugby Union the idea was abandoned without a ball kicked. In the medium term, it is expected that the competition will continue to consist of the three Celtic unions.

London Welsh have in the past expressed an interest in joining the Magners League if promotion/relegation were to be removed from the Premiership in England. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/6199419.stm BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | English | London Welsh keen on Celtic move ] ] Likewise the SRU in 2007 expressed an interest in setting up a Scottish club in London, to play as the third Scottish team in the Magners League. [ [http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,18259,3551_3569284,00.html London Scottish turn to SRU - Rugby News, Results, Fixtures and Features from Planet-Rugby.com ] ]

Media coverage

Magners League matches get shown live on BBC Two Wales, Setanta Sports 2, Setanta Ireland and also the Welsh channel S4C. The BBC Two Wales matches are usually made available to the rest of the UK via BBCi. Sporadic coverage of the tournament can be found in other territories - mainly on Canal Plus in France, and on various Setanta Sports channels around the globe.

BBC Alba, the Scottish Gaelic channel, will occasionally show highlights on its sports programme, Spòrs.

2008-09 Teams

tatistics

* Most points scored by a player in 1 season: 276 (Felipe Contepomi, Leinster, 2005-2006)
* Most tries scored by a player in 1 season: 12 (Jamie Robinson, Cardiff Blues, 2003-2004 & Kevin Morgan, Newport Gwent Dragons, 2004-2005)
* Highest attendance at Celtic League match: 48,000 (Leinster vs. Ulster, Lansdowne Road, 31 December 2006)

Play-Offs

Many rugby union club competitions culminate in a play-off series to determine the champion, including the Super 14 and the Guinness Premiership. Currently the Magners League does not use this format, and champions are decided by the final league table.

In April 2008 Celtic Rugby announced that play offs may be introduced in 09/10 season of the Magners League. This would possibly consist of the top four clubs of the league entering into a semi final with the winners progressing onto a grand final to determine its champion. Debates continue for and against the proposal, which echo similar arguments that preceded the introduction of similar play-offs in the Guinness Premiership.

Any future proposals may depend on the outcome of the negotiations on the future of the EDF Energy Anglo-Welsh Cup which current format runs out in 2009.

International Media Coverage

In Australia, Canada, and the United States, Setanta Sports broadcasts the Magners League.

ee also

*Heineken Cup
*European Challenge Cup
*Welsh Premier Division
*Anglo-Welsh Cup
*Sports league attendances

References

External links

* [http://www.magnersleague.com/ Magners League (official site)]
* [http://www.planet-rugby.com/Tournaments/Celtic_League/index.shtml Celtic League news from Planet Rugby]
* [http://www.TheCelticLeague.com/ Rugby Week news site]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/4533261.stm Proposed rainbow cup]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/4597161.stm Welsh clubs expelled]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/4105658.stm Agreement for new Celtic League]