| The action begins on Friday night with four games, including two Irish - Welsh affairs, with Connacht keen to keep up the record of always winning their opening game when the Ospreys come to Galway. Ulster will also be looking for a home win when the Scarlets visit Ravenhill, while the visitors will be hoping to kick start their campaign with a first ever league win in Belfast. Friday's other games see European Champions Munster travel to Edinburgh, while Newport Gwent Dragons entertain Glasgow Warriors. The round is concluded on Saturday evening when reigning champions Leinster visit the Arms Park where Cardiff Blues will be waiting to knock over the champions in the opening round for the second successive season after beating the Ospreys at this stage last year. Live scoring from all Magners League games this season will be availble on magnersleague.com/live |
Friday 5 September
CONNACHT v OSPREYS
At Sportsground, 6.30pm.
Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU). Assistant Referees: D Phillips (IRFU), P Roche (IRFU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
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Date |
Venue |
C |
O |
Connacht scorers |
Ospreys scorers |
|
Fri 14 Oct 05 |
Liberty Stadium |
17 |
18 |
Keith Matthews(T) Paul Warwick(4P) |
Matthew Jones(P) Shaun Connor(5P) |
|
Fri 12 May 06 |
Sportsground |
16 |
44 |
John Hearty(T) Mark McHugh(C/3P) |
Shaun Connor(T) Huw Bennett(T) Jonny Vaughton(3T) Lee Beach(T) Sonny Parker(T) Gavin Henson(C/P) James Hook(2C) |
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Fri 8 Sep 06 |
Sportsground |
15 |
10 |
Mark McHugh(5P) |
Justin Marshall(T) James Hook(C/P) |
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Sat 17 Feb 07 |
Liberty Stadium |
10 |
31 |
Paul Warwick(C/P) David Slemen(T) |
Lee Byrne(T/2C/2P) Paul James(T) Shane Williams(D) Penalty Try(T) Shaun Connor(P) |
|
Sat 16 Feb 08 |
Liberty Stadium |
7 |
37 |
Tim Donnelly(C) Jonny O'Connor(T) |
Marty Holah(T) Mike Phillips(T) Nikki Walker(T) Shaun Connor(2C/3P) Gareth Owen(T/2C) |
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Fri 9 May 08 |
Sportsground |
24 |
20 |
Andy Dunne(3C/P) Keith Matthews(2T) Ofisa Treviranus(T) |
Dan Biggar(2C/P) Kristian Phillips(T) Martin Roberts(T) Shaun Connor(P) |
Connacht are the only side who have won their opening fixture in all seven seasons of League rugby. The west Irishmen won two of their last three games in the Magners League last season.
Ospreys finished their last campaign with three straight losses and have only lost four league matches in a row once before - in 2003/04. Ospreys were the only team in the Magners League to remain winless away from home all last season.
The last four encounters between these two teams have all been won by the home side on the day.
Friday 5 September
EDINBURGH RUGBY v MUNSTER
At Murrayfield, 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports
Referee: James Jones (WRU). Assistant Referees: Rob Dickson (SRU), Alan Forrest (SRU).
TMO: Ian Ramage (SRU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
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Date |
Venue |
E |
M |
Edinburgh scorers |
Munster scorers |
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Sat 7 Jan 06 |
Murrayfield |
17 |
18 |
Scott Murray(T) Marcus Di Rollo(T) Chris Paterson(2C/P) |
Trevor Halstead(T) John Kelly(T) Ronan O'Gara(C/2P) |
|
Sat 15 Apr 06 |
Thomond Park |
15 |
36 |
Scott Murray(T) Dave Duley(T) Duncan Hodge(C/P) |
Federico Pucciariello(T) Shaun Payne(T) Jerry Flannery(T) Ian Dowling(T) Penalty Try(T) John Kelly(T) Paul Burke(3C) |
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Fri 13 Oct 06 |
Thomond Park |
21 |
10 |
Alasdair Dickinson(T) Chris Paterson(T/3C) Simon Webster(T) |
Denis Leamy(T) Eoghan Hickey(C/P) |
|
Fri 4 May 07 |
Murrayfield |
9 |
35 |
Phil Godman(3P) |
Denis Fogarty(T) Paul O'Connell(T) Ronan O'Gara(3C/3P) Alan Quinlan(T) Penalty Try(T) |
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Sat 3 Nov 07 |
Musgrave Park |
16 |
19 |
David Blair(C/D/2P) Allan Jacobsen(T) |
Ronan O'Gara(C/4P) Denis Leamy(T) |
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Fri 15 Feb 08 |
Murrayfield |
7 |
11 |
Phil Godman(C) Ben Meyer(T) |
Paul Warwick(2P) Donnacha Ryan(T) |
Edinburgh concluded last season with three straight wins following a 14-23 defeat at the hands of Glasgow on 11 April. Munster are the only Irish side to have won at Murrayfield since season 2005/06, doing so twice in May 2007 and February 2008.
Munster , the current European champions, have not lost in Scotland since a 13-24 reversal at Glasgow in the Magners League on 15 September 2006.
Edinburgh 's only win over Munster in their last nine encounters in all competitions was 21-10 at Thomond Park on 13 October 2006.
Friday 5 September
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS v GLASGOW WARRIORS
At Rodney Parade, 7.05pm. Live on BBC Wales
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU) Assistant Referees: Phil Fear (WRU), Phil Connett (WRU).
TMO: Huw Lewis (WRU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
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Date |
Venue |
N |
G |
Newport Gwent Dragons scorers |
Glasgow Warriors scorers |
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Fri 2 Sep 05 |
Hughenden |
21 |
15 |
Jason Forster(2T) Gareth Wyatt(T) Craig Warlow(3C) |
Stevie Swindall(T) Dan Parks(C/P) Mike Roberts(T) |
|
Fri 28 Apr 06 |
Rodney Parade |
32 |
18 |
Jason Forster(2T) Adam Black(T) Nathan Brew(T) Craig Warlow(3C/2P) |
Dan Parks(T/C/2P) Colin Shaw(T) |
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Fri 1 Sep 06 |
Hughenden |
24 |
23 |
Ceri Sweeney(T/C/3P) Aled Brew(T) Mike Hercus(D) |
Sam Pinder(T) Graeme Morrison(T) Dan Parks(2C/2P) Colin Gregor(P) |
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Fri 2 Mar 07 |
Rodney Parade |
13 |
3 |
Ceri Sweeney(C/2P) Ashley Smith(T) |
Dan Parks(P) |
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Fri 4 Jan 08 |
Firhill Arena |
18 |
16 |
Joe Bearman(T) Peter Sidoli(T) Ceri Sweeney(C/2P) |
Dan Parks(C/3P) Sam Pinder(T) |
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Sun 30 Mar 08 |
Rodney Parade |
14 |
20 |
Aled Thomas(3P) Gareth Wyatt(T) |
Thom Evans(2T) Dan Parks(2C/2P) |
Newport Gwent Dragons have won on the opening weekend of a new season for the past three years, and finished their last campaign with back to back wins over Ospreys and Leinster at Rodney Parade.
Glasgow Warriors have started their last four league campaigns off with an opening weekend defeat. The Warriors finished 2007/08 with five straight wins in the Magners League, whilst another win would break the Glasgow mark for successive league victories set in 2001/02.
Glasgow 's 20-14 win at Rodney Parade last March ended a seven game losing run against the Dragons.
Friday 5 September
ULSTER v LLANELLI SCARLETS
At Ravenhill, 7.30pm. Live on Setanta Sports
Referee: Peter Allan (SRU). Assistant Referees: D Keane (IRFU), P Haycock (IRFU).
TMO: Colin Stanley (IRFU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
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Date |
Venue |
U |
L |
Ulster scorers |
Llanelli Scarlets scorers |
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Fri 27 Jan 06 |
Ravenhill |
30 |
13 |
Andrew Maxwell(T) Tyrone Howe(T) Paul Steinmetz(C/6P) |
Dafydd James(T) Gareth Bowen(C) Barry Davies(2P) |
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Fri 19 May 06 |
Stradey Park |
12 |
12 |
Tommy Bowe(T) Andrew Maxwell(T) David Humphreys(C) |
Phil John(2T) Craig Evans(C) |
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Sat 2 Sep 06 |
Ravenhill |
31 |
16 |
David Humphreys(T/2C/4P) Paul Steinmetz(T) Mark Bartholomeusz(T) |
Darren Daniel(T) Stephen Jones(C/3P) |
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Sat 3 Mar 07 |
Stradey Park |
11 |
17 |
David Humphreys(2P) Andrew Trimble(T) |
Barry Davies(T) Ceiron Thomas(4P) |
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Fri 12 Oct 07 |
Stradey Park |
8 |
32 |
Tommy Bowe(T) Paddy Wallace(P) |
Johnathan Edwards(T) Mark Jones(T) Deacon Manu(T) Matthew Watkins(T) Rhys Priestland(3C/2P) |
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Fri 29 Feb 08 |
Ravenhill |
20 |
8 |
Neil Best(T) Isaac Boss(T) Matt McCullough(T) Niall O'Connor(C/P) |
Rhys Priestland(T/P) |
Ulster have won their opening game of a Magners League season for the past three years, however Ulster have lost their last three matches against Welsh regions.
Llanelli Scarlets are winless on the start of a new season for the past three years, whilst another defeat would set a new unwanted Scarlets record of six successive league defeats. The Scarlets have not beaten an Irish side since a 32-8 win over Ulster at Stradey Park in October 2007.
The Scarlets have lost on all five previous visits to Ravenhill in the league, but did win there 35-11 in the European Cup in January 2007.
Saturday 6 September
CARDIFF BLUES v LEINSTER
At Arms Park , 6.30pm Live on Setanta Sports and S4C
Referee: Andy Macpherson (SRU). Assistant Referees: David Bodilly (WRU), Jon Mason (WRU)
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU).
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HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT Magners League MEETINGS |
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Date |
Venue |
C |
L |
Cardiff Blues scorers |
Leinster scorers |
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Sat 15 Oct 05 |
Royal Dublin Society |
15 |
34 |
Nick Robinson(5P) |
Felipe Contepomi(T/3C/P) Shane Horgan(T) Gordon D'Arcy(T) Ben Gissing(2T) |
|
Sun 14 May 06 |
Millennium Stadium |
40 |
31 |
Nick Macleod(T) Mike Phillips(T) Chris Czekaj(T) Martyn Williams(T) Craig Morgan(T) Nick Robinson(3C/3P) |
Shane Horgan(T) Gordon D'Arcy(T) Denis Hickie(T) Rob Kearney(T) Felipe Contepomi(4C/P) |
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Sat 16 Sep 06 |
Donnybrook |
9 |
16 |
Ben Blair(3P) |
Michael Berne(T) Felipe Contepomi(C/3P) |
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Fri 11 May 07 |
Arms Park |
27 |
11 |
Ben Blair(P) Nick Robinson(2C) Marc Stcherbina(T) Rhys Williams(T) Gareth Williams(T) Robin Sowden-Taylor(T) |
Felipe Contepomi(2P) Shane Horgan(T) |
|
Fri 28 Sep 07 |
Arms Park |
19 |
30 |
Tom James(T) Nick Robinson(3P) Mark Lewis(T) |
Luke Fitzgerald(2T) Jamie Heaslip(T) Johnny Sexton(T/2C/2P) |
|
Sat 16 Feb 08 |
Royal Dublin Society |
17 |
24 |
Ben Blair(2C/P) Nick Macleod(T) Ma'ama Molitika(T) |
Michael Berne(T) Luke Fitzgerald(T) Felipe Contepomi(C/4P) |
Cardiff Blues entertain the current Magners League champions on the first game of the new season for a second successive year: twelve months ago Ospreys visited the Arms Park and were sent packing 17-15 (the only previous occasion that the defending champions have lost the first game of their defence) The Blues concluded last season with five successive Magners League victories, whilst another win would tie the Cardiff record for consecutive league victories, set in 2005/06.
Defending Magners League champions Leinster ended last season with back to back away defeats, but won 30-19 the last time they visited the Arms Park .
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