Magners League

The Magners League is an annual Rugby Union club championship contested between teams from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It is one of the top three club competitions in European Rugby Union alongside England’s Guinness Premiership and the Top 14 in France. The Irish, Scottish and Welsh Rugby Unions use Magners League standings as the sole determinant of qualification for European competition. The league has many famous faces of northern hemisphere rugby playing in it including, Brian O’Driscoll, Shane Williams and Chris Paterson.

Speculation surrounds the league next season as to whether two teams from Italy will join to expand the league to twelve teams.

In previous seasons the league winner was the team that finished top of the table in the regular season. But, as of this season a play-off structure has been introduced leading to a Grand Final, much like the Guinness Premiership or Rugby League’s Super League. The play-offs will see the top four sides in the league battle it out in two semi-finals and a Grand final to determine the overall season champion.

The Magners League season is played between September and May, with each team playing each other home and away. This means that teams play a total of 18 regular season games. Magners League matches avoid traditional November Autumn international test matches and also there are no games during the annual Six Nations Championship.

Irish teams have dominated the Magners League since it began in 2001/02, with five league titles between them. The other three champions are from Wales. Scottish sides have struggles to come to terms with the increased standards of playing in the Magners League but this season both Edinburgh and Glasgow look like challenging for honours.

The most successful teams in the league are Leinster, Munster and Ospreys with two league wins each. Ulster and Llanelli Scarlets each have one championship crown.

Betting on the Magners League is available from all major UK bookmakers and punters can bet on the regular season and Grand Final champion.

Magners League Betting