The 2008-09 Leinster Rugby season was Leinster's seventh competing in the Celtic League alongside which they competed in the 2007–08 Heineken Cup. Though Leinster were eliminated early from the Heineken Cup, the season ended in celebration as 'the Lions' were crowned champions of the 2007–08 Celtic League. Home games were played in the RDS Arena, Dublin. Bernard Jackman was player of the year.
Match attendance Leinster's average Celtic League attendance was 14,361, the League's highest.
Player transfers
Players in Leo Cullen from Leicester Tigers"Leo Cullen to return to Leinster on three-year deal", Belfast Telegraph, 25 January 2007 Juan Gomez from Stade Français"Leinster sign Le Roux and Gomez", BBC Sport, 15 May 2007 Shane Jennings from Leicester Tigers Chris Keane from Connacht Ollie Le Roux Stephen Knoop from Connacht
Players out Adam Byrnes to Sydney Fleet Reggie Corrigan (retired) Andrew Dunne to Connacht"Connacht's Dunne To Miss Start Of The Season", Irish Rugby, 30 August 2007 Guy Easterby (retired) Owen Finegan to Leicester Tigers[https://www.leicestertigers.com/news/tigers-sign-finegan-and-davies-2007-05-15 "Tigers sign Finegan and Davies "], Leicester Tigers, 15 May 2007 Will Green (retired) Stephen Grissing to Rotherham Titans Denis Hickie (retired)"Hickie To Retire After The World Cup", Irish Rugby, 13 August 2007 Kieran Lewis to Munster"From Blue To Red: Lewis Signs For Munster", Irish Rugby, 13 February 2007 John Lyne to Connacht Fosi Pala'amo to Leeds Carnegie"Leeds sign Pala'amo", Lions Rugby, 21 August 2007 Ciarán Potts (retired) Niall Ronan to Munster"Another Munster Signing From Leinster", Munster Rugby, 9 March 2007 Robert Sweeney to Rotherham Titans Harry Vermaas to Boland Cavaliers Johnny Wickham (released)
Squad
Leinster Rugby squadLeinster squad, 2006-07, Guinness Pro12, retrieved 29 August 2026"Leinster Announce Squad For Next Season", Irish Rugby, 16 May 2007Props Juan Gomez Stephen Knoop Ollie le Roux Ronan McCormack Stan Wright
Hookers Brian Blaney Bernard Jackman
Locks Leo Cullen Trevor Hogan Cameron Jowitt Richie Leyden Malcolm O'Kelly Devin TonerBack row Des Dillon Keith Gleeson Jamie Heaslip Shane Jennings Stephen Keogh Kevin McLaughlin
Scrum-halves Chris Keane Chris Whitaker Cillian Willis
Fly-halves Felipe Contepomi Johnny Sexton Christian WarnerCentres Michael Berne Gordon D'Arcy Shane Horgan Brian O'Driscoll
Wings Gary Brown Luke Fitzgerald
Fullbacks Girvan Dempsey Rob Kearney Ross McCarron (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
Academy squad
Players in Jamie Hagan Cian Healy Felix Jones Ian Keatley Conor McInerney Shane Monahan Ruaidhrí Murphy Seán O'Brien Paul O'Donohoe Kevin Sheahan Richard Sweeney Kyle Tonetti
Players out
Academy squadProps Jamie Hagan Cian Healy Ruaidhrí Murphy
Hookers Richard Sweeney
Locks Conor McInerneyBack row Seán O'Brien Kevin Sheahan
Scrum-halves Matt D’Arcy Paul O'Donohoe
Fly-halves Ian KeatleyCentres Fergus McFadden Kyle Tonetti
Wings Fionn Carr Shane Monahan
Fullbacks Felix Jones
Celtic League
Table TeamPldWDLPFPAPDTFTATry bonusLosing bonusPts Leinster18131 4428283+14544304361 Cardiff Blues18120 6395315 +8048316256 Munster18101 7330258 +7233262448 Edinburgh18 93 6313285 +2835293348 Glasgow Warriors18101 7340349 −931381346 Llanelli Scarlets18 7011403362 +4145386539 Ospreys18 6111321255 +6624242937 Newport Gwent Dragons18 7110282394−11231441334 Ulster18 6111278407−12933412129 Connacht18 5112214396−18216390224Under 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
Heineken Cup
Pool 6 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTBLBPts Toulouse (4)6402137+613076+542220 Leicester Tigers6303105+511079+311114 Leinster6303711−495123−280012 Edinburgh6204815−785142−57019
End-of-season awards The Leinster Rugby Awards ceremony was held in Dublin on 25 April 2008. Winners were:"Jackman Wins Leinster Player Of The Year Award", Irish Rugby, 26 April 2008
Player of the year: Bernard Jackman Young player of the year: Luke Fitzgerald Try of the year: Jamie Heaslip Tackle of the year: Brian O'Driscoll Women's player of the year: Geri Healy, Blackrock College RFC Club of the year: Tullow RFC Club player of the year: Johnny Walsh, Seapoint RFC School of the year: C.B.C. Monkstown Club public relations officer of the year: Colm Brennan, Old Belvedere RFC Hall of Fame: Jack Kirwan, De La Salle Palmerston Special merit award: Keith Gleeson
References