Magners League To Get Play-offs
Rugby union’s Magners League is to undergo a restructure adopting a Championship-deciding play-off system for the 2009/10 season.
The league that features the top teams from Wales, Scotland and Ireland will copy the model used by England’s Guinness Premiership.
The Magners League’s top four teams will qualify for the new-look end-of-season knock-out stage.
The top quartet of clubs at the end of the regular campaign are expected to enter a semi-finals before a final determines the overall champion.
So the new Magners League season, which kicks off on Friday, 5th September, will be the last in its present format.
Director David Jordan said: ‘Celtic rugby is striving to align itself with other professional rugby tournaments. From 2009-10 we will be introducing an end of season play-off.
‘It’ll maintain interest in the league through to the end of the year. Also we intend to address the irregular nature of the competition by creating a rhythmic season, achievable as weekends will not compete with any other tournament. A grand final will provide a great day out for fans and commercial partners alike.’
France’s Top 14 league also operate a play-off system while the English game introduced play-offs six seasons ago, with Wasps landing four titles during that period.
