2008–09 Premiership Rugby – Wikipedia
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The 2008–09 Guinness Premiership was the 22nd season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions, played between September 2008 and May 2009. Round 1 included the London Double Header at Twickenham, between the four London teams.
This season saw the introduction of the controversial ELVs, although only 13 of the rules were used, as opposed to the 30 that were trialled in the Super 14.
The previous season[edit]
Northampton Saints gained promotion to the league this season by finishing top of the National Division One, taking the place of Leeds Carnegie who were relegated. In 2007–2008, Gloucester RFC finished top of the league but were beaten by Leicester Tigers in the semi-finals. London Wasps went on to beat Leicester Tigers 26–16 in the final.
Season synopsis[edit]
Leicester Tigers finished top of the league table, then were crowned Champions after defeating Bath 24–10 in the semi-final and London Irish 10–9 in the final at Twickenham.
Going into the season, the top six clubs were all assured of berths in the 2009–10 Heineken Cup. By advancing to the final of the 2008–09 competition, Leicester secured a seventh place for England.[1] The four Premiership semi-finalists—Leicester, Harlequins, London Irish, and Bath—plus Sale Sharks and Gloucester secured Heineken Cup berths. The seventh berth was secured by Northampton Saints when they defeated French side Bourgoin in the European Challenge Cup final on 22 May. The remaining clubs that will compete in the 2009–10 Premiership will compete in the 2009–10 Challenge Cup.
The club that finishes bottom of the table is relegated and replaced by the club that tops the second-level National Division One. This season, Bristol were relegated, to be replaced by Leeds Carnegie, which won promotion at the first opportunity.
Northampton Saints, having won the 2007–08 National Division One, replaced Leeds Carnegie, who were relegated last season after finishing bottom of the table.
2007–08 Guinness Premiership teams
| Club | Stadium | Capacity | City/Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bath | Recreation Ground | 10,600 | Bath, Somerset |
| Bristol | Memorial Stadium | 12,100 | Bristol |
| Gloucester | Kingsholm Stadium | 16,500 | Gloucester, Gloucestershire |
| Harlequins | Twickenham Stoop[n 1] | 12,638 | Twickenham, London |
| Leicester Tigers | Welford Road[n 2] | 17,500 | Leicester, Leicestershire |
| London Irish | Madejski Stadium[n 3] | 24,161 | Reading, Berkshire |
| London Wasps | Adams Park | 10,000 | High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire |
| Newcastle Falcons | Kingston Park | 10,200 | Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear |
| Northampton Saints | Franklin’s Gardens | 13,600 | Northampton, Northamptonshire |
| Sale Sharks | Edgeley Park | 10,852 | Stockport, Greater Manchester |
| Saracens | Vicarage Road[n 4] | 19,920 | Watford, Hertfordshire |
| Worcester Warriors | Sixways | 12,068 | Worcester, Worcestershire |
- Notes
| Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points For | Points Against | Points Difference | Tries For | Tries Against | Try Bonus | Losing Bonus | Points | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leicester Tigers (C) | 22 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 582 | 401 | +181 | 62 | 40 | 5 | 4 | 71 | |
| 2 | Harlequins (SF) | 22 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 519 | 387 | +132 | 60 | 36 | 5 | 3 | 66 | |
| 3 | London Irish (F) | 22 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 551 | 386 | +165 | 64 | 36 | 7 | 9 | 66 | |
| 4 | Bath (SF) | 22 | 13 | 2 | 7 | 539 | 441 | +98 | 58 | 48 | 4 | 5 | 65 | |
| 5 | Sale Sharks | 22 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 447 | 410 | +37 | 44 | 36 | 5 | 5 | 61* | |
| 6 | Gloucester | 22 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 435 | 448 | −13 | 43 | 44 | 5 | 4 | 57 | |
| 7 | London Wasps | 22 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 431 | 416 | +15 | 33 | 42 | 2 | 7 | 53 | |
| 8 | Northampton Saints | 22 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 443 | 434 | +9 | 41 | 40 | 2 | 5 | 49 | |
| 9 | Saracens | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 437 | 447 | −10 | 38 | 38 | 3 | 8 | 47 | |
| 10 | Newcastle Falcons | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 362 | 456 | −94 | 38 | 43 | 2 | 4 | 44 | |
| 11 | Worcester Warriors | 22 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 348 | 530 | −182 | 30 | 64 | 0 | 2 | 34 | |
| 12 | Bristol (R) | 22 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 299 | 637 | −338 | 33 | 77 | 1 | 6 | 17 | |
|
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
|
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| Green background are play-off places, and receive berths in the 2009–10 Heineken Cup. Blue background are clubs that do not make the play-offs, but will receive Heineken Cup berths. Northampton Saints received a Heineken Cup berth by winning the European Challenge Cup. Pink background is the relegation place. Reference www.guinnesspremiership.com: Updated 26 April 2009 — Current English Leagues |
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| * Sale Sharks deducted one point for fielding an ineligible player | ||||||||||||||
Results[edit]
Round 1[edit]
| Twickenham Attendance: 52,087 Referee: Andrew Small |
| Twickenham Attendance: 52,087 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
| Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 13,094 Referee: Sean Davey |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 11,021 |
| Kingston Park Attendance: 5,224 Referee: Martin Fox |
| Kingsholm Attendance: 13,109 Referee: Dave Pearson |
Round 2[edit]
| Edgeley Park Attendance: 8,321 Referee: Rob Debney |
| Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
| Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 9,497 Referee: Dave Pearson |
| Welford Road Attendance: 16,553 Referee: Chris White |
| Adams Park Attendance: 7,668 Referee: Martin Fox |
| Kingston Park Attendance: 4,620 Referee: Andrew Small |
Round 3[edit]
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 8,111 |
| Kingsholm Attendance: 12,260 Referee: Rob Debney |
| Madejski Stadium Attendance: 8,221 |
| Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 13,021 Referee: Chris White |
| Sixways Attendance: 10,846 Referee: Andrew Small |
| Vicarage Road Attendance: 8,139 Referee: Dean Richards |
Round 4[edit]
| Edgeley Park Attendance: 9,019 Referee: Andrew Small |
| Kingston Park Attendance: 6,056 Referee: Chris White |
| Welford Road Attendance: 17,498 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
| Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600 Referee: Rob Debney |
| Vicarage Road Attendance: 7,409 Referee: Martin Fox |
| Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 11,138 Referee: Dean Richards |
Round 5[edit]
| Kingsholm Attendance: 12,861 |
| Adams Park Attendance: 9,052 Referee: Sean Davey |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 7,215 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
| Welford Road Attendance: 17,498 Referee: Chris White |
| Madejski Stadium Attendance: 7,563 Referee: Ashley Rowden |
| Sixways Attendance: 9,222 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
Round 6[edit]
| Edgeley Park Attendance: 7,602 |
| Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600 Referee: Andrew Small |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 6,310 Referee: Dean Richards |
| Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 12,638 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
| Kingston Park Attendance: 5,099 Referee: Rob Debney |
| Vicarage Road Attendance: 8,535 Referee: Sean Davey |
Round 7[edit]
| Kingsholm Attendance: 15,297 Referee: Andrew Small |
| Sixways Attendance: 10,197 Referee: Martin Fox |
| Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 13,473 |
| Welford Road Attendance: 17,432 Referee: Sean Davey |
| Madejski Stadium Attendance: 8,954 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
| Adams Park Attendance: 9,027 Referee: Roy Maybank |
Round 8[edit]
| Edgeley Park Attendance: 9,586 Referee: Chris White |
| Kingston Park Attendance: 5,489 Referee: Andrew Small |
| Kingsholm Attendance: 13,494 Referee: Rob Debney |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 6,225 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
| Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 12,178 Referee: Martin Fox |
| Vicarage Road Attendance: 6,059 Referee: Sean Davey |
Round 9[edit]
| Welford Road Attendance: 17,240 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
| Adams Park Attendance: 9,324 Referee: Dave Pearson |
| Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600 |
| Madejski Stadium Attendance: 12,706 Referee: Sean Davey |
| Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 13,349 Referee: Chris White |
| Sixways Attendance: 10,015 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
Round 10[edit]
| Edgeley Park Attendance: 10,841 Referee: Rob Debney |
| Vicarage Road Attendance: 16,082 Referee: Chris White |
| Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600 Referee: Andrew Small |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 11,845 |
| Kingston Park Attendance: 7,108 Referee: Sean Davey |
| Twickenham Attendance: 50,000 Referee: Dave Pearson |
Round 11[edit]
| Kingsholm Attendance: 16,500 Referee: Andrew Small |
| Madejski Stadium Attendance: 10,978 Referee: Christophe Berdos |
| Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 13,090 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
| Welford Road Attendance: 17,498 Referee: Chris White |
| Adams Park Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Sean Davey |
Round 12[edit]
| Edgeley Park Attendance: 9,430 Referee: Andrew Small |
| Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 13,582 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
| Kingston Park Attendance: 5,026 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
| Vicarage Road Attendance: 5,881 Referee: Martin Fox |
Rearranged fixtures[edit]
| Kingsholm Attendance: 13,974 Referee: Dave Pearson |
| Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 12,332 Referee: Christophe Berdos |
| Sixways Attendance: 10,387 Referee: Rob Debney |
Round 13[edit]
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 8,808 Referee: Rob Debney |
| Madejski Stadium Attendance: 12,321 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
| Kingsholm Attendance: 13,466 Referee: Martin Fox |
| Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 13,153 Referee: Greg Garner |
| Sixways Attendance: 10,096 Referee: Dean Richards |
| Adams Park Attendance: 9,581 Referee: Dave Pearson |
Round 14[edit]
| Edgeley Park Attendance: 8,605 |
| Kingston Park Attendance: 6,204 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
| Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600 Referee: Chris White |
| Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 12,638 Referee: Dave Pearson |
| Welford Road Attendance: 17,081 Referee: Romain Poite |
| London Wasps | 9–5 | Northampton Saints |
| Report |
| Adams Park Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Rob Debney |
Round 15[edit]
| Kingsholm Attendance: 16,121 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
| Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 12,908 Referee: Dean Richards |
| Sixways Attendance: 9,543 Referee: Martin Fox |
| Madejski Stadium Attendance: 12,104 Referee: Dave Pearson |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 5,005 Referee: Chris White |
| Vicarage Road Attendance: 8,311 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
Round 16[edit]
| Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600 |
| Welford Road Attendance: 17,498 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
| Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 12,638 Referee: Andrew Small |
| Sixways Attendance: 10,319 |
| Edgeley Park Attendance: 7,907 Referee: Sean Davey |
| Adams Park Attendance: 9,525 Referee: Romain Poite |
Round 17[edit]
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 6,037 Referee: Greg Garner |
| Kingsholm Attendance: 15,249 Referee: Sean Davey |
| Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 13,250 Referee: Dean Richards |
| Madejski Stadium Attendance: 8,434 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
| Kingston Park Attendance: 7,705 |
| Vicarage Road Attendance: 8,092 Referee: Chris White |
Round 18[edit]
| Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600 Referee: Andrew Small |
| Welford Road Attendance: 16,328 |
| Madejski Stadium Attendance: 21,295 Referee: Sean Davey |
| Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 11,592 Referee: Chris White |
| Adams Park Attendance: 8,498 Referee: Dean Richards |
| Sixways Attendance: 12,024 Referee: Dave Pearson |
Round 19[edit]
| Edgeley Park Attendance: 9,808 Referee: Sean Davey |
| Kingston Park Attendance: 7,614 Referee: Chris White |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 5,403 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
| Vicarage Road Attendance: 16,257 Referee: Andrew Small |
Rearranged fixtures[edit]
| Harlequins | 60–14 | Worcester Warriors |
| Tries: Mike Brown, Tom Williams, Jordan Turner-Hall, Ugo Monye, Danny Care, Tani Fuga, Chris Robshaw, Nick Easter (3) Con: Chris Malone (2), Waisea Luveniyali (3) |
Report | Tries: Charlie Fellows, Shaun Ruwers
Con: Loki Crichton, Joe Carlisle |
| Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 10,446 |
| Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600 Referee: Rob Debney |
Round 20[edit]
| Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600 Referee: Dave Pearson |
| Madejski Stadium Attendance: 11,262 Referee: Nigel Owens |
| Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 13,426 Referee: Andrew Small |
| Sixways Attendance: 10,118 Referee: Chris White |
| Welford Road Attendance: 17,498 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
| Adams Park Attendance: 9,740 Referee: Dean Richards |
Round 21[edit]
| Edgeley Park Attendance: 9,579 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
| Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 13,405 Referee: Dave Pearson |
| Memorial Stadium Attendance: 6,508 |
| Vicarage Road Attendance: 11,275 |
| Kingston Park Attendance: 7,804 Referee: Andrew Small |
| Kingsholm Attendance: 14,035 Referee: Rob Debney |
Round 22[edit]
| Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600 Referee: Rob Debney |
| Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 12,638 Referee: Dean Richards |
| Leicester Tigers | 73–3 | Bristol |
| Tries: Geordan Murphy (2), Dan Hipkiss, Sam Vesty, Johne Murphy, Toby Flood, Julian White, Jordan Crane, Ben Woods, Ayoola Erinle, Tom Varndell Con: Geordan Murphy (2), Sam Vesty (3), Julien Dupuy (4) |
Report | Pen: Luke Arscott |
| Walkers Stadium Attendance: 18,816 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
| Adams Park Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Dave Pearson |
| Edgeley Park Attendance: 9,724 Referee: Chris White |
| Sixways Attendance: 11,241 Referee: Andrew Small |
Play-offs[edit]
Semi-finals[edit]
| Walkers Stadium Attendance: 18,850 Referee: Dave Pearson |
| Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 12,638 Referee: Chris White |
Final[edit]
| Twickenham Attendance: 81,601 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
Total Season Attendances[edit]
| Club | Home Games |
Total | Average | Highest | Lowest | % Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath | 11 | 116,600 | 10,600 | 10,600 | 10,600 | 100% |
| Bristol | 11 | 82,488 | 7,499 | 11,845 | 5,005 | 62% |
| Gloucester | 11 | 156,366 | 14,215 | 16,500 | 12,260 | 86% |
| Harlequins | 12 | 180,373 | 15,031 | 50,000 | 9,497 | 91% |
| Leicester Tigers | 12 | 209,756 | 17,480 | 18,816 | 16,328 | 92% |
| London Irish | 11 | 165,925 | 15,084 | 52,087 | 7,563 | 48% |
| London Wasps | 11 | 102,415 | 9,310 | 10,000 | 7,668 | 93% |
| Newcastle Falcons | 11 | 67,949 | 6,177 | 7,804 | 4,620 | 61% |
| Northampton Saints | 11 | 145,751 | 13,250 | 13,582 | 12,908 | 97% |
| Sale Sharks | 11 | 100,422 | 9,129 | 10,841 | 7,602 | 84% |
| Saracens | 11 | 148,127 | 13,466 | 52,087 | 5,881 | 50% |
| Worcester Warriors | 11 | 114,008 | 10,364 | 12,024 | 9,222 | 86% |
Top scorers[edit]
Note: Flags to the left of player names indicate national team as has been defined under World Rugby eligibility rules, or primary nationality for players who did not earn international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.
External links[edit]
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