2009–10 English Premiership (rugby union)

2009–10 Guinness Premiership
Countries  England
Champions Leicester Tigers
(9th title)
Runners-up Saracens
Relegated Worcester Warriors
Matches played 135
Attendance 1,900,177 (average 14,075 per match)
Top point scorer New Zealand Jimmy Gopperth (219 points)
Top try scorer England Chris Ashton (16 tries)

The 2009–10 Guinness Premiership was the 23rd season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions, played between September 2009 and May 2010. Defending champions Leicester Tigers topped the regular season league table and then won their third title in four years and their ninth overall after they defeated Saracens in the Premiership final at Twickenham on 29 May 2010.[1]

This was the final season for the competition as the Guinness Premiership. Effective with the 2010–11 season, the competition will be known as the Aviva Premiership for at least four seasons.

The previous season

The 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. Most were abandoned at the end of the season.

Leicester Tigers finished top of the league after the home-and-away season and went on to win the championship, first defeating Bath 24–10 in the semifinals and then edging London Irish 10–9 in the final at Twickenham.

Bristol were relegated, to be replaced by Leeds Carnegie promoted back to the premiership at the first opportunity.

Teams

Club Kit Supplier Captain Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bath Puma South Africa Michael Claassens Recreation Ground 11,700 Bath, Somerset
Gloucester RugbyTech Wales Gareth Delve
England Mike Tindall
Kingsholm Stadium 16,500 Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Harlequins KooGa England Will Skinner Twickenham Stoop[n 1] 14,282 Twickenham, London
Leeds Carnegie ISC South Africa Marco Wentzel Headingley 22,250 Leeds, West Yorkshire
Leicester Tigers Cotton Ireland Geordan Murphy Welford Road 24,000 Leicester, Leicestershire
London Irish RugbyTech Ireland Bob Casey Madejski Stadium 24,161 Reading, Berkshire
Newcastle Falcons Cotton New Zealand Carl Hayman Kingston Park 10,200 Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Northampton Saints Rhino England Dylan Hartley Franklin's Gardens 13,591 Northampton, Northamptonshire
Sale Sharks Cotton England Dean Schofield Edgeley Park 10,852 Stockport, Greater Manchester
Saracens KooGa England Steve Borthwick Vicarage Road[n 2] 19,920 Watford, Hertfordshire
Wasps CCC England Tom Rees Adams Park[n 3] 10,516 High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Worcester Warriors Kukri England Pat Sanderson Sixways 12,068 Worcester, Worcestershire
Notes
    • Harlequins would also play 1 home game at Twickenham, London on 27 December 2009
    • Saracens would also play 1 home game at Twickenham, London on 5 September 2009 as well as 3 home games at Wembley Stadium in London on 12 September 2009, 13 February 2010 and 17 April 2010
    • Wasps would also play 2 home games at Twickenham, London on 5 September 2009 and 24 April 2010

Table

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 6 541 325 216 46 18 7 4 73
2 Northampton Saints (SF) 22 16 0 6 472 322 150 44 26 2 5 71
3 Saracens (F) 22 15 1 6 480 367 113 39 22 2 5 69
4 Bath (SF) 22 12 2 8 450 366 84 49 33 5 4 61
5 London Wasps 22 13 0 9 394 399 −5 35 31 2 3 57
6 London Irish 22 10 3 9 469 384 85 42 33 3 3 52
7 Gloucester 22 10 1 11 470 457 13 46 42 2 4 48
8 Harlequins 22 9 2 11 420 484 −64 42 46 3 3 46
9 Newcastle Falcons 22 6 4 12 319 431 −112 20 41 1 4 37
10 Leeds Carnegie 22 7 1 14 283 493 −210 17 48 0 6 36
11 Sale Sharks 22 6 1 15 333 495 −162 24 51 0 6 32
12 Worcester Warriors (R) 22 3 4 15 312 420 −108 23 36 0 8 28

If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:

  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled

(C)-Champions (Q)-Qualified for home play-off. (q)-Qualified for away play-off. (F)-Losing Finalists (R)-Relegated to Championship

Results

Round 1

4 September 2009
19:45
Sale Sharks 15 – 12 Leicester Tigers
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 8,751
5 September 2009
14:30
Saracens 18 – 14 London Irish
Twickenham
Attendance: 67,684
5 September 2009
17:15
London Wasps 26 – 15 Harlequins
Twickenham
Attendance: 67,684
6 September 2009
13:15
Northampton Saints 20 – 17 Worcester Warriors
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,073
6 September 2009
15:00
Leeds Carnegie 9 – 9 Newcastle Falcons
Headingley
Attendance: 7,144
6 September 2009
15:30
Gloucester 24 – 5 Bath
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,815

Round 2

11 September 2009
20:00
Worcester Warriors 27 – 7 Leeds Carnegie
Sixways
Attendance: 10,094
12 September 2009
14:15
Bath 15 – 17 London Wasps
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,300
12 September 2009
14:45
Saracens 19 – 16 Northampton Saints
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 44,832
12 September 2009
15:00
Harlequins 9 – 15 Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 9,805
13 September 2009
15:00
London Irish 40 – 10 Gloucester
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 12,309
13 September 2009
15:00
Newcastle Falcons 16 – 16 Sale Sharks
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,155

Round 3

18 September 2009
19:45
Sale Sharks 12 – 25 Bath
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,028
19 September 2009
15:00
Gloucester 14 – 27 Northampton Saints
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,365
19 September 2009
15:00
Harlequins 9 – 22 Saracens
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 9,209
19 September 2009
17:35
Leicester Tigers 15 – 6 Newcastle Falcons
Welford Road
Attendance: 24,000
20 September 2009
15:00
Leeds Carnegie 7 – 56 London Irish
Headingley
Attendance: 6,047
20 September 2009
15:00
London Wasps 23 – 3 Worcester Warriors
Adams Park
Attendance: 7,654

Round 4

25 September 2009
20:00
Newcastle Falcons 17 – 17 Harlequins
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,714
26 September 2009
15:00
Northampton Saints 30 – 10 Leeds Carnegie
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,441
26 September 2009
15:00
Worcester Warriors 24 – 18 Sale Sharks
Sixways
Attendance: 9,510
26 September 2009
18:05
Bath 20 – 20 Leicester Tigers
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,700
27 September 2009
15:00
London Irish 28 – 16 London Wasps
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 13,967
27 September 2009
15:00
Saracens 19 – 16 Gloucester
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,776

Round 5

2 October 2009
19:45
Sale Sharks 8 – 11 London Irish
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 6,924
3 October 2009
15:00
Leicester Tigers 19 – 14 Worcester Warriors
Welford Road
Attendance: 17,974
3 October 2009
18:05
Harlequins 13 – 11 Bath
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 11,203
4 October 2009
15:00
Leeds Carnegie 10 – 26 Gloucester
Headingley
Attendance: 5,371
4 October 2009
15:00
London Wasps 20 – 15 Northampton Saints
Adams Park
Attendance: 8,913
4 October 2009
15:00
Newcastle Falcons 15 – 22 Saracens
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,453

Round 6

24 October 2009
14:15
Bath 16 – 27 Newcastle Falcons
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,700
24 October 2009
15:00
Northampton Saints 21 – 16 Sale Sharks
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,055
24 October 2009
15:00
Worcester Warriors 22 – 26 Harlequins
Sixways
Attendance: 10,010
24 October 2009
15:15
London Irish 18 – 12 Leicester Tigers
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 16,199
24 October 2009
17:35
Gloucester 6 – 35 London Wasps
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,982
25 October 2009
15:00
Saracens 21 – 15 Leeds Carnegie
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,123

Round 7

30 October 2009
19:45
Sale Sharks 28 – 23 Gloucester
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,222
31 October 2009
14:15
Bath 11 – 12 Saracens
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,700
31 October 2009
15:00
Harlequins 9 – 9 London Irish
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 14,282
31 October 2009
17:35
Leicester Tigers 29 – 15 Northampton Saints
Welford Road
Attendance: 23,641
1 November 2009
13:15
London Wasps 9 – 15 Leeds Carnegie
Adams Park
Attendance: 7,616
1 November 2009
15:00
Newcastle Falcons 14 – 3 Worcester Warriors
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,924

Round 8

20 November 2009
19:45
Gloucester 12 – 9 Leicester Tigers
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,521
20 November 2009
20:00
Worcester Warriors 12 – 12 Bath
Sixways
Attendance: 10,194
21 November 2009
13:00
Northampton Saints 26 – 17 Harlequins
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,040
22 November 2009
15:00
Leeds Carnegie 17 – 24 Sale Sharks
Headingley
Attendance: 5,955
22 November 2009
15:00
London Irish 11 – 15 Newcastle Falcons
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,425
22 November 2009
15:00
Saracens 22 – 6 London Wasps
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,786

Round 9

27 November 2009
20:00
Newcastle Falcons 8 – 28 Northampton Saints
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,522
27 November 2009
20:00
Worcester Warriors 12 – 12 Saracens
Sixways
Attendance: 10,027
28 November 2009
15:00
Harlequins 35 – 29 Gloucester
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 11,854
28 November 2009
15:00
Leicester Tigers 39 – 6 Leeds Carnegie
Welford Road
Attendance: 18,408
28 November 2009
17:35
Bath 0 – 16 London Irish
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,700

Round 10

4 December 2009
19:30
Leeds Carnegie 27 – 30 Harlequins
Headingley
Attendance: 5,090
5 December 2009
15:00
Gloucester 25 – 13 Newcastle Falcons
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,410
5 December 2009
15:00
London Irish 16 – 16 Worcester Warriors
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 8,561
5 December 2009
15:00
Northampton Saints 15 – 13 Bath
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,101
5 December 2009
17:35
Saracens 15 – 13 Sale Sharks
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,101
6 December 2009
15:00
London Wasps 24 – 22 Leicester Tigers
Adams Park
Attendance: 10,116

Round 11

26 December 2009
16:15
Worcester Warriors 6 – 26 Northampton Saints
Sixways
Attendance: 12,024
27 December 2009
14:00
Leicester Tigers 32 – 6 Sale Sharks
Welford Road
Attendance: 24,000
27 December 2009
14:15
Bath 24 – 8 Gloucester
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,700
27 December 2009
15:00
London Irish 23 – 19 Saracens
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 19,734
27 December 2009
15:00
Newcastle Falcons 15 – 16 Leeds Carnegie
Kingston Park
Attendance: 8,766
27 December 2009
16:15
Harlequins 20 – 21 London Wasps
Twickenham
Attendance: 76,716

Round 12

1 January 2010
17:30
Sale Sharks 21 – 16 Harlequins
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 8,172
2 January 2010
15:00
Gloucester 13 – 13 Worcester Warriors
Kingsholm
Attendance: 16,500
2 January 2010
15:00
Leeds Carnegie 15 – 20 Bath
Headingley
Attendance: 7,593
2 January 2010
15:00
Northampton Saints 24 – 22 London Irish
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,457
2 January 2010
15:00
Saracens 15 – 22 Leicester Tigers
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 14,013
3 January 2010
16:30
London Wasps 6 – 12 Newcastle Falcons
Adams Park
Attendance: 8,416

Round 13

9 January 2010
15:15
Leicester Tigers 34 – 8 London Wasps
Welford Road
Attendance: 24,000

Round 14

13 February 2010
15:00
Gloucester 46 – 6 Harlequins
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,125
13 February 2010
15:00
Northampton Saints 25 – 13 Newcastle Falcons
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,189
13 February 2010
15:00
Saracens 25 – 20 Worcester Warriors
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 40,163
14 February 2010
15:00
Leeds Carnegie 9 – 14 Leicester Tigers
Headingley
Attendance: 5,265
14 February 2010
16:30
London Irish 22 – 35 Bath
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 10,033
14 February 2010
16:30
London Wasps 22 – 16 Sale Sharks
Adams Park
Attendance: 7,173

Round 15

19 February 2010
19:45
Sale Sharks 10 – 19 Leeds Carnegie
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,426
20 February 2010
14:15
Bath 37 – 13 Worcester Warriors
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,700
20 February 2010
15:00
Harlequins 13 – 6 Northampton Saints
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 12,935
20 February 2010
15:00
Leicester Tigers 33 – 11 Gloucester
Welford Road
Attendance: 22,320
20 February 2010
17:30
Newcastle Falcons 12 – 12 London Irish
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,168
21 February 2010
15:00
London Wasps 9 – 0 Saracens
Adams Park
Attendance: 8,530

Round 16

26 February 2010
20:00
Worcester Warriors 13 – 0 Newcastle Falcons
Sixways
Attendance: 10,255
27 February 2010
15:00
Gloucester 47 – 3 Sale Sharks
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,548
27 February 2010
18:00
Northampton Saints 19 – 3 Leicester Tigers
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,538
28 February 2010
14:00
Leeds Carnegie 26 – 10 London Wasps
Headingley
Attendance: 4,135
28 February 2010
15:00
London Irish 29 – 14 Harlequins
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 12,373
28 February 2010
15:00
Saracens 14 – 16 Bath
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,864

Round 17

6 March 2010
15:00
Harlequins 14 – 11 Worcester Warriors
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 11,274
6 March 2010
17:35
Leicester Tigers 35 – 19 London Irish
Welford Road
Attendance: 23,314
7 March 2010
14:30
Sale Sharks 7 – 15 Northampton Saints
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,109
7 March 2010
15:00
Leeds Carnegie 19 – 12 Saracens
Headingley
Attendance: 4,031
7 March 2010
15:00
London Wasps 24 – 19 Gloucester
Adams Park
Attendance: 8,541
7 March 2010
15:00
Newcastle Falcons 13 – 17 Bath
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,745

Rearranged fixture

19 March 2010
19:45
Sale Sharks 19 – 8 London Wasps
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,493

Round 18

27 March 2010
14:15
Bath 24 – 13 Harlequins
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,700
27 March 2010
15:00
Gloucester 19 – 0 Leeds Carnegie
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,751
27 March 2010
15:00
Worcester Warriors 18 – 39 Leicester Tigers
Sixways
Attendance: 11,530
27 March 2010
17:30
Northampton Saints 14 – 9 London Wasps
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,451
28 March 2010
15:00
London Irish 38 – 0 Sale Sharks
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 21,535
28 March 2010
15:00
Saracens 58 – 15 Newcastle Falcons
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,565

Rearranged fixture

31 March 2010
20:00
Newcastle Falcons 25 – 13 Gloucester
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,275

Round 19

2 April 2010
19:45
Sale Sharks 17 – 3 Worcester Warriors
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,291
3 April 2010
15:00
Harlequins 23 – 14 Newcastle Falcons
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 10,391
3 April 2010
15:00
Leeds Carnegie 7 – 14 Northampton Saints
Headingley
Attendance: 5,724
3 April 2010
15:00
Leicester Tigers 43 – 20 Bath
Welford Road
Attendance: 22,811
3 April 2010
17:30
Gloucester 29 – 28 Saracens
Kingsholm
Attendance: 13,338
4 April 2010
13:30
London Wasps 33 – 22 London Irish
Adams Park
Attendance: 9,924

Rearranged fixtures

9 April 2010
19:45
Sale Sharks 19 – 30 Saracens
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 6,952
10 April 2010
14:00
Harlequins 46 – 11 Leeds Carnegie
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 10,237
10 April 2010
15:00
Worcester Warriors 13 – 23 London Irish
Sixways
Attendance: 9,841

Round 20

17 April 2010
14:15
Bath 34 – 15 Sale Sharks
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,700
17 April 2010
15:00
Northampton Saints 38 – 23 Gloucester
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,460
17 April 2010
15:00
Worcester Warriors 20 – 24 London Wasps
Sixways
Attendance: 10,428
17 April 2010
17:30
Saracens 37 – 18 Harlequins
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 47,106
18 April 2010
15:00
London Irish 13 – 23 Leeds Carnegie
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 8,898
18 April 2010
15:00
Newcastle Falcons 7 – 31 Leicester Tigers
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,825

Rearranged fixture

20 April 2010
20:00
Bath 21 – 20 Northampton Saints
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,615

Round 21

23 April 2010
19:45
Sale Sharks 30 – 32 Newcastle Falcons
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,336
24 April 2010
15:00
Gloucester 34 – 20 London Irish
Kingsholm
Attendance: 15,090
24 April 2010
15:00
Leicester Tigers 40 – 22 Harlequins
Welford Road
Attendance: 22,604
24 April 2010
15:00
Northampton Saints 27 – 28 Saracens
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,541
24 April 2010
17:30
London Wasps 19 – 35 Bath
Twickenham
Attendance: 60,208
25 April 2010
15:00
Leeds Carnegie 12 – 10 Worcester Warriors
Headingley
Attendance: 10,146

Round 22

8 May 2010
15:00
Bath 39 – 3 Leeds Carnegie
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,700
8 May 2010
15:00
Harlequins 35 – 20 Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 12,795
8 May 2010
15:00
Leicester Tigers 23 – 32 Saracens
Welford Road
Attendance: 24,000
8 May 2010
15:00
London Irish 7 – 31 Northampton Saints
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 14,300
8 May 2010
15:00
Newcastle Falcons 21 – 25 London Wasps
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,412
8 May 2010
15:00
Worcester Warriors 22 – 23 Gloucester
Sixways
Attendance: 12,024

Play-offs

Semi-finals

16 May 2010
13:30
Northampton Saints 19 – 21 Saracens
Try: Tonga'uiha 40' m, Mujati 56' m
Pen: Myler (3/3) 6', 41', 51'
Report Try: Goode 15' c, Wyles 47' c, Brits 76' c
Con: Jackson (3/3)
Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
Attendance: 13,541
Referee: Wayne Barnes

16 May 2010
16:00
Leicester Tigers 15 – 6 Bath
Pen: Flood (5/6) 22', 36', 59', 63', 72'
Report Pen: Barkley (2/4) 11', 20'
Welford Road, Leicester
Attendance: 21,575
Referee: Chris White

Final

29 May 2010
17:30
Leicester Tigers 33 – 27 Saracens
Try: Smith 13' c
Youngs 27' c
Hipkiss 76' c
Con: Flood (3/3)
Pen: Flood (4/6) 3', 19', 47', 57'
Report Try: Joubert (2) 17' m, 49' c
Con: Jackson (1/2)
Pen: Jackson (5/6) 2', 9', 25', 70', 75'
Twickenham, London
Attendance: 81,600 [2]
Referee: Dave Pearson

Total Season Attendances

Club Home
Games
Total Average Highest Lowest % Capacity
Bath 11 128,215 11,656 11,700 11,300 99%
Gloucester 11 138,445 12,586 16,500 10,548 76%
Harlequins 11 190,701 17,336 76,716 9,209 81%
Leeds Carnegie 11 66,501 6,046 10,146 4,031 27%
Leicester Tigers 12 268,647 22,387 24,000 17,974 93%
London Irish 11 147,334 13,394 21,535 8,561 55%
Newcastle Falcons 11 66,959 6,087 8,766 4,275 60%
Northampton Saints 11 144,346 13,122 13,541 12,073 96%
Sale Sharks 11 83,704 7,609 9,336 6,924 70%
Saracens 11 263,013 23,910 67,684 7,101 50%
Wasps 11 204,775 18,616 67,684 7,173 81%
Worcester Warriors 11 115,937 10,540 12,024 9,510 87%

Individual statistics

Top points scorers

Player Team Points
Jimmy Gopperth Newcastle Falcons 219
Toby Flood Leicester Tigers 216
Nicky RobinsonGloucester 198

Top try scorers

Player Team Tries
Chris Ashton Northampton Saints 16
Joe Maddock Bath 11
Matt Banahan Bath 10

References

External links