2009–10 Premiership Rugby

2009–10 Guinness Premiership
Countries England
Date4 September 2009 – 29 May 2010
ChampionsLeicester Tigers (9th title)
Runners-upSaracens
RelegatedWorcester Warriors
Matches played135
Attendance1,900,177
(average 14,075 per match)
Tries scored427
(average 3.2 per match)
Top point scorerJimmy Gopperth (Newcastle)
(219 points)
Top try scorerChris Ashton (Northampton)
(16 tries)
Official website
www.premiershiprugby.com

The 2009–10 Guinness Premiership was the 23rd season of the top flight English domestic rugby union competition and the fifth and final one to be sponsored by Guinness. The reigning champions entering the season were Leicester Tigers, who had claimed their eighth title after defeating London Irish in the 2009 final. Leeds Carnege had been promoted as champions from the 2008–09 National Division One at the first attempt.

Summary

[edit]

Leicester Tigers won their ninth title after defeating Saracens in the final at Twickenham having also topped the regular season table. Worcester Warriors were relegated on the last day of the season. It was the first time that Worcester have been relegated from the top flight since they first achieved promotion.

As usual, round 1 included the London Double Header at Twickenham, the sixth instance since its inception in 2004.

Teams

[edit]

Twelve teams compete in the league – the top eleven teams from the previous season and Leeds Carnege who were promoted from the 2008–09 National Division One after a top flight absence of one year. They replaced Bristol Bears who were relegated after four years in the top flight.

Stadiums and locations

[edit]
class=notpageimage|
2009–10 Guinness Premiership Teams
Club Captain Kit Supplier Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bath South Africa Michael Claassens Puma The Recreation Ground 11,700 Bath
Gloucester England Mike Tindall
Wales Gareth Delve 		RugbyTech Kingsholm Stadium 16,500 Gloucester
Harlequins England Will Skinner KooGa Twickenham Stoop[a] 14,282 Twickenham, Greater London
Leeds Carnegie South Africa Marco Wentzel ISC Headingley Stadium 22,250 Leeds
Leicester Tigers Ireland Geordan Murphy Cotton Traders Welford Road 24,000 Leicester
London Irish Ireland Bob Casey RugbyTech Madejski Stadium[b] 24,161 Reading
London Wasps England Tom Rees Canterbury Adams Park[c] 10,516 High Wycombe
Newcastle Falcons New Zealand Carl Hayman Cotton Traders Kingston Park 10,200 Newcastle upon Tyne
Northampton Saints England Dylan Hartley Rhino Sportswear Franklin's Gardens 13,591 Northampton
Sale Sharks England Dean Schofield Cotton Traders Edgeley Park 10,852 Stockport, Greater Manchester
Saracens England Steve Borthwick KooGa Vicarage Road[d] 19,920 Watford
Worcester Warriors England Pat Sanderson Kukri Sixways Stadium 12,068 Worcester

Table

[edit]
2009–10 Premiership Rugby Table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Leicester Tigers (C) 22 15 1 6 541 325 +216 46 18 7 4 73 Play-off place,
Berth in the 2010–11 Heineken Cup
2 Northampton Saints (SF) 22 16 0 6 472 322 +150 44 26 2 5 71
3 Saracens (RU) 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 Berth in the 2010–11 Heineken Cup
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 2010–11 European Challenge Cup
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[e] (R) 22 3 4 15 312 420 −108 23 36 0 8 28 Relegated
Source: Premiership Rugby
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 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; (RU) Runners-up; (SF) Losing semi-finalists; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Harlequins will also play a home game at Twickenham Stadium on 27 December 2009
  2. ^ London Irish will also play a home game at Twickenham Stadium on 4 September 2010
  3. ^ London Wasps will also play a home game at Twickenham Stadium on 5 September 2009 and 24 April 2010
  4. ^ Saracens will also play a home game at Twickenham Stadium on 5 September 2009 and 3 home games at Wembley Stadium on 12 September 2009, 13 February 2010 and 17 April 2010
  5. ^ The champion of the Championship (Exeter Chiefs) are eligible for promotion.

Results

[edit]

Round 1

[edit]
4 September 2009
19:45
Sale Sharks15 – 12Leicester Tigers
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 8,751
5 September 2009
14:30
Saracens18 – 14London Irish
Twickenham
Attendance: 67,684
5 September 2009
17:15
London Wasps26 – 15Harlequins
Twickenham
Attendance: 67,684
6 September 2009
13:15
Northampton Saints20 – 17Worcester Warriors
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,073
6 September 2009
15:00
Leeds Carnegie9 – 9Newcastle Falcons
Headingley
Attendance: 7,144
6 September 2009
15:30
Gloucester24 – 5Bath
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,815

Round 2

[edit]
11 September 2009
20:00
Worcester Warriors27 – 7Leeds Carnegie
Sixways
Attendance: 10,094
12 September 2009
14:15
Bath15 – 17London Wasps
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,300
12 September 2009
14:45
Saracens19 – 16Northampton Saints
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 44,832
12 September 2009
15:00
Harlequins9 – 15Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 9,805
13 September 2009
15:00
London Irish40 – 10Gloucester
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 12,309
13 September 2009
15:00
Newcastle Falcons16 – 16Sale Sharks
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,155

Round 3

[edit]
18 September 2009
19:45
Sale Sharks12 – 25Bath
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,028
19 September 2009
15:00
Gloucester14 – 27Northampton Saints
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,365
19 September 2009
15:00
Harlequins9 – 22Saracens
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 9,209
19 September 2009
17:35
Leicester Tigers15 – 6Newcastle Falcons
Welford Road
Attendance: 24,000
20 September 2009
15:00
Leeds Carnegie7 – 56London Irish
Headingley
Attendance: 6,047
20 September 2009
15:00
London Wasps23 – 3Worcester Warriors
Adams Park
Attendance: 7,654

Round 4

[edit]
25 September 2009
20:00
Newcastle Falcons17 – 17Harlequins
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,714
26 September 2009
15:00
Northampton Saints30 – 10Leeds Carnegie
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,441
26 September 2009
15:00
Worcester Warriors24 – 18Sale Sharks
Sixways
Attendance: 9,510
26 September 2009
18:05
Bath20 – 20Leicester Tigers
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,700
27 September 2009
15:00
London Irish28 – 16London Wasps
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 13,967
27 September 2009
15:00
Saracens19 – 16Gloucester
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,776

Round 5

[edit]
2 October 2009
19:45
Sale Sharks8 – 11London Irish
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 6,924
3 October 2009
15:00
Leicester Tigers19 – 14Worcester Warriors
Welford Road
Attendance: 17,974
3 October 2009
18:05
Harlequins13 – 11Bath
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 11,203
4 October 2009
15:00
Leeds Carnegie10 – 26Gloucester
Headingley
Attendance: 5,371
4 October 2009
15:00
London Wasps20 – 15Northampton Saints
Adams Park
Attendance: 8,913
4 October 2009
15:00
Newcastle Falcons15 – 22Saracens
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,453

Round 6

[edit]
24 October 2009
14:15
Bath16 – 27Newcastle Falcons
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,700
24 October 2009
15:00
Northampton Saints21 – 16Sale Sharks
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,055
24 October 2009
15:00
Worcester Warriors22 – 26Harlequins
Sixways
Attendance: 10,010
24 October 2009
15:15
London Irish18 – 12Leicester Tigers
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 16,199
24 October 2009
17:35
Gloucester6 – 35London Wasps
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,982
25 October 2009
15:00
Saracens21 – 15Leeds Carnegie
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,123

Round 7

[edit]
30 October 2009
19:45
Sale Sharks28 – 23Gloucester
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,222
31 October 2009
14:15
Bath11 – 12Saracens
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,700
31 October 2009
15:00
Harlequins9 – 9London Irish
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 14,282
31 October 2009
17:35
Leicester Tigers29 – 15Northampton Saints
Welford Road
Attendance: 23,641
1 November 2009
13:15
London Wasps9 – 15Leeds Carnegie
Adams Park
Attendance: 7,616
1 November 2009
15:00
Newcastle Falcons14 – 3Worcester Warriors
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,924

Round 8

[edit]
20 November 2009
19:45
Gloucester12 – 9Leicester Tigers
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,521
20 November 2009
20:00
Worcester Warriors12 – 12Bath
Sixways
Attendance: 10,194
21 November 2009
13:00
Northampton Saints26 – 17Harlequins
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,040
22 November 2009
15:00
Leeds Carnegie17 – 24Sale Sharks
Headingley
Attendance: 5,955
22 November 2009
15:00
London Irish11 – 15Newcastle Falcons
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,425
22 November 2009
15:00
Saracens22 – 6London Wasps
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,786

Round 9

[edit]
27 November 2009
20:00
Newcastle Falcons8 – 28Northampton Saints
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,522
27 November 2009
20:00
Worcester Warriors12 – 12Saracens
Sixways
Attendance: 10,027
28 November 2009
15:00
Harlequins35 – 29Gloucester
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 11,854
28 November 2009
15:00
Leicester Tigers39 – 6Leeds Carnegie
Welford Road
Attendance: 18,408
28 November 2009
17:35
Bath0 – 16London Irish
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,700

Round 10

[edit]
4 December 2009
19:30
Leeds Carnegie27 – 30Harlequins
Headingley
Attendance: 5,090
5 December 2009
15:00
Gloucester25 – 13Newcastle Falcons
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,410
5 December 2009
15:00
London Irish16 – 16Worcester Warriors
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 8,561
5 December 2009
15:00
Northampton Saints15 – 13Bath
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,101
5 December 2009
17:35
Saracens15 – 13Sale Sharks
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,101
6 December 2009
15:00
London Wasps24 – 22Leicester Tigers
Adams Park
Attendance: 10,116

Round 11

[edit]
26 December 2009
16:15
Worcester Warriors6 – 26Northampton Saints
Sixways
Attendance: 12,024
27 December 2009
14:00
Leicester Tigers32 – 6Sale Sharks
Welford Road
Attendance: 24,000
27 December 2009
14:15
Bath24 – 8Gloucester
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,700
27 December 2009
15:00
London Irish23 – 19Saracens
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 19,734
27 December 2009
15:00
Newcastle Falcons15 – 16Leeds Carnegie
Kingston Park
Attendance: 8,766
27 December 2009
16:15
Harlequins20 – 21London Wasps
Twickenham
Attendance: 76,716

Round 12

[edit]
1 January 2010
17:30
Sale Sharks21 – 16Harlequins
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 8,172
2 January 2010
15:00
Gloucester13 – 13Worcester Warriors
Kingsholm
Attendance: 16,500
2 January 2010
15:00
Leeds Carnegie15 – 20Bath
Headingley
Attendance: 7,593
2 January 2010
15:00
Northampton Saints24 – 22London Irish
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,457
2 January 2010
15:00
Saracens15 – 22Leicester Tigers
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 14,013
3 January 2010
16:30
London Wasps6 – 12Newcastle Falcons
Adams Park
Attendance: 8,416

Round 13

[edit]
9 January 2010
15:15
Leicester Tigers34 – 8London Wasps
Welford Road
Attendance: 24,000

Round 14

[edit]
13 February 2010
15:00
Gloucester46 – 6Harlequins
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,125
13 February 2010
15:00
Northampton Saints25 – 13Newcastle Falcons
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,189
13 February 2010
15:00
Saracens25 – 20Worcester Warriors
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 40,163
14 February 2010
15:00
Leeds Carnegie9 – 14Leicester Tigers
Headingley
Attendance: 5,265
14 February 2010
16:30
London Irish22 – 35Bath
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 10,033
14 February 2010
16:30
London Wasps22 – 16Sale Sharks
Adams Park
Attendance: 7,173

Round 15

[edit]
19 February 2010
19:45
Sale Sharks10 – 19Leeds Carnegie
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,426
20 February 2010
14:15
Bath37 – 13Worcester Warriors
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,700
20 February 2010
15:00
Harlequins13 – 6Northampton Saints
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 12,935
20 February 2010
15:00
Leicester Tigers33 – 11Gloucester
Welford Road
Attendance: 22,320
20 February 2010
17:30
Newcastle Falcons12 – 12London Irish
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,168
21 February 2010
15:00
London Wasps9 – 0Saracens
Adams Park
Attendance: 8,530

Round 16

[edit]
26 February 2010
20:00
Worcester Warriors13 – 0Newcastle Falcons
Sixways
Attendance: 10,255
27 February 2010
15:00
Gloucester47 – 3Sale Sharks
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,548
27 February 2010
18:00
Northampton Saints19 – 3Leicester Tigers
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,538
28 February 2010
14:00
Leeds Carnegie26 – 10London Wasps
Headingley
Attendance: 4,135
28 February 2010
15:00
London Irish29 – 14Harlequins
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 12,373
28 February 2010
15:00
Saracens14 – 16Bath
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,864

Round 17

[edit]
6 March 2010
15:00
Harlequins14 – 11Worcester Warriors
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 11,274
6 March 2010
17:35
Leicester Tigers35 – 19London Irish
Welford Road
Attendance: 23,314
7 March 2010
14:30
Sale Sharks7 – 15Northampton Saints
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,109
7 March 2010
15:00
Leeds Carnegie19 – 12Saracens
Headingley
Attendance: 4,031
7 March 2010
15:00
London Wasps24 – 19Gloucester
Adams Park
Attendance: 8,541
7 March 2010
15:00
Newcastle Falcons13 – 17Bath
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,745

Rearranged fixture

[edit]
19 March 2010
19:45
Sale Sharks19 – 8London Wasps
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,493

Round 18

[edit]
27 March 2010
14:15
Bath24 – 13Harlequins
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,700
27 March 2010
15:00
Gloucester19 – 0Leeds Carnegie
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,751
27 March 2010
15:00
Worcester Warriors18 – 39Leicester Tigers
Sixways
Attendance: 11,530
27 March 2010
17:30
Northampton Saints14 – 9London Wasps
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,451
28 March 2010
15:00
London Irish38 – 0Sale Sharks
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 21,535
28 March 2010
15:00
Saracens58 – 15Newcastle Falcons
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,565

Rearranged fixture

[edit]
31 March 2010
20:00
Newcastle Falcons25 – 13Gloucester
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,275

Round 19

[edit]
2 April 2010
19:45
Sale Sharks17 – 3Worcester Warriors
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,291
3 April 2010
15:00
Harlequins23 – 14Newcastle Falcons
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 10,391
3 April 2010
15:00
Leeds Carnegie7 – 14Northampton Saints
Headingley
Attendance: 5,724
3 April 2010
15:00
Leicester Tigers43 – 20Bath
Welford Road
Attendance: 22,811
3 April 2010
17:30
Gloucester29 – 28Saracens
Kingsholm
Attendance: 13,338
4 April 2010
13:30
London Wasps33 – 22London Irish
Adams Park
Attendance: 9,924

Rearranged fixtures

[edit]
9 April 2010
19:45
Sale Sharks19 – 30Saracens
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 6,952
10 April 2010
14:00
Harlequins46 – 11Leeds Carnegie
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 10,237
10 April 2010
15:00
Worcester Warriors13 – 23London Irish
Sixways
Attendance: 9,841

Round 20

[edit]
17 April 2010
14:15
Bath34 – 15Sale Sharks
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,700
17 April 2010
15:00
Northampton Saints38 – 23Gloucester
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,460
17 April 2010
15:00
Worcester Warriors20 – 24London Wasps
Sixways
Attendance: 10,428
17 April 2010
17:30
Saracens37 – 18Harlequins
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 47,106
18 April 2010
15:00
London Irish13 – 23Leeds Carnegie
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 8,898
18 April 2010
15:00
Newcastle Falcons7 – 31Leicester Tigers
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,825

Rearranged fixture

[edit]
20 April 2010
20:00
Bath21 – 20Northampton Saints
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,615

Round 21

[edit]
23 April 2010
19:45
Sale Sharks30 – 32Newcastle Falcons
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,336
24 April 2010
15:00
Gloucester34 – 20London Irish
Kingsholm
Attendance: 15,090
24 April 2010
15:00
Leicester Tigers40 – 22Harlequins
Welford Road
Attendance: 22,604
24 April 2010
15:00
Northampton Saints27 – 28Saracens
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,541
24 April 2010
17:30
London Wasps19 – 35Bath
Twickenham
Attendance: 60,208
25 April 2010
15:00
Leeds Carnegie12 – 10Worcester Warriors
Headingley
Attendance: 10,146

Round 22

[edit]
8 May 2010
15:00
Bath39 – 3Leeds Carnegie
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,700
8 May 2010
15:00
Harlequins35 – 20Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 12,795
8 May 2010
15:00
Leicester Tigers23 – 32Saracens
Welford Road
Attendance: 24,000
8 May 2010
15:00
London Irish7 – 31Northampton Saints
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 14,300
8 May 2010
15:00
Newcastle Falcons21 – 25London Wasps
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,412
8 May 2010
15:00
Worcester Warriors22 – 23Gloucester
Sixways
Attendance: 12,024

Play-offs

[edit]

As in previous seasons, the top four teams in the Premiership table, following the conclusion of the regular season, contest the play-off semi-finals in a 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd format, with the higher ranking team having home advantage. The two winners of the semi-finals then meet in the Premiership Final at Twickenham on 29 May 2010.

Bracket

[edit]
Semi-finals Final
      
1 Northampton Saints 19
4 Saracens 21
4 Saracens 27
2 Leicester Tigers 33
2 Leicester Tigers 15
3 Bath 6

Semi-finals

[edit]
16 May 2010
13:30
Northampton Saints19 – 21Saracens
Try: Tongaʻuiha 40' m, Mujati 56' m
Pen: Myler (3/3) 6', 41', 51'		ReportTry: 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 Tigers15 – 6Bath
Pen: Flood (5/6) 22', 36', 59', 63', 72'ReportPen: Barkley (2/4) 11', 20'
Welford Road, Leicester
Attendance: 21,575
Referee: Chris White

Final

[edit]
29 May 2010
17:30
Leicester Tigers33 – 27Saracens
Try: Smith 13' c
Youngs 27' c
Hipkiss 76' c
Con: Flood (3/3)
Pen: Flood (4/6) 3', 19', 47', 57'		Report 1
Report 2		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 [1]
Referee: Dave Pearson

Leading scorers

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/news/13748.php[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "2009-10 Premiership Rugby top points scorers". ESPNScrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  3. ^ "2009-10 Premiership Rugby top try scorers". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
[edit]
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