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Guinness Premiership
Current season or competition:
2007-08 Guinness Premiership
Sport Rugby union
Founded 1987
No. The 2007-08 Guinness Premiership started in September 2007 and finished with the final in May 2008 Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short Artistic Gymnastics World Artistic Gymnastics Championships: Men's all-around champion Dmitry Bilozerchev, USSR of teams 12
Country(ies) Flag of England England
Most recent
champion(s)		 London Wasps

The English Premiership (known as the Guinness Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Guinness) is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland London Wasps is an English professional Rugby union team The men's first team which forms London Wasps was derived from Wasps Football Club who Guinness (ˈɡɪnɪs is a popular Dry stout that originated in Arthur Guinness ' brewery at St Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short There are, at present, twelve clubs in the Premiership. The competition has been played since 1987, and has evolved into the current Premiership system employing relegation to and promotion from the National Division One competition. National Division One is the second tier of the English Rugby union leagues Clubs competing in the Guinness Premiership qualify for Europe's two club competitions, the Heineken Cup and the European Challenge Cup. The European Rugby Cup (known as the Heineken Cup because of the tournament's sponsorship by Heineken) is an annual Rugby union competition involving leading The European Challenge Cup in Rugby union, known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005 is the junior competition to The current champions are the London Wasps. London Wasps is an English professional Rugby union team The men's first team which forms London Wasps was derived from Wasps Football Club who

Contents

History

Beginnings : English Domestic Rugby until 1972

The governing body of rugby union in England, Rugby Football Union (RFU), long resisted leagues as it was believed that leagues would increase 'dirty' play and put pressure on clubs to pay their players (thus breaking the amateur ethos). The Rugby Football Union (RFU is the Rugby union governing body in England Instead, clubs arranged their own friendlies and had traditional games. The only organised tournaments were the County Cups and County Championship — the former played by clubs and the latter by County representative teams. The Daily Telegraph and a few local newspapers — such as the Yorkshire Post — compiled 'pennants' based on teams' performances, but as the strength of fixture lists varied, it was at best an estimate of a team's performance throughout a season. For "The Daily Telegraph" in Australia see The Daily Telegraph (Australia. The Yorkshire Post is a daily Broadsheet Newspaper, published in Leeds, England by Yorkshire Post Newspapers, a company

Cups and Leagues : 1972 - 1995

In 1972 the RFU sanctioned a national knock-out cup now known as the EDF Energy Cup followed first by regional merit tables and then, in the mid 1980s, by national merit tables. The EDF Energy Cup (also known as the Anglo-Welsh Cup) is an English and Welsh Rugby union knock-out cup competition featuring the One of the casualties of the move to competitive leagues was the loss of traditional games as the new fixture lists did not allow enough time for them.

The league system has evolved since its start in 1987 when the Courage Leagues were formed - a league pyramid with 1000 clubs playing in 108 leagues each with promotion and relegation.

In the first season, clubs were expected to arrange the fixtures on mutually convenient dates. That first season was an unqualified success, with clubs in the upper echelons of the national leagues reporting increased crowds, interest from both local backers and national companies as well as higher skill levels among players exposed to regular competition. The fears that leagues would lead to greater violence on the field proved largely unfounded.

By the next season, the RFU allocated fixed Saturdays to the league season, removing the clubs' responsibility for scheduling matches. There was no home and away structure to the leagues in those early seasons, as sides played one another only once.

Initially two teams, Bath and Leicester, proved to be head and shoulders above the rest in the Courage League, and between them dominated the top of the table. Bath Rugby (also known as just Bath) is an English professional Rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. Leicester Football Club (nicknamed Leicester Tigers) is an English Rugby union club that plays in the Guinness Premiership.

In 1994 the league structure expanded to include a full rota of home and away matches for the first time. The 1994/1995 season was the first to be shown live on Sky Sports, a relationship which continues to this day.

1996 : The dawn of Professional Rugby Union

The league turned professional for the 1996/97 season when the first winners were Wasps RFC, now known as London Wasps, joining Bath and Leicester as the only champions in the league's first decade. London Wasps is an English professional Rugby union team The men's first team which forms London Wasps was derived from Wasps Football Club who London Wasps is an English professional Rugby union team The men's first team which forms London Wasps was derived from Wasps Football Club who Clubs like Saracens, Newcastle and Northampton were able to attract wealthy benefactors, but the professional era also had its casualties, as clubs like Richmond and London Scottish were forced into administration when their backers pulled out. The Saracens Rugby Football Club, also known as Saracens FC or usually just Saracens, are a professional Rugby union team based in Watford, The Newcastle Falcons is a Rugby union team currently playing in the Guinness Premiership. Northampton Saints are a professional English Rugby union club from Northampton, England. Richmond Football Club is a Rugby union club from Richmond, London. London Scottish Football Club is a Rugby union team in England

2000 : The Premiership and the Playoffs

The re-branding of the league to the Zurich Championship at the start 2000/01 season also brought with it a re-vamping of the season structure. In 2000–2001 an 8-team play-off system was implemented, but the regular season champion was still considered English champion ("Zurich Premiership title") with the playoff champion claiming the "Zurich Championship title".

In the 2001–2002 season a controversial knock-out cup style play-off system was introduced. Half-way through the season, with Leicester odds-on to win their fourth title in succession, it was decided that the winners of the playoffs would be crowned champions. There was an outcry from fans and this proposal was dropped, but the next year a similar proposal was adopted under which the winner of the league had to play the winner of a match between the second- and third-placed teams for the title. Although Gloucester won the league by a clear margin, they then faced a three week wait until the final. Having lost their momentum the second-placed Wasps (who had defeated third-placed Northampton) beat them easily in the play-offs. The playoff structure was reformatted in the 2005-06 season in which the first placed team would play the fourth placed team in a semi-final.

Since the implementation of the playoff system, only two teams have won both the regular season and playoffs in the same year—Leicester in 2000–2001 (the first year of the playoffs) and Sale Sharks in 2005–06. Sale Sharks are a professional Rugby union team who play in England in the Guinness Premiership.

The Ascendancy of the Playoffs : 2003 - present

From 2002–2003 season the English Champion team has been the one winning the Championship Final. Of all the Premiership teams, London Wasps have made a reputation for playing the competition format to perfection, peaking at the right time to be crowned English Champions in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008. London Wasps is an English professional Rugby union team The men's first team which forms London Wasps was derived from Wasps Football Club who Wasps did not lead the league standings at the end of the season in any of these years. Indeed, the London club have not finished on top of the league placings since the playoffs began.

Conversely, Gloucester Rugby have garnered an unfortunate reputation for leading the table at the end of the regular season, only to fall short of winning the Premiership in 2003, 2007 and 2008. Gloucester Rugby are a professional English Rugby union team situated in the West country city of Gloucester. Gloucester's single victory in the playoffs, in 2002, occurred when the league leaders, in that season Leicester, were still considered English champions, Gloucester's Premiership Championship victory being considered secondary.

Other season highlights

Since 2004, the season has begun with the London Double Header. The London Double Header began in 2004 and opens what was the Zurich Premiership and is now the Guinness Premiership. The London Double Header began in 2004 and opens what was the Zurich Premiership and is now the Guinness Premiership.

Competition

Format

The Guinness Premiership regular season runs from September to May and comprises 22 rounds of matches, with each club playing each of its rivals home and away. During a Premiership match, points that contribute to team standings can be earned in a number of ways:

After the completion of the 22 regular season rounds, the final standings of the twelve clubs determine which teams enter the finals - the top four clubs in the standings enter the semi-finals. A try is the major way of scoring points in Rugby league and Rugby union. The club that finishes at the top of the table earns a home game in their semi-final against the fourth-placed club. The club that finishes second in the standings also earns a home semi-final, hosting the third-placed club. The two semi-finals are played in May, with the winners of both games entering the championship final, which is played at Twickenham Stadium. Twickenham Stadium (usually known as just Twickenham or Twickers) is a Stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond The winner of the final are the season champions.

Promotion and relegation

See also English rugby union system

There is a system of promotion and relegation to and from the Guinness Premiership. The 12-team Guinness Premiership is the top level of the English rugby union system; it is fully professional but has a salary cap in place In many Sports leagues around the world (with North American and Australian professional leagues being the most notable exceptions promotion and relegation The last placed club after the 22 regular season rounds of the Premiership is relegated into National Division One, while the Division One champion is promoted to the Premiership for the subsequent season. National Division One is the second tier of the English Rugby union leagues However, promotion and relegation is subject to a Minimum Standards Criteria.

European competitions

Teams playing in the Guinness Premiership also compete in the two European Rugby Cup competitions: the Heineken Cup and the European Challenge Cup. The European Rugby Cup (known as the Heineken Cup because of the tournament's sponsorship by Heineken) is an annual Rugby union competition involving leading The European Rugby Cup (known as the Heineken Cup because of the tournament's sponsorship by Heineken) is an annual Rugby union competition involving leading The European Challenge Cup in Rugby union, known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005 is the junior competition to The number of clubs taking part in either competition varies each season according to performances of English clubs in the prior season. The top four placed clubs in the Guinness Premiership qualify for the Heineken Cup, though more clubs can qualify in a number of ways: the previous season's Heineken Cup winner, the champion of the European Challenge Cup or the winner of the EDF Energy Cup. The EDF Energy Cup (also known as the Anglo-Welsh Cup) is an English and Welsh Rugby union knock-out cup competition featuring the In total, six clubs usually compete in the Heineken Cup. If the winner of the Heineken Cup, European Challenge Cup or EDF Energy Cup is in the top four Guinness Premiership clubs, then the Heineken Cup runner-up would qualify (if an English club), followed by standings after fourth in the Premiership. Seven clubs will compete in the Heineken Cup if the winner of the Cup is an English club. Clubs that do not qualify for the Heineken Cup play in the European Challenge Cup.

Sponsorship

2007-08 teams

Main article: 2007-08 Guinness Premiership
Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bath Recreation Ground 10,600 Bath, Somerset
Bristol Memorial Stadium 11,750. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The 2007-08 Guinness Premiership started in September 2007 and finished with the final in May 2008 Bath Rugby (also known as just Bath) is an English professional Rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. The Recreation Ground ("the Rec" is a large open space in the centre of Bath, next to the River Avon, used for recreational purposes by Bath residents and Bath is a city in Somerset in the south west of England It is situated west of London and south-east of Bristol. Somerset ( or) is a county in south west England The County town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county Bristol Rugby is a Guinness Premiership rugby club in Bristol, England. The Memorial Stadium, also commonly known by its previous name of The Memorial Ground, is a sports ground in Bristol, England, dedicated to the memory Bristol
Gloucester Kingsholm Stadium 16,500 Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Harlequins Twickenham Stoop 12,700 Twickenham, Middlesex/London
Leeds Carnegie Headingley Carnegie Stadium 22,250 Leeds, West Yorkshire
Leicester Tigers Welford Road 16,815 Leicester, Leicestershire
London Irish Madejski Stadium 24,161 Reading, Berkshire
London Wasps Adams Park 10,000 High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Newcastle Falcons Kingston Park 10,200 Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
Sale Sharks Edgeley Park 10,852 Stockport, Greater Manchester
Saracens Vicarage Road 19,920 Watford, Hertfordshire
Worcester Warriors Sixways Stadium 10,197 Worcester, Worcestershire

Results

By year

Courage League

Allied Dunbar Premiership

Zurich Premiership

Uniquely in this year, the leading team in the league, Leicester, were considered the English champions, rather than the playoff victorious Gloucester.

Wasps became the first team to be crowned English champions through the playoffs.

Guinness Premiership

Zurich Premiership Championship Final

on all occasions at Twickenham Stadium

* 13 May 2001 Leicester 22-10 Bath (33,500)
* 8 June 2002 Gloucester 28-23 Bristol (28,500)
* 31 May 2003 London Wasps 39-3 Gloucester (42,000)
* 29 May 2004 London Wasps 10-6 Bath (59,500)
* 14 May 2005 London Wasps 39-14 Leicester Tigers (66,000)

Guinness Premiership Championship Final

on all occasions at Twickenham Stadium

* 27 May 2006 Sale Sharks 45-20 Leicester Tigers (58,000)
* 12 May 2007 Leicester Tigers 44-16 Gloucester RFC (59,000)
* 31 May 2008 London Wasps 26-16 Leicester Tigers (81,600)

By Championship Wins

Team Premiership Titles Years of Titles Won Topped League Standings
Leicester 7 1988, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007 7
Bath 6 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996 7
Wasps 6 1990, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 2
Newcastle 1 1998 1
Sale 1 2006 1
Gloucester_Rugby 0 n/a 3

Media coverage

In Australia the Guinness Premiership is currently available on Setanta Sports. Twickenham Stadium (usually known as just Twickenham or Twickers) is a Stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond Events 1497 - Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Leicester Football Club (nicknamed Leicester Tigers) is an English Rugby union club that plays in the Guinness Premiership. Bath Rugby (also known as just Bath) is an English professional Rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Gloucester Rugby are a professional English Rugby union team situated in the West country city of Gloucester. Bristol Rugby is a Guinness Premiership rugby club in Bristol, England. Events 1279 BC - Rameses II (The Great (19th dynasty becomes pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. London Wasps is an English professional Rugby union team The men's first team which forms London Wasps was derived from Wasps Football Club who Gloucester Rugby are a professional English Rugby union team situated in the West country city of Gloucester. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " London Wasps is an English professional Rugby union team The men's first team which forms London Wasps was derived from Wasps Football Club who Bath Rugby (also known as just Bath) is an English professional Rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. London Wasps is an English professional Rugby union team The men's first team which forms London Wasps was derived from Wasps Football Club who Leicester Football Club (nicknamed Leicester Tigers) is an English Rugby union club that plays in the Guinness Premiership. Twickenham Stadium (usually known as just Twickenham or Twickers) is a Stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond Events 927 - Simeon the Great, Tsar of Bulgaria, dies 1120 - Richard III of Capua is anointed Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Sale Sharks are a professional Rugby union team who play in England in the Guinness Premiership. Leicester Football Club (nicknamed Leicester Tigers) is an English Rugby union club that plays in the Guinness Premiership. Events 1191 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Leicester Football Club (nicknamed Leicester Tigers) is an English Rugby union club that plays in the Guinness Premiership. Gloucester Rugby are a professional English Rugby union team situated in the West country city of Gloucester. Events 1279 BC - Rameses II (The Great (19th dynasty becomes pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common London Wasps is an English professional Rugby union team The men's first team which forms London Wasps was derived from Wasps Football Club who Leicester Football Club (nicknamed Leicester Tigers) is an English Rugby union club that plays in the Guinness Premiership. Bath Rugby (also known as just Bath) is an English professional Rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. London Wasps is an English professional Rugby union team The men's first team which forms London Wasps was derived from Wasps Football Club who The Newcastle Falcons is a Rugby union team currently playing in the Guinness Premiership. Sale Sharks are a professional Rugby union team who play in England in the Guinness Premiership. Gloucester Rugby are a professional English Rugby union team situated in the West country city of Gloucester. Setanta Sports (sɛˈtantə is a sports broadcaster based in Ireland, operating 12 channels in 24 countries

See also

External links

This page contains all of the most current England Rugby Union templates for the various leagues The Guinness A League was launched in 2003 It runs parallel to the Guinness Premiership. The EDF Energy Cup (also known as the Anglo-Welsh Cup) is an English and Welsh Rugby union knock-out cup competition featuring the The English Rugby union league pyramid is topped by the Premiership The European Challenge Cup in Rugby union, known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005 is the junior competition to The European Shield was a reprechage tournament for teams knocked out in the first round of the European Challenge Cup in 2002-03 and 2003-04 The European Rugby Cup (known as the Heineken Cup because of the tournament's sponsorship by Heineken) is an annual Rugby union competition involving leading National Division One is the second tier of the English Rugby union leagues The EDF Energy Cup (also known as the Anglo-Welsh Cup) is an English and Welsh Rugby union knock-out cup competition featuring the The table below lists domestic professional Sports leagues from around the world by total attendances for the last completed season for which data is available
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