2001–02 Premiership Rugby

The 2001-02 Zurich Premiership was the 15th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions.

2001-2002 Zurich Premiership
Countries England
ChampionsLeicester Tigers (6th title)
Runners-upSale Sharks
RelegatedNone
Matches played139
Attendance1,043,625
(average 7,508 per match)

Leeds Tykes were promoted to replace the relegated Rotherham.

Halfway 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. After a public outcry at moving the goalposts halfway through the tournament, this was not followed through. Instead, they launched the Zurich Championship, a play off competition involving 8 teams below the champions, providing the winner with a 'wildcard' European qualification. Leicester did finish top of the league and were crowned champions; their fourth title in succession and their sixth overall. Gloucester won the eight team Zurich Championship play-offs in 2001–02.

Leeds Tykes finished bottom of the table but avoided relegation due to the inadequacies of Rotherham's ground.

Participating teams

Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bath Bath 8,200 Bath, Somerset
Bristol Shoguns Memorial Stadium 12,100 Bristol
Gloucester Kingsholm 11,000 Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Harlequins The Stoop 8,500 Twickenham, London
Leeds Tykes Headingley Stadium 22,250 Leeds, West Yorkshire
Leicester Tigers Welford Road 16,250 Leicester, Leicestershire
London Irish Madejski Stadium 24,161 Reading, Berkshire
London Wasps Loftus Road 18,439 Shepherd's Bush, London
Newcastle Falcons Kingston Park 10,000 Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Northampton Saints Franklin's Gardens 11,700 Northampton, Northamptonshire
Sale Heywood Road 5,400 Sale, Greater Manchester
Saracens Vicarage Road 22,000 Watford, Hertfordshire

Table

Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Tries For Tries Against Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
1Leicester Tigers (C)221804658349+309721910183
2Sale Sharks221417589517+7267479269
3Gloucester221408692485+20768458468
4London Irish221138574465+10946373457
5Northampton Saints221219506426+8048364256
6Newcastle Falcons221219490458+3243403356
7London Wasps2212010519507+1242413354
8Bristol Shoguns229112591632-4155667550
9Harlequins225314434507-7333525435
10Saracens227015425671-24633681534
11Bath227015311524-21321470533
12Leeds Tykes226016406654-24838682228
Source:Guinness Premiership
Green background denotes qualification for the playoffs and the 2002–03 Heineken Cup.
Blue background denotes qualification for the playoffs and the 2002–03 Challenge Cup.
Plain background donates qualification for the 2002–03 Challenge Cup.
Leeds were spared relegation due to inadequacies of Rotherham's ground.

Results

Week 1

1 September 2001
15:00
Gloucester 22 - 9 Northampton Saints
Kingsholm
Attendance: 8,682
1 September 2001
15:00
NEC Harlequins 21 - 32 London Irish
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,287
2 September 2001
14:00
Newcastle Falcons 19 - 16 Leicester Tigers
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,490
2 September 2001
14:30
Leeds Tykes 10 - 6 Bath Rugby
Headingley
Attendance: 5,181
2 September 2001
15:00
Bristol Shoguns 25 - 35 Sale Sharks
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,020
2 September 2001
15:00
London Wasps 12 - 8 Saracens
Loftus Road
Attendance: 5,929

Week 2

8 September 2001
14:00
NEC Harlequins 32 - 38 Bristol Shoguns
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,220
8 September 2001
14:00
Saracens 34 - 30 Gloucester
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,262
8 September 2001
14:15
Leicester Tigers 45 - 15 London Wasps
Welford Road
Attendance: 13,837
8 September 2001
15:00
Northampton Saints 26 - 7 Bath Rugby
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 10,241
8 September 2001
15:00
Sale Sharks 37 - 11 Newcastle Falcons
Heywood Road
Attendance: 4,865
9 September 2001
15:00
London Irish 42 - 14 Leeds Tykes
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 4,219

Week 3

15 September 2001
14:15
Bath Rugby 20 - 27 Saracens
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,968
15 September 2001
15:00
Gloucester 18 - 40 Leicester Tigers
Kingsholm
Attendance: 9,729
16 September 2001
14:30
Leeds Tykes 6 - 26 Northampton Saints
Headingley
Attendance: 4,080
16 September 2001
14:30
Newcastle Falcons 6 - 6 NEC Harlequins
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,551
16 September 2001
15:00
Bristol Shoguns 19 - 19 London Irish
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,000
16 September 2001
15:00
London Wasps 21 - 40 Sale Sharks
Loftus Road
Attendance: 4,403

Week 4

22 September 2001
13:00
Leicester Tigers 48 - 9 Bath Rugby
Welford Road
Attendance: 15,145
22 September 2001
15:00
NEC Harlequins 33 - 13 London Wasps
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,698
22 September 2001
15:00
Sale Sharks 21 - 44 Gloucester
Heywood Road
Attendance: 4,682
23 September 2001
15:00
Bristol Shoguns 34 - 29 Leeds Tykes
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,632
23 September 2001
15:00
London Irish 18 - 22 Newcastle Falcons
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 5,419
23 September 2001
15:00
Saracens 25 - 20 Northampton Saints
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,527

Week 5

13 October 2001
14:15
Bath Rugby 20 - 17 Sale Sharks
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,875
13 October 2001
15:00
Gloucester 33 - 7 NEC Harlequins
Kingsholm
Attendance: 8,005
13 October 2001
15:00
Northampton Saints 11 - 21 Leicester Tigers
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 11,700
14 October 2001
13:30
London Wasps 15 - 20 London Irish
Loftus Road
Attendance: 5,101
14 October 2001
14:30
Leeds Tykes 27 - 14 Saracens
Headingley
Attendance: 3,328
14 October 2001
14:30
Newcastle Falcons 37 - 20 Bristol Shoguns
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,401

Week 6

20 October 2001
12:35
Sale Sharks 34 - 14 Northampton Saints
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,612
20 October 2001
13:00
Leicester Tigers 36 - 10 Saracens
Welford Road
Attendance: 13,762
20 October 2001
13:00
NEC Harlequins 15 - 8 Bath Rugby
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,428
21 October 2001
14:30
Newcastle Falcons 19 - 8 Leeds Tykes
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,248
21 October 2001
15:00
Bristol Shoguns 43 - 22 London Wasps
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,174
21 October 2001
15:00
London Irish 19 - 15 Gloucester
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 5,937

Week 7

9 November 2001
19:30
Northampton Saints 13 - 13 NEC Harlequins
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 8,667
10 November 2001
12:30
Gloucester 51 - 17 Bristol Shoguns
Kingsholm
Attendance: 8,431
11 November 2001
14:15
Bath Rugby 19 - 11 London Irish
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,656
11 November 2001
14:30
Leeds Tykes 37 - 16 Leicester Tigers
Headingley
Attendance: 7,162
11 November 2001
15:00
London Wasps 30 - 33 Newcastle Falcons
Loftus Road
Attendance: 3,955
11 November 2001
15:00
Saracens 26 - 25 Sale Sharks
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,059

Week 8

16 November 2001
19:45
NEC Harlequins 43 - 6 Saracens
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,450
17 November 2001
12:30
Sale Sharks 3 - 37 Leicester Tigers
Heywood Road
Attendance: 5,429
18 November 2001
14:05
London Wasps 64 - 14 Leeds Tykes
Loftus Road
Attendance: 3,507
18 November 2001
14:30
Newcastle Falcons 18 - 16 Gloucester
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,576
18 November 2001
15:00
Bristol Shoguns 31 - 17 Bath Rugby
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 10,021
18 November 2001
15:00
London Irish 48 - 12 Northampton Saints
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 5,191

Week 9

22 November 2001
19:45
Saracens 13 - 55 London Irish
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,216
23 November 2001
19:30
Gloucester 43 - 13 London Wasps
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,171
23 November 2001
19:30
Leicester Tigers 23 - 18 NEC Harlequins
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,017
25 November 2001
14:15
Bath Rugby 24 - 9 Newcastle Falcons
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,903
25 November 2001
14:30
Leeds Tykes 20 - 47 Sale Sharks
Headingley
Attendance: 3,489
25 November 2001
14:30
Northampton Saints 20 - 23 Bristol Shoguns
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 7,873

Week 10

1 December 2001
14:00
Gloucester 58 - 17 Leeds Tykes
Kingsholm
Attendance: 7,516
1 December 2001
15:00
NEC Harlequins 16 - 23 Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,841
2 December 2001
14:30
Newcastle Falcons 13 - 28 Northampton Saints
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,048
2 December 2001
15:00
Bristol Shoguns 22 - 25 Saracens
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,450
2 December 2001
15:00
London Irish 15 - 30 Leicester Tigers
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 11,124
2 December 2001
15:00
London Wasps 23 - 10 Bath Rugby
Loftus Road
Attendance: 6,240

Week 11

8 December 2001
14:05
Sale Sharks 19 - 19 London Irish
Heywood Road
Attendance: 4,775
8 December 2001
14:15
Bath Rugby 12 - 9 Gloucester
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
8 December 2001
14:15
Leicester Tigers 26 - 19 Bristol Shoguns
Welford Road
Attendance: 15,519
8 December 2001
15:00
Northampton Saints 23 - 10 London Wasps
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 8,833
9 December 2001
14:00
Saracens 19 - 24 Newcastle Falcons
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,294
9 December 2001
14:30
Leeds Tykes 23 - 18 NEC Harlequins
Headingley
Attendance: 3,401

Week 12

22 December 2001
14:00
NEC Harlequins 21 - 38 Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 9,000
23 December 2001
15:00
London Irish 30 - 23 Saracens
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 8,246

Week 13

27 December 2001
15:00
Leicester Tigers 33 - 10 Sale Sharks
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,250
29 December 2001
14:00
Bath Rugby 15 - 9 Bristol Shoguns
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
29 December 2001
14:00
Gloucester 29 - 25 Newcastle Falcons
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
29 December 2001
15:00
Northampton Saints 24 - 15 London Irish
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 10,322
30 December 2001
14:30
Leeds Tykes 18 - 28 London Wasps
Headingley
Attendance: 5,166
30 December 2001
15:00
Saracens 39 - 25 NEC Harlequins
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 13,257

Week 14

26 January 2002
15:00
NEC Harlequins 16 - 24 Northampton Saints
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,882
27 January 2002
13:00
Newcastle Falcons 22 - 23 London Wasps
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,658

Week 15

9 February 2002
14:15
Bath Rugby 18 - 9 NEC Harlequins
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
9 February 2002
15:00
Gloucester 29 - 22 London Irish
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,112
9 February 2002
15:00
Northampton Saints 10 - 20 Sale Sharks
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 9,389
9 February 2002
18:30
Saracens 7 - 48 Leicester Tigers
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,347
10 February 2002
14:30
Leeds Tykes 9 - 19 Newcastle Falcons
Headingley
Attendance: 4,195
10 February 2002
15:00
London Wasps 34 - 16 Bristol Shoguns
Loftus Road
Attendance: 5,429

Week 16

23 February 2002
13:30
Sale Sharks 20 - 14 Bath Rugby
Heywood Road
Attendance: 5,392
23 February 2002
14:15
Leicester Tigers 17 - 6 Northampton Saints
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,251
23 February 2002
15:00
NEC Harlequins 6 - 18 Gloucester
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 8,000
24 February 2002
15:00
Bristol Shoguns 33 - 17 Newcastle Falcons
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,021
24 February 2002
15:00
London Irish 31 - 17 London Wasps
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,848
24 February 2002
15:00
Saracens 15 - 37 Leeds Tykes
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 4,325

Week 17

9 March 2002
14:15
Bath Rugby 9 - 27 Leicester Tigers
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
9 March 2002
15:00
Gloucester 42 - 14 Sale Sharks
Kingsholm
Attendance: 9,461
10 March 2002
14:30
Leeds Tykes 24 - 6 Bristol Shoguns
Headingley
Attendance: 2,034

Week 18

16 March 2002
15:00
Leicester Tigers 27 - 10 Gloucester
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,250
16 March 2002
15:00
London Irish 24 - 13 Bristol Shoguns
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 12,873
16 March 2002
15:00
NEC Harlequins 33 - 19 Newcastle Falcons
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,525
16 March 2002
15:00
Northampton Saints 34 - 14 Leeds Tykes
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 8,366
16 March 2002
15:00
Sale Sharks 27 - 22 London Wasps
Heywood Road
Attendance: 5,118
17 March 2002
15:00
Saracens 33 - 11 Bath Rugby
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,828

Week 19

30 March 2002
14:00
Gloucester 36 - 13 Saracens
Kingsholm
Attendance: 9,262
30 March 2002
14:15
Bath Rugby 11 - 29 Northampton Saints
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
31 March 2002
14:30
Leeds Tykes 24 - 29 London Irish
Headingley
Attendance: 3,392
31 March 2002
14:30
Newcastle Falcons 30 - 10 Sale Sharks
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,512
31 March 2002
15:00
Bristol Shoguns 43 - 27 NEC Harlequins
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,618
31 March 2002
15:00
London Wasps 36 - 24 Leicester Tigers
Loftus Road
Attendance: 9,621

Week 20

10 April 2002
19:30
London Wasps 44 - 9 Gloucester
Loftus Road
Attendance: 5,769
10 April 2002
20:00
London Irish 31 - 15 Bath Rugby
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 6,055
13 April 2002
14:15
Bath Rugby 23 - 12 Leeds Tykes
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,129
13 April 2002
14:30
Northampton Saints 58 - 21 Gloucester
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 9,138
13 April 2002
15:00
Leicester Tigers 20 - 12 Newcastle Falcons
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,250
13 April 2002
15:00
Sale Sharks 53 - 47 Bristol Shoguns
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,609
14 April 2002
15:00
London Irish 18 - 18 NEC Harlequins
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 6,803
14 April 2002
15:00
Saracens 14 - 20 London Wasps
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,431

Week 21

19 April 2002
19:45
Leicester Tigers 31 - 10 Leeds Tykes
Welford Road
Attendance: 14,145
19 April 2002
19:45
Sale Sharks 23 - 3 Saracens
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,497
21 April 2002
15:00
Bristol Shoguns 40 - 41 Gloucester
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 7,066

Week 22

26 April 2002
19:35
London Wasps 16 - 6 NEC Harlequins
Loftus Road
Attendance: 8,388
27 April 2002
15:00
Northampton Saints 52 - 27 Saracens
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 8,479
28 April 2002
14:30
Newcastle Falcons 36 - 9 Bath Rugby
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,430

Week 23

3 May 2002
19:45
NEC Harlequins 40 - 16 Leeds Tykes
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,255
4 May 2002
15:00
Gloucester 68 - 12 Bath Rugby
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
4 May 2002
15:00
London Wasps 17 - 6 Northampton Saints
Loftus Road
Attendance: 6,133
5 May 2002
14:30
Newcastle Falcons 47 - 18 Saracens
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,083
5 May 2002
15:00
Bristol Shoguns 38 - 21 Leicester Tigers
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 6,500
5 May 2002
15:00
London Irish 32 - 36 Sale Sharks
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 6,076

Week 24

8 May 2002
19:30
Newcastle Falcons 33 - 28 London Irish
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,218
8 May 2002
19:45
Sale Sharks 35 - 20 Leeds Tykes
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,871
8 May 2002
20:00
Bristol Shoguns 27 - 37 Northampton Saints
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,002
12 May 2002
15:00
Bath Rugby 22 - 24 London Wasps
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,000
12 May 2002
15:00
Leeds Tykes 17 - 50 Gloucester
Headingley
Attendance: 4,144
12 May 2002
15:00
Leicester Tigers 34 - 16 London Irish
Welford Road
Attendance: 15,800
12 May 2002
15:00
Northampton Saints 24 - 19 Newcastle Falcons
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 9,292
12 May 2002
15:00
Sale Sharks 40 - 11 NEC Harlequins
Heywood Road
Attendance: 5,678
12 May 2002
15:00
Saracens 26 - 28 Bristol Shoguns
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,726

Playoff

Seeding

Seed Team Table points Wins Points diff
1 Leicester Tigers 8318+309
2 Sale Sharks 6914+72
3 Gloucester 6814+207
4 London Irish 5711+109
5 Northampton Saints 5612+80
6 Newcastle Falcons 5612+32
7 London Wasps 5412+12
8 Bristol Shoguns 50932

Quarter-finals

18 May 2002
Leicester Tigers 13 27 Bristol Shoguns
Report
Welford Road
Attendance: 4,771
Referee: Chris White
18 May 2002
Gloucester 60 9 Newcastle Falcons
Report
Kingsholm
Attendance: 5,776
Referee: Steve Lander
19 May 2002
London Irish 14 38 Northampton Saints
Report
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 3,336
Referee: Dave Pearson
19 May 2002
Sale Sharks 43 27 London Wasps
Report
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,283
Referee: Tony Spreadbury

Semi-finals

1 June 2002
Bristol Shoguns 32 24 Northampton Saints
report
Memorial Ground
Attendance: 5,292
Referee: Chris White
2 June 2002
Sale Sharks 11 33 Gloucester
Report
Heywood Road
Attendance: 4,298
Referee: Steve Lander

Final

8 June 2002
Bristol Shoguns 23 28 Gloucester
T-Pichot, Johnstone
P-Contepomi (3)
C-Contepomi (2)
Report T-Boer
P-Mercier (7)
C-Mercier
Twickenham
Attendance: 28,500
Referee: Roy Maybank
Lee Best
Jamie Williams
David Rees
Jason Little (Capt)
Phil Christophers
Felipe Contepomi
Agustin Pichot
Neil McCarthy
Darren Crompton
Julian White
Gareth Archer
Alex Brown
Craig Short
Michael Lipman
Ben Sturnham
Replacements:
Shane Drahm
Paul Johnstone
Ross Beattie
Andrew Sheridan
Coach:
Dean Ryan
Henry Paul
Dylan O’Leary
Terry Fanolua
Robert Todd
Ludovic Mercier
Andy Gomarsall
Patrice Collazo
Tom Beim
Olivier Azam
Phil Vickery (Capt)
Rob Fidler
James Forrester
Ed Pearce
Jake Boer
Junior Paramore
Replacements:
Chris Catling
Trevor Woodman
Chris Fortey
Craig Gillies
Koli Sewabu
Coach:
Laurent Seigne

Leading scorers

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 have not earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.

Total Season Attendances

Club Home
Games
Total Average Highest Lowest % Capacity
Bath1188,5318,0488,2007,65698%
Bristol Shoguns1263,7965,31610,0213,63244%
Gloucester12109,1459,09511,0005,77683%
Harlequins1173,5866,6909,0005,22078%
Leeds Tykes1145,5724,1437,1622,03419%
Leicester Tigers12173,99714,50016,2514,77189%
London Irish1283,1276,92712,8733,33629%
London Wasps1164,4755,8619,6213,50732%
Newcastle Falcons1160,2155,4747,4904,24855%
Northampton Saints11102,3009,30011,7007,87379%
Sale Sharks1358,1094,4705,6783,28382%
Saracens1192,2728,38813,2574,32538%

References

  1. "2001-02 Premiership Rugby top points scorers". ESPNScrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  2. "2001-02 Premiership Rugby top try scorers". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
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