2003–04 Premiership Rugby

The 2003-04 Zurich Premiership was the 17th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions.

2003-2004 Zurich Premiership
Countries England
ChampionsLondon Wasps (4th title)
Runners-upBath
RelegatedRotherham Titans
Matches played137
Attendance1,241,557
(average 9,062 per match)

Rotherham were relegated after failing to win a single match all season.

Participating teams

Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bath Bath 9,980 Bath, Somerset
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 16,815 Leicester, Leicestershire
London Irish Madejski Stadium 24,161 Reading, Berkshire
London Wasps The Causeway Stadium 10,000 High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Newcastle Falcons Kingston Park 10,000 Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Northampton Saints Franklin's Gardens 12,100 Northampton, Northamptonshire
Rotherham Titans Millmoor 11,158 Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Sale Edgeley Park 10,641 Stockport, 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
1Bath221804508311+19745244379
CLondon Wasps221606575406+16959376373
3Northampton Saints221516574416+15861486270
4Gloucester221408491412+7951414363
5Leicester Tigers*221138537430+10753374255
6Harlequins2210210502449+5350434654
7Sale Sharks229310510472+3856505653
8London Irish2210111427454-2730371649
9Newcastle Falcons227213497525-2853554945
10Saracens*228113397543-14640563339
11Leeds Tykes227114449588-13947594337
RRotherham Titans220022309770-4613290033
Source:Guinness Premiership
* Leicester and Saracens deducted one point each for fielding an ineligible player. Green background denotes qualification for playoffs. These teams and those highlighted in blue qualified for the 2004–05 Heineken Cup.

Results

Week 1

12 September 2003
19:45
Sale Sharks 37 37 Northampton Saints
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 8,105
13 September 2003
14:45
Harlequins 33 27 London Wasps
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,223
13 September 2003
15:00
Gloucester 22 8 Rotherham Titans
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,114
13 September 2003
15:00
Leicester Tigers 29 19 London Irish
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,029
14 September 2003
14:30
Leeds Tykes 32 44 Bath
Headingley
Attendance: 4,093
14 September 2003
15:00
Newcastle Falcons 20 25 Saracens
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,012

Week 2

20 September 2003
14:15
Bath 24 6 Northampton Saints
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,381
20 September 2003
14:45
Rotherham Titans 15 43 Harlequins
Millmoor
Attendance: 4,003
21 September 2003
15:00
London Irish 16 10 Gloucester
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,968
21 September 2003
15:00
London Wasps 33 10 Leeds Tykes
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 5,721
21 September 2003
15:00
Newcastle Falcons 9 8 Sale Sharks
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,628
21 September 2003
15:00
Saracens 19 19 Leicester Tigers
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,730

Week 3

26 September 2003
19:45
Leicester Tigers 28 21 Newcastle Falcons
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
26 September 2003
19:45
Sale Sharks 9 14 Bath
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 6,500
26 September 2003
20:00
Leeds Tykes 23 13 Rotherham Titans
Headingley
Attendance: 4,842
27 September 2003
14:45
Gloucester 30 7 Saracens
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,050
27 September 2003
15:00
Harlequins 15 10 London Irish
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,523
27 September 2003
15:00
Northampton Saints 27 17 London Wasps
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 10,571

Week 4

4 October 2003
14:45
Leicester Tigers 16 22 Sale Sharks
Welford Road
Attendance: 15,507
4 October 2003
15:00
Rotherham Titans 13 42 Northampton Saints
Millmoor
Attendance: 3,118
5 October 2003
14:00
London Wasps 19 20 Bath
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 7,767
5 October 2003
15:00
London Irish 31 16 Leeds Tykes
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 5,725
5 October 2003
15:00
Newcastle Falcons 42 22 Gloucester
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,102
5 October 2003
15:00
Saracens 39 33 Harlequins
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,380

Week 5

10 October 2003
19:45
Sale Sharks 33 37 London Wasps
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 5,803
11 October 2003
14:15
Bath 47 3 Rotherham Titans
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,733
11 October 2003
14:45
Gloucester 24 3 Leicester Tigers
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
11 October 2003
15:00
Harlequins 18 11 Newcastle Falcons
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,523
11 October 2003
15:00
Northampton Saints 24 30 London Irish
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 10,384
12 October 2003
15:00
Leeds Tykes 41 31 Saracens
Headingley
Attendance: 2,888

Week 6

17 October 2003
19:45
Rotherham Titans 14 28 Sale Sharks
Millmoor
Attendance: 2,229
18 October 2003
15:30
Harlequins 0 16 Gloucester
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,223
18 October 2003
16:00
Northampton Saints 33 20 Newcastle Falcons
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 9,923
19 October 2003
14:00
Bath 25 3 Saracens
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,154
19 October 2003
14:30
Leeds Tykes 39 18 Leicester Tigers
Headingley
Attendance: 4,073
19 October 2003
15:00
London Wasps 22 15 London Irish
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 6,463

Week 7

25 October 2003
14:45
Newcastle Falcons 19 17 Bath
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,885
25 October 2003
15:00
Gloucester 24 19 Leeds Tykes
Kingsholm
Attendance: 9,832
25 October 2003
15:00
Leicester Tigers 15 32 Northampton Saints
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
25 October 2003
15:00
Harlequins 21 30 Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,123
26 October 2003
15:00
London Irish 47 26 Rotherham Titans
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 5,831
26 October 2003
15:00
Saracens 3 42 London Wasps
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,950

Week 8

31 October 2003
19:45
Sale Sharks 26 28 London Irish
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 5,605
31 October 2003
20:00
Leeds Tykes 16 30 Harlequins
Headingley
Attendance: 3,205
1 November 2003
14:15
Bath 31 17 Leicester Tigers
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,980
1 November 2003
14:45
Northampton Saints 30 17 Gloucester
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 11,026
1 November 2003
15:00
Rotherham Titans 12 25 Saracens
Millmoor
Attendance: 2,500
2 November 2003
15:00
London Wasps 30 26 Newcastle Falcons
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 5,151

Week 9

8 November 2003
14:45
Sale Sharks 37 21 Leeds Tykes
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 3,367
8 November 2003
15:00
Gloucester 14 20 Bath
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
8 November 2003
15:00
Leicester Tigers 32 22 London Wasps
Welford Road
Attendance: 15,384
8 November 2003
15:00
Harlequins 43 21 Northampton Saints
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,223
9 November 2003
15:00
Newcastle Falcons 56 10 Rotherham Titans
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,452
9 November 2003
15:00
Saracens 31 34 London Irish
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,013

Week 10

21 November 2003
19:45
London Wasps 20 12 Gloucester
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 7,288
21 November 2003
19:45
Sale Sharks 33 3 Saracens
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 5,487
22 November 2003
14:15
Bath 18 10 Harlequins
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,980
22 November 2003
15:00
Northampton Saints 48 24 Leeds Tykes
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 11,292
22 November 2003
16:00
Rotherham Titans 17 27 Leicester Tigers
Millmoor
Attendance: 2,900
23 November 2003
15:00
London Irish 15 19 Newcastle Falcons
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 6,791

Week 11

29 November 2003
14:45
Newcastle Falcons 20 23 London Wasps
Kingston Park
Attendance: 10,001
29 November 2003
15:00
Gloucester 28 20 Northampton Saints
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
29 November 2003
15:00
Leicester Tigers 12 13 Bath
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
29 November 2003
15:00
Harlequins 9 16 Leeds Tykes
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,123
30 November 2003
15:00
London Irish 9 3 Sale Sharks
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,488
30 November 2003
15:00
Saracens 29 10 Rotherham Titans
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,680

Week 12

19 December 2003
19:45
Sale Sharks 27 27 Harlequins
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 6,643
20 December 2003
13:00
Rotherham Titans 10 15 London Irish
Millmoor
Attendance: 1,910
20 December 2003
14:15
Bath 20 10 Newcastle Falcons
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,800
20 December 2003
14:45
Northampton Saints 14 0 Leicester Tigers
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,150
21 December 2003
14:30
Leeds Tykes 22 18 Gloucester
Headingley
Attendance: 7,467
21 December 2003
15:00
London Wasps 41 0 Saracens
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 9,350

Week 13

27 December 2003
15:00
Gloucester 18 17 Harlequins
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
27 December 2003
15:00
Leicester Tigers 39 11 Leeds Tykes
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
27 December 2003
15:00
Sale Sharks 35 7 Rotherham Titans
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 8,797
27 December 2003
15:00
Saracens 15 24 Bath
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 11,477
27 December 2003
15:15
London Irish 19 34 London Wasps
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 20,318
28 December 2003
14:30
Newcastle Falcons 23 19 Northampton Saints
Kingston Park
Attendance: 10,000

Week 14

1 January 2004
15:00
Saracens 27 3 Leeds Tykes
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,350
3 January 2004
14:45
Leicester Tigers 18 28 Gloucester
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
4 January 2004
14:30
Newcastle Falcons 25 29 Harlequins
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,975
4 January 2004
15:00
London Irish 15 36 Northampton Saints
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 10,004
4 January 2004
15:00
London Wasps 26 10 Sale Sharks
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 9,506
4 January 2004
15:00
Rotherham Titans 18 34 Bath
Millmoor
Attendance: 6,894

Week 15

6 February 2004
19:45
Sale Sharks 3 3 Leicester Tigers
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,541
6 February 2004
20:00
Leeds Tykes 9 16 London Irish
Headingley
Attendance: 3,230
7 February 2004
14:40
Bath 6 10 London Wasps
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,980
7 February 2004
15:00
Gloucester 36 12 Newcastle Falcons
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
7 February 2004
15:00
Harlequins 12 10 Saracens
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 8,170
7 February 2004
15:00
Northampton Saints 18 8 Rotherham Titans
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 10,839

Week 16

14 February 2004
15:00
Rotherham Titans 20 27 London Wasps
Millmoor
Attendance: 2,200
14 February 2004
18:00
Gloucester 38 12 Sale Sharks
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,993
15 February 2004
13:00
Saracens 18 22 Northampton Saints
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,651
15 February 2004
13:30
Newcastle Falcons 25 28 Leeds Tykes
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,503

Week 17

21 February 2004
14:15
Bath 22 13 Leeds Tykes
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,818
21 February 2004
14:30
London Irish 9 22 Leicester Tigers
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 10,836
21 February 2004
15:00
Northampton Saints 51 12 Sale Sharks
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 11,756
22 February 2004
15:00
Rotherham Titans 21 35 Gloucester
Millmoor
Attendance: 2,250
22 February 2004
15:00
Saracens 32 27 Newcastle Falcons
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,516
22 February 2004
18:00
London Wasps 22 21 Harlequins
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 8,549

Week 18

19 March 2004
19:45
Leicester Tigers 30 21 Harlequins
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
21 March 2004
15:00
London Irish 20 21 Bath
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 20,840

Week 19

26 March 2004
19:45
Sale Sharks 38 20 Gloucester
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 6,487
27 March 2004
14:15
Bath 23 21 London Irish
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,980
27 March 2004
15:00
Harlequins 20 23 Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,871
27 March 2004
15:00
Northampton Saints 24 3 Saracens
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,003
28 March 2004
14:30
Leeds Tykes 30 30 Newcastle Falcons
Headingley
Attendance: 4,907
28 March 2004
15:00
London Wasps 39 11 Rotherham Titans
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 6,757

Week 20

2 April 2004
19:45
Rotherham Titans 20 34 Leeds Tykes
Millmoor
Attendance: 2,750
3 April 2004
14:15
Bath 16 12 Sale Sharks
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,980
3 April 2004
14:45
Saracens 8 16 Gloucester
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,907
4 April 2004
15:00
London Irish 15 15 Harlequins
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,574
4 April 2004
15:00
London Wasps 31 5 Northampton Saints
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 10,000
4 April 2004
15:00
Newcastle Falcons 25 25 Leicester Tigers
Kingston Park
Attendance: 10,000

Week 21

16 April 2004
19:45
Leicester Tigers 38 10 Saracens
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
16 April 2004
19:45
Harlequins 43 20 Rotherham Titans
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 4,758
18 April 2004
14:00
Northampton Saints 16 6 Bath
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,005
18 April 2004
14:30
Leeds Tykes 7 11 London Wasps
Headingley
Attendance: 3,194
18 April 2004
16:00
Gloucester 28 13 London Irish
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000

Week 22

23 April 2004
19:45
Sale Sharks 41 16 Newcastle Falcons
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,486

Week 23

1 May 2004
14:45
Gloucester 28 25 London Wasps
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
1 May 2004
15:00
Leicester Tigers 75 13 Rotherham Titans
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
2 May 2004
14:00
Harlequins 25 22 Bath
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,870
2 May 2004
14:30
Leeds Tykes 15 31 Northampton Saints
Headingley
Attendance: 4,239
2 May 2004
15:00
Newcastle Falcons 15 16 London Irish
Kingston Park
Attendance: 8,723
2 May 2004
15:00
Saracens 39 23 Sale Sharks
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,917

Week 24

8 May 2004
15:00
Bath 41 7 Gloucester
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,980
8 May 2004
15:00
Leeds Tykes 20 31 Sale Sharks
Headingley
Attendance: 4,036
8 May 2004
15:00
London Irish 14 20 Saracens
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,856
8 May 2004
15:00
London Wasps 17 48 Leicester Tigers
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 10,000
8 May 2004
15:00
Northampton Saints 18 17 Harlequins
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,048
8 May 2004
15:00
Rotherham Titans 20 26 Newcastle Falcons
Don Valley Stadium
Attendance: 5,203

Play-offs

As for the 2002–03 season, the first placed team automatically qualified for the final where they played the winner of the second vs third place semi-final.

Semi-final

16 May 2004
14:00
London Wasps 57 20 Northampton Saints
Report

Final

29 May 2004
18:00
Bath 6 10 London Wasps
P-Malone (1)
DG-Malone (1)
Report T-Abbott (1)
C-van Gisbergen (1)
DG-King (1)
Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 59,500
Mike Catt
Andrew Higgins
Robbie Fleck
Mike Tindall
Alex Crockett
Chris Malone
Martyn Wood
Zak Feunati
Michael Lipman
Andy Beattie
Danny Grewcock
Steve Borthwick
Duncan Bell
Jonathan Humphreys (capt)
David Barnes
Replacements:
Hentie Martens
Lee Mears
Matt Stevens
Olly Barkley
Spencer Davey
James Scaysbrook
Rob Fidler
Coach:
Mark van Gisbergen
Josh Lewsey
Fraser Waters
Stuart Abbott
Tom Voyce
Alex King
Rob Howley
Lawrence Dallaglio (capt)
Paul Volley
Joe Worsley
Richard Birkett
Simon Shaw
Will Green
Trevor Leota
Tim Payne
Replacements:
Henry Nwume
Mark Lock
Ben Gotting
Martin Purdy
Peter Richards
Mark Denney
Ayoola Erinle
Coach:
Warren Gatland

Zurich Wildcard

The Zurich Wildcard was contested by the teams placed fourth through seventh in the final table.

Semi finals

15 May 2004
Gloucester 44 35 Sale Sharks
Kingsholm, Gloucester
Attendance: 4,859

Despite winning this match, Gloucester forfeited their place in the final as English teams were awarded an additional Heineken Cup qualification place due to London Wasps winning the 2003–04 Heineken Cup. This additional place was awarded to Gloucester as the next highest placed team in the league not automatically qualified.[1][2]

26 May 2004
Leicester Tigers 43 26 Harlequins
Welford Road, Leicester
Attendance: 12,004

Final

29 May 2004
Sale Sharks 27 48 Leicester Tigers
Twickenham, London
Attendance: 30,000

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
Bath11106,7669,7069,9808,73397%
Gloucester12122,84810,23711,0004,85993%
Harlequins1174,6306,7858,1704,75880%
Leeds Tykes1146,1744,1987,4672,88819%
Leicester Tigers12193,44416,12016,81512,00496%
London Irish11117,23110,65720,8405,72544%
London Wasps1292,7717,73110,0005,15177%
Newcastle Falcons1183,2817,57110,0014,88576%
Northampton Saints11122,56311,14212,1509,92392%
Rotherham Titans1135,9573,2696,8941,91030%
Sale Sharks1176,8216,98410,5413,36766%
Saracens1179,5717,23411,4775,01333%

References

  1. Gloucester 44 Sale 35
  2. "Gloucester and Sale Win With Wasps!". Archived from the original on 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  3. "2003-04 Premiership Rugby top points scorers". ESPNScrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  4. "2003-04 Premiership Rugby top try scorers". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
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