1998–99 Premiership Rugby

1998-1999 Allied Dunbar Premiership
Countries England
ChampionsLeicester Tigers (3rd title)
Runners-upNorthampton Saints
RelegatedWest Hartlepool
Matches played182
Attendance1,002,308
(average 5,507 per match)

The 1998–1999 English Premiership (called the Allied Dunbar Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was the 12th season of the league at the top of the English rugby union pyramid, the Premiership (rugby union).

This was the second season under the sponsorship of Allied Dunbar.

The league was expanded to include 14 teams instead of 12, with London Scottish, West Hartlepool and Bedford Blues being elected to the premiership. The league commenced on 5 September 1998 and finished on 20 May 1999.

Participating teams

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Locations of the 1998–99 Allied Dunbar Premiership teams
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Greater London Allied Dunbar Premiership clubs
Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bath Recreation Ground 8,200 Bath, Somerset
Bedford Goldington Road 6,000 Bedford, Bedfordshire
Gloucester Kingsholm 11,000 Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Harlequins The Stoop 8,500 Twickenham, London
Leicester Tigers Welford Road 16,000 Leicester, Leicestershire
London Irish The Avenue 6,600 Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey
London Scottish The Stoop 8,500 Twickenham, London
Newcastle Falcons Kingston Park[n 1] 10,000 Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Northampton Saints Franklin's Gardens 10,000 Northampton, Northamptonshire
Richmond Madejski Stadium 24,161 Reading, Berkshire
Sale Heywood Road 5,400 Sale, Greater Manchester
Saracens Vicarage Road 22,000 Watford, Hertfordshire
Wasps Loftus Road 18,439 Shepherd's Bush, London
West Hartlepool Victoria Park 7,856 Hartlepool, County Durham
Notes
  1. ^ *Newcastle would also play 3 home games on at the Gateshead International Stadium in Gateshead on 12 September 1998, 27 September 1998 and 11 October 1998

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Pts Qualification
1 Leicester Tigers (C) 26 22 0 4 771 423 +348 86 34 44 Champion
2 Northampton Saints 26 19 0 7 754 556 +198 85 64 38
3 Saracens 26 16 1 9 748 583 +165 82 59 33
4 Harlequins 26 16 1 9 690 653 +37 64 75 33
5 Wasps 26 15 1 10 717 506 +211 80 45 31
6 Bath 26 15 0 11 698 574 +124 81 68 30
7 London Irish 26 15 0 11 703 607 +96 75 65 30
8 Newcastle Falcons 26 14 0 12 719 639 +80 85 69 28
9 Richmond[a] (A) 26 11 2 13 720 715 +5 96 75 24 Placed into administration
10 Gloucester 26 9 1 16 554 643 −89 58 67 19
11 Sale Sharks 26 9 1 16 604 731 −127 76 80 19
12 London Scottish[a] (A) 26 8 0 18 491 734 −243 40 85 16 Placed into administration
13 Bedford Blues 26 6 0 20 541 840 −299 63 101 12
14 West Hartlepool (R) 26 3 1 22 501 1007 −506 50 134 7 Relegated
Source: [citation needed]
(A) Placed into administration; (C) Champion; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b At the end of the 1998–99 season, Richmond and London Scottish were placed into administration and merged with London Irish, and thus did not compete in the subsequent season.

Results

Week 1

5 September 1998
14:15
Richmond41–29Newcastle Falcons
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,530
5 September 1998
15:00
Bath Rugby36–27Wasps
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,000
5 September 1998
15:00
Gloucester29–22London Irish
Kingsholm
Attendance: 5,267
5 September 1998
15:00
Leicester Tigers49–15NEC Harlequins
Welford Road
Attendance: 13,130
5 September 1998
15:00
London Scottish25–20Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 1,300
6 September 1998
15:00
Saracens34–7Northampton Saints
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,243

Week 2

12 September 1998
14:15
Newcastle Falcons19–17Bath Rugby
Gateshead International Stadium
Attendance: 3,000
12 September 1998
15:00
London Scottish3–38Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 2,138
12 September 1998
15:00
Northampton Saints25–6NEC Harlequins
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 5,870
12 September 1998
15:00
Richmond22–25Gloucester
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,054
12 September 1998
15:00
Sale Sharks39–21Bedford Blues
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,100
13 September 1998
15:00
West Hartlepool20–44London Irish
Victoria Park
Attendance: 2,059

Week 3

19 September 1998
14:15
Leicester Tigers35–25Northampton Saints
Welford Road
Attendance: 13,292
19 September 1998
15:00
Bath Rugby36–14Richmond
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,600
19 September 1998
15:00
Bedford Blues24–16London Scottish
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,347
19 September 1998
15:00
London Irish24–36Wasps
The Avenue
Attendance: 3,800
20 September 1998
15:00
Gloucester36–3West Hartlepool
Kingsholm
Attendance: 5,576
20 September 1998
15:00
Saracens43–26Sale Sharks
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,597

Week 4

26 September 1998
14:15
Bedford Blues23–32Leicester Tigers
Goldington Road
Attendance: 4,165
26 September 1998
15:00
Bath Rugby21–16Gloucester
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
26 September 1998
15:00
London Scottish20–58Saracens
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 2,412
26 September 1998
15:00
Sale Sharks44–34NEC Harlequins
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,200
27 September 1998
15:00
Wasps71–14West Hartlepool
Loftus Road
Attendance: 2,797
27 September 1998
15:00
Newcastle Falcons21–23London Irish
Gateshead International Stadium
Attendance: 4,184

Week 5

3 October 1998
14:15
Gloucester12–13Wasps
Kingsholm
Attendance: 5,821
3 October 1998
15:00
Bath Rugby57–19Bedford Blues
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 6,000
3 October 1998
15:00
London Irish29–33Richmond
The Avenue
Attendance: 3,900
3 October 1998
15:00
NEC Harlequins22–20London Scottish
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 3,609
3 October 1998
15:00
Northampton Saints37–17Sale Sharks
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 6,464
4 October 1998
15:00
West Hartlepool19–24Newcastle Falcons
Victoria Park
Attendance: 2,702

Week 6

10 October 1998
15:00
Bath Rugby23–20London Irish
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,000
10 October 1998
15:00
Bedford Blues35–33NEC Harlequins
Goldington Road
Attendance: 3,521
10 October 1998
15:00
Richmond41–23West Hartlepool
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 4,357
10 October 1998
18:00
London Scottish22–33Northampton Saints
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 1,900
11 October 1998
15:00
Newcastle Falcons27–19Wasps
Gateshead International Stadium
Attendance: 4,284
11 October 1998
15:00
Saracens22–10Leicester Tigers
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 17,347

Week 7

17 October 1998
14:15
NEC Harlequins41–28Saracens
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,396
17 October 1998
15:00
Gloucester41–32Newcastle Falcons
Kingsholm
Attendance: 6,915
17 October 1998
15:00
Leicester Tigers31–15Sale Sharks
Welford Road
Attendance: 9,861
17 October 1998
15:00
Northampton Saints34–29Bedford Blues
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 6,739
17 October 1998
15:00
West Hartlepool20–50Bath Rugby
Victoria Park
Attendance: 1,743
18 October 1998
15:00
London Wasps22–27Richmond
Loftus Road
Attendance: 6,778

Week 7

20 October 1998
19:30
London Irish24–23Leicester Tigers
The Avenue
Attendance: 2,950
20 October 1998
19:30
NEC Harlequins39–7Gloucester
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 4,174
20 October 1998
19:30
West Hartlepool3–52Saracens
Victoria Park
Attendance: 2,000
21 October 1998
19:45
Wasps35–19Bedford Blues
Loftus Road
Attendance: 3,216
24 October 1998
14:15
Leicester Tigers27–0Richmond
Welford Road
Attendance: 8,443
24 October 1998
15:00
Bath Rugby27–3Sale Sharks
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 6,800
24 October 1998
15:00
Bedford Blues22–29Newcastle Falcons
Goldington Road
Attendance: 3,902
24 October 1998
15:00
London Irish10–26Northampton Saints
The Avenue
Attendance: 2,560
24 October 1998
15:00
NEC Harlequins25–10West Hartlepool
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 2,476
25 October 1998
15:00
Gloucester29–16London Scottish
Kingsholm
Attendance: 6,000
25 October 1998
15:00
Saracens17–31London Wasps
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 11,261

Week 8

28 October 1998
19:45
Sale Sharks10–39Richmond
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,500
31 October 1998
14:15
Newcastle Falcons43–12Saracens
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,833
31 October 1998
15:00
London Scottish13–11Bath Rugby
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 2,267
31 October 1998
15:00
Northampton Saints22–8Gloucester
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 7,284
1 November 1998
15:00
Wasps21–22NEC Harlequins
Loftus Road
Attendance: 6,627
1 November 1998
15:00
Richmond38–32Bedford Blues
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 6,541
1 November 1998
15:00
West Hartlepool15–45Leicester Tigers
Victoria Park
Attendance: 1,846

Week 9

7 November 1998
14:15
Leicester Tigers36–13Bath Rugby
Welford Road
Attendance: 15,873
7 November 1998
15:00
Gloucester31–21Bedford Blues
Kingsholm
Attendance: 5,147
7 November 1998
15:00
London Irish25–31Sale Sharks
The Avenue
Attendance: 2,300
7 November 1998
15:00
NEC Harlequins25–20Newcastle Falcons
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,974
7 November 1998
15:00
Northampton Saints26–21Wasps
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 6,722
8 November 1998
15:00
Saracens33–17Richmond
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,217

Week 10

13 November 1998
19:30
Sale Sharks42–26West Hartlepool
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,338
14 November 1998
15:00
London Scottish17–23London Irish
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 3,000
15 November 1998
15:00
Bedford Blues20–25Saracens
Goldington Road
Attendance: 5,125
15 November 1998
15:00
Wasps45–17Leicester Tigers
Loftus Road
Attendance: 6,027
15 November 1998
15:00
Newcastle Falcons45–35Northampton Saints
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,293

Week 11

21 November 1998
14:15
Northampton Saints44–27Richmond
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 5,978
21 November 1998
15:00
Gloucester28–27Saracens
Kingsholm
Attendance: 6,627
21 November 1998
15:00
London Irish30–19Bedford Blues
The Avenue
Attendance: 2,200
21 November 1998
15:00
NEC Harlequins43–31Bath Rugby
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,875
22 November 1998
15:00
Wasps32–19Sale Sharks
Loftus Road
Attendance: 3,865
22 November 1998
15:00
West Hartlepool7–37London Scottish
Victoria Park
Attendance: 1,837

Week 12

12 December 1998
14:00
Sale Sharks26–10Gloucester
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,200
12 December 1998
15:00
Bath Rugby9–15Northampton Saints
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
12 December 1998
15:00
Bedford Blues10–23West Hartlepool
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,398
12 December 1998
15:00
Leicester Tigers31–18Newcastle Falcons
Welford Road
Attendance: 11,226
12 December 1998
15:00
London Scottish9–17Wasps
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 2,159
13 December 1998
15:00
Saracens40–26London Irish
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,373

Week 13

19 December 1998
14:00
Bath Rugby11–19Saracens
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
19 December 1998
15:00
Gloucester18–23Leicester Tigers
Kingsholm
Attendance: 7,222
19 December 1998
15:00
London Irish20–16NEC Harlequins
The Avenue
Attendance: 5,460
19 December 1998
18:00
London Scottish16–28Richmond
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 1,540
20 December 1998
15:00
Newcastle Falcons30–15Sale Sharks
Kingston Park
Attendance: 3,020
20 December 1998
15:00
West Hartlepool9–33Northampton Saints
Victoria Park
Attendance: 1,613

Week 14

26 December 1998
15:00
Leicester Tigers26–0Bedford Blues
Welford Road
Attendance: 10,689
26 December 1998
15:00
Richmond13–25London Irish
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,621
27 December 1998
15:00
Wasps23–9Gloucester
Loftus Road
Attendance: 5,362
27 December 1998
15:00
NEC Harlequins17–15Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,100
27 December 1998
15:00
Newcastle Falcons29–13West Hartlepool
Kingston Park
Attendance: 3,403
27 December 1998
15:15
Saracens7–24London Scottish
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,257

Week 15

2 January 1999
14:00
Gloucester23–7Bath Rugby
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,109
2 January 1999
15:00
London Irish16–14Newcastle Falcons
The Avenue
Attendance: 4,250
2 January 1999
15:00
London Scottish24–35NEC Harlequins
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 4,600
2 January 1999
15:00
Sale Sharks24–39Northampton Saints
Heywood Road
Attendance: 4,300
3 January 1999
15:00
Saracens44–13Bedford Blues
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,593
3 January 1999
15:00
West Hartlepool21–17Wasps
Victoria Park
Attendance: 2,133

Week 16

5 January 1999
19:30
London Scottish24–13Gloucester
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 850
5 January 1999
19:30
Newcastle Falcons34–23Bedford Blues
Kingston Park
Attendance: 2,070
5 January 1999
19:30
Northampton Saints8–32London Irish
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 7,450
5 January 1999
19:30
Sale Sharks30–32Bath Rugby
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,500
6 January 1999
19:30
Wasps15–15Saracens
Loftus Road
Attendance: 8,534

Week 17

16 January 1999
14:30
Leicester Tigers24–12London Scottish
Welford Road
Attendance: 9,985
16 January 1999
15:00
Bath Rugby16–11Newcastle Falcons
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
16 January 1999
15:00
London Irish43–21West Hartlepool
The Avenue
Attendance: 2,129
16 January 1999
15:00
NEC Harlequins17–24Northampton Saints
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 8,500
16 January 1999
16:15
Gloucester24–24Richmond
Kingsholm
Attendance: 4,811

Week 18

23 January 1999
14:00
NEC Harlequins17–22London Irish
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,824
23 January 1999
14:30
Leicester Tigers23–16Gloucester
Welford Road
Attendance: 11,394
23 January 1999
15:00
Bedford Blues17–30Bath Rugby
Goldington Road
Attendance: 3,673
23 January 1999
15:00
Northampton Saints19–14West Hartlepool
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 6,023
23 January 1999
15:00
Richmond40–22London Scottish
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 3,445
23 January 1999
15:00
Sale Sharks20–28Newcastle Falcons
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,500
26 January 1999
20:00
Richmond11–23Leicester Tigers
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,981

Week 19

6 February 1999
15:00
NEC Harlequins9–34Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,212
6 February 1999
15:00
Northampton Saints18–21Saracens
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 8,253
6 February 1999
15:00
Sale Sharks7–23London Scottish
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,200
7 February 1999
14:30
Wasps35–0Bath Rugby
Loftus Road
Attendance: 9,526
7 February 1999
15:00
London Irish42–20Gloucester
The Avenue
Attendance: 5,020

Week 20

13 February 1999
14:00
Leicester Tigers31–10London Irish
Welford Road
Attendance: 15,132
13 February 1999
15:00
Bedford Blues25–23Wasps
Goldington Road
Attendance: 3,440
13 February 1999
15:00
Gloucester20–31NEC Harlequins
Kingsholm
Attendance: 6,046
13 February 1999
15:00
London Scottish27–17Newcastle Falcons
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 2,101
14 February 1999
15:00
Richmond29–24Sale Sharks
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 4,695
14 February 1999
15:00
Saracens48–27West Hartlepool
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,872

Week 21

27 February 1999
15:00
Bedford Blues7–18Sale Sharks
Goldington Road
Attendance: 3,139

Week 22

13 March 1999
15:00
London Scottish15–24Bedford Blues
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 1,273
13 March 1999
15:00
Richmond23–30Bath Rugby
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 10,096
13 March 1999
15:00
Sale Sharks32–24Saracens
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,570
13 March 1999
16:00
Northampton Saints15–22Leicester Tigers
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 10,000
14 March 1999
15:00
Wasps38–27London Irish
Loftus Road
Attendance: 6,048
14 March 1999
15:00
West Hartlepool33–32Gloucester
Victoria Park
Attendance: 1,300

Week 23

27 March 1999
15:00
Bedford Blues19–15Gloucester
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,417
27 March 1999
15:00
Leicester Tigers16–6Wasps
Welford Road
Attendance: 12,449
27 March 1999
15:00
London Irish35–12London Scottish
The Avenue
Attendance: 4,400
27 March 1999
15:00
NEC Harlequins32–32Richmond
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,600
27 March 1999
15:00
Northampton Saints57–16Newcastle Falcons
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 6,540
28 March 1999
15:00
Saracens14–33Bath Rugby
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 14,219
28 March 1999
15:00
West Hartlepool33–33Sale Sharks
Victoria Park
Attendance: 1,531

Week 24

31 March 1999
19:30
Newcastle Falcons43–20London Scottish
Kingston Park
Attendance: 2,506
3 April 1999
15:00
Bath Rugby24–16Leicester Tigers
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,500
3 April 1999
15:00
Sale Sharks30–27London Irish
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,515

Week 25

13 April 1999
19:45
London Wasps15–24Northampton Saints
Loftus Road
Attendance: 3,126
17 April 1999
14:15
Leicester Tigers25–18Saracens
Welford Road
Attendance: 13,823
17 April 1999
15:00
London Irish47–22Bath Rugby
The Avenue
Attendance: 6,600
17 April 1999
15:00
NEC Harlequins29–16Bedford Blues
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 3,828
17 April 1999
15:00
Northampton Saints44–13London Scottish
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 7,108
18 April 1999
15:00
Wasps34–33Newcastle Falcons
Loftus Road
Attendance: 5,104
18 April 1999
15:00
West Hartlepool35–36Richmond
Victoria Park
Attendance: 1,206

Week 26

21 April 1999
19:30
Newcastle Falcons47–14Richmond
Kingston Park
Attendance: 2,728
21 April 1999
19:30
West Hartlepool37–47NEC Harlequins
Victoria Park
Attendance: 1,107
24 April 1999
15:00
Bath Rugby56–24West Hartlepool
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 6,500
24 April 1999
15:00
Bedford Blues31–42Northampton Saints
Goldington Road
Attendance: 4,689
24 April 1999
15:00
Sale Sharks17–41Leicester Tigers
Heywood Road
Attendance: 4,800
25 April 1999
15:00
Newcastle Falcons39–15Gloucester
Kingston Park
Attendance: 3,748
25 April 1999
15:00
Richmond5–29Wasps
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 3,594
25 April 1999
15:00
Saracens30–38NEC Harlequins
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,719

Week 27

1 May 1999
15:00
Gloucester24–34Sale Sharks
Kingsholm
Attendance: 4,528
1 May 1999
15:00
London Irish21–26Saracens
The Avenue
Attendance: 6,710
1 May 1999
15:00
Northampton Saints40–17Bath Rugby
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 8,843
2 May 1999
15:00
Wasps45–22London Scottish
Loftus Road
Attendance: 4,419
2 May 1999
15:00
Newcastle Falcons12–21Leicester Tigers
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,207
2 May 1999
15:00
West Hartlepool0–39Bedford Blues
Victoria Park
Attendance: 1,400
3 May 1999
15:00
Richmond23–30NEC Harlequins
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 3,300

Week 28

7 May 1999
19:45
Saracens26–10Gloucester
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,261
8 May 1999
15:00
Bath Rugby13–17NEC Harlequins
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
8 May 1999
15:00
Bedford Blues21–36London Irish
Goldington Road
Attendance: 3,572
8 May 1999
15:00
London Scottish26–14West Hartlepool
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 1,459
8 May 1999
15:00
Richmond19–31Northampton Saints
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 3,500
8 May 1999
15:00
Sale Sharks13–27Wasps
Heywood Road
Attendance: 4,495

Week 29

11 May 1999
19:30
Newcastle Falcons33–23NEC Harlequins
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,133
12 May 1999
20:00
Richmond18–25Saracens
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 2,613
15 May 1999
17:00
Bath Rugby76–13London Scottish
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 4,800
16 May 1999
15:00
Bedford Blues12–106Richmond
Goldington Road
Attendance: 1,308
16 May 1999
15:00
Gloucester43–31Northampton Saints
Kingsholm
Attendance: 4,935
16 May 1999
15:00
Leicester Tigers72–37West Hartlepool
Welford Road
Attendance: 12,958

Week 30

19 May 1999
19:30
NEC Harlequins27–20Wasps
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,232
20 May 1999
19:45
Saracens40–26Newcastle Falcons
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,982

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 did not yet earn international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.

References

  1. ^ "1998-99 Premiership Rugby top points scorers". ESPNScrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  2. ^ "1998-99 Premiership Rugby top try scorers". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.