2001–02 Premiership Rugby

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

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

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

class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2001-02 Zurich Premiership teams
Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bath Recreation Ground 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

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Leicester Tigers (C) 22 18 0 4 658 349 +309 72 19 10 1 83 Playoffs and
2002–03 Heineken Cup
2 Sale Sharks 22 14 1 7 589 517 +72 67 47 9 2 69
3 Gloucester 22 14 0 8 692 485 +207 68 45 8 4 68
4 London Irish 22 11 3 8 574 465 +109 46 37 3 4 57
5 Northampton Saints 22 12 1 9 506 426 +80 48 36 4 2 56
6 Newcastle Falcons 22 12 1 9 490 458 +32 43 40 3 3 56 Playoffs and
2002–03 Challenge Cup
7 London Wasps 22 12 0 10 519 507 +12 42 41 3 3 54
8 Bristol Shoguns 22 9 1 12 591 632 −41 55 66 7 5 50 Playoffs and
2002–03 Heineken Cup
9 Harlequins 22 5 3 14 434 507 −73 33 52 5 4 35 2002–03 Challenge Cup
10 Saracens 22 7 0 15 425 671 −246 33 68 1 5 34
11 Bath 22 7 0 15 311 524 −213 21 47 0 5 33
12 Leeds Tykes[a] 22 6 0 16 406 654 −248 38 68 2 2 28
Source: Guinness Premiership[permanent dead link‍]
Notes:
  1. ^ Leeds were reprieved of relegation due to inadequacies of Rotherham's ground.

Results

Week 1

1 September 2001
15:00
Gloucester22 - 9Northampton Saints
Kingsholm
Attendance: 8,682
1 September 2001
15:00
NEC Harlequins21 - 32London Irish
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,287
2 September 2001
14:00
Newcastle Falcons19 - 16Leicester Tigers
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,490
2 September 2001
14:30
Leeds Tykes10 - 6Bath Rugby
Headingley
Attendance: 5,181
2 September 2001
15:00
Bristol Shoguns25 - 35Sale Sharks
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,020
2 September 2001
15:00
London Wasps12 - 8Saracens
Loftus Road
Attendance: 5,929

Week 2

8 September 2001
14:00
NEC Harlequins32 - 38Bristol Shoguns
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,220
8 September 2001
14:00
Saracens34 - 30Gloucester
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,262
8 September 2001
14:15
Leicester Tigers45 - 15London Wasps
Welford Road
Attendance: 13,837
8 September 2001
15:00
Northampton Saints26 - 7Bath Rugby
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 10,241
8 September 2001
15:00
Sale Sharks37 - 11Newcastle Falcons
Heywood Road
Attendance: 4,865
9 September 2001
15:00
London Irish42 - 14Leeds Tykes
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 4,219

Week 3

15 September 2001
14:15
Bath Rugby20 - 27Saracens
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,968
15 September 2001
15:00
Gloucester18 - 40Leicester Tigers
Kingsholm
Attendance: 9,729
16 September 2001
14:30
Leeds Tykes6 - 26Northampton Saints
Headingley
Attendance: 4,080
16 September 2001
14:30
Newcastle Falcons6 - 6NEC Harlequins
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,551
16 September 2001
15:00
Bristol Shoguns19 - 19London Irish
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,000
16 September 2001
15:00
London Wasps21 - 40Sale Sharks
Loftus Road
Attendance: 4,403

Week 4

22 September 2001
13:00
Leicester Tigers48 - 9Bath Rugby
Welford Road
Attendance: 15,145
22 September 2001
15:00
NEC Harlequins33 - 13London Wasps
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,698
22 September 2001
15:00
Sale Sharks21 - 44Gloucester
Heywood Road
Attendance: 4,682
23 September 2001
15:00
Bristol Shoguns34 - 29Leeds Tykes
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,632
23 September 2001
15:00
London Irish18 - 22Newcastle Falcons
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 5,419
23 September 2001
15:00
Saracens25 - 20Northampton Saints
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,527

Week 5

13 October 2001
14:15
Bath Rugby20 - 17Sale Sharks
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,875
13 October 2001
15:00
Gloucester33 - 7NEC Harlequins
Kingsholm
Attendance: 8,005
13 October 2001
15:00
Northampton Saints11 - 21Leicester Tigers
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 11,700
14 October 2001
13:30
London Wasps15 - 20London Irish
Loftus Road
Attendance: 5,101
14 October 2001
14:30
Leeds Tykes27 - 14Saracens
Headingley
Attendance: 3,328
14 October 2001
14:30
Newcastle Falcons37 - 20Bristol Shoguns
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,401

Week 6

20 October 2001
12:35
Sale Sharks34 - 14Northampton Saints
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,612
20 October 2001
13:00
Leicester Tigers36 - 10Saracens
Welford Road
Attendance: 13,762
20 October 2001
13:00
NEC Harlequins15 - 8Bath Rugby
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,428
21 October 2001
14:30
Newcastle Falcons19 - 8Leeds Tykes
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,248
21 October 2001
15:00
Bristol Shoguns43 - 22London Wasps
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,174
21 October 2001
15:00
London Irish19 - 15Gloucester
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 5,937

Week 7

9 November 2001
19:30
Northampton Saints13 - 13NEC Harlequins
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 8,667
10 November 2001
12:30
Gloucester51 - 17Bristol Shoguns
Kingsholm
Attendance: 8,431
11 November 2001
14:15
Bath Rugby19 - 11London Irish
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,656
11 November 2001
14:30
Leeds Tykes37 - 16Leicester Tigers
Headingley
Attendance: 7,162
11 November 2001
15:00
London Wasps30 - 33Newcastle Falcons
Loftus Road
Attendance: 3,955
11 November 2001
15:00
Saracens26 - 25Sale Sharks
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,059

Week 8

16 November 2001
19:45
NEC Harlequins43 - 6Saracens
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,450
17 November 2001
12:30
Sale Sharks3 - 37Leicester Tigers
Heywood Road
Attendance: 5,429
18 November 2001
14:05
London Wasps64 - 14Leeds Tykes
Loftus Road
Attendance: 3,507
18 November 2001
14:30
Newcastle Falcons18 - 16Gloucester
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,576
18 November 2001
15:00
Bristol Shoguns31 - 17Bath Rugby
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 10,021
18 November 2001
15:00
London Irish48 - 12Northampton Saints
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 5,191

Week 9

22 November 2001
19:45
Saracens13 - 55London Irish
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,216
23 November 2001
19:30
Gloucester43 - 13London Wasps
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,171
23 November 2001
19:30
Leicester Tigers23 - 18NEC Harlequins
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,017
25 November 2001
14:15
Bath Rugby24 - 9Newcastle Falcons
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,903
25 November 2001
14:30
Leeds Tykes20 - 47Sale Sharks
Headingley
Attendance: 3,489
25 November 2001
14:30
Northampton Saints20 - 23Bristol Shoguns
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 7,873

Week 10

1 December 2001
14:00
Gloucester58 - 17Leeds Tykes
Kingsholm
Attendance: 7,516
1 December 2001
15:00
NEC Harlequins16 - 23Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,841
2 December 2001
14:30
Newcastle Falcons13 - 28Northampton Saints
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,048
2 December 2001
15:00
Bristol Shoguns22 - 25Saracens
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,450
2 December 2001
15:00
London Irish15 - 30Leicester Tigers
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 11,124
2 December 2001
15:00
London Wasps23 - 10Bath Rugby
Loftus Road
Attendance: 6,240

Week 11

8 December 2001
14:05
Sale Sharks19 - 19London Irish
Heywood Road
Attendance: 4,775
8 December 2001
14:15
Bath Rugby12 - 9Gloucester
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
8 December 2001
14:15
Leicester Tigers26 - 19Bristol Shoguns
Welford Road
Attendance: 15,519
8 December 2001
15:00
Northampton Saints23 - 10London Wasps
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 8,833
9 December 2001
14:00
Saracens19 - 24Newcastle Falcons
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,294
9 December 2001
14:30
Leeds Tykes23 - 18NEC Harlequins
Headingley
Attendance: 3,401

Week 12

22 December 2001
14:00
NEC Harlequins21 - 38Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 9,000
23 December 2001
15:00
London Irish30 - 23Saracens
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 8,246

Week 13

27 December 2001
15:00
Leicester Tigers33 - 10Sale Sharks
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,250
29 December 2001
14:00
Bath Rugby15 - 9Bristol Shoguns
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
29 December 2001
14:00
Gloucester29 - 25Newcastle Falcons
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
29 December 2001
15:00
Northampton Saints24 - 15London Irish
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 10,322
30 December 2001
14:30
Leeds Tykes18 - 28London Wasps
Headingley
Attendance: 5,166
30 December 2001
15:00
Saracens39 - 25NEC Harlequins
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 13,257

Week 14

26 January 2002
15:00
NEC Harlequins16 - 24Northampton Saints
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,882
27 January 2002
13:00
Newcastle Falcons22 - 23London Wasps
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,658

Week 15

9 February 2002
14:15
Bath Rugby18 - 9NEC Harlequins
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
9 February 2002
15:00
Gloucester29 - 22London Irish
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,112
9 February 2002
15:00
Northampton Saints10 - 20Sale Sharks
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 9,389
9 February 2002
18:30
Saracens7 - 48Leicester Tigers
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,347
10 February 2002
14:30
Leeds Tykes9 - 19Newcastle Falcons
Headingley
Attendance: 4,195
10 February 2002
15:00
London Wasps34 - 16Bristol Shoguns
Loftus Road
Attendance: 5,429

Week 16

23 February 2002
13:30
Sale Sharks20 - 14Bath Rugby
Heywood Road
Attendance: 5,392
23 February 2002
14:15
Leicester Tigers17 - 6Northampton Saints
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,251
23 February 2002
15:00
NEC Harlequins6 - 18Gloucester
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 8,000
24 February 2002
15:00
Bristol Shoguns33 - 17Newcastle Falcons
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,021
24 February 2002
15:00
London Irish31 - 17London Wasps
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,848
24 February 2002
15:00
Saracens15 - 37Leeds Tykes
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 4,325

Week 17

9 March 2002
14:15
Bath Rugby9 - 27Leicester Tigers
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
9 March 2002
15:00
Gloucester42 - 14Sale Sharks
Kingsholm
Attendance: 9,461
10 March 2002
14:30
Leeds Tykes24 - 6Bristol Shoguns
Headingley
Attendance: 2,034

Week 18

16 March 2002
15:00
Leicester Tigers27 - 10Gloucester
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,250
16 March 2002
15:00
London Irish24 - 13Bristol Shoguns
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 12,873
16 March 2002
15:00
NEC Harlequins33 - 19Newcastle Falcons
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,525
16 March 2002
15:00
Northampton Saints34 - 14Leeds Tykes
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 8,366
16 March 2002
15:00
Sale Sharks27 - 22London Wasps
Heywood Road
Attendance: 5,118
17 March 2002
15:00
Saracens33 - 11Bath Rugby
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,828

Week 19

30 March 2002
14:00
Gloucester36 - 13Saracens
Kingsholm
Attendance: 9,262
30 March 2002
14:15
Bath Rugby11 - 29Northampton Saints
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
31 March 2002
14:30
Leeds Tykes24 - 29London Irish
Headingley
Attendance: 3,392
31 March 2002
14:30
Newcastle Falcons30 - 10Sale Sharks
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,512
31 March 2002
15:00
Bristol Shoguns43 - 27NEC Harlequins
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,618
31 March 2002
15:00
London Wasps36 - 24Leicester Tigers
Loftus Road
Attendance: 9,621

Week 20

10 April 2002
19:30
London Wasps44 - 9Gloucester
Loftus Road
Attendance: 5,769
10 April 2002
20:00
London Irish31 - 15Bath Rugby
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 6,055
13 April 2002
14:15
Bath Rugby23 - 12Leeds Tykes
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,129
13 April 2002
14:30
Northampton Saints58 - 21Gloucester
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 9,138
13 April 2002
15:00
Leicester Tigers20 - 12Newcastle Falcons
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,250
13 April 2002
15:00
Sale Sharks53 - 47Bristol Shoguns
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,609
14 April 2002
15:00
London Irish18 - 18NEC Harlequins
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 6,803
14 April 2002
15:00
Saracens14 - 20London Wasps
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,431

Week 21

19 April 2002
19:45
Leicester Tigers31 - 10Leeds Tykes
Welford Road
Attendance: 14,145
19 April 2002
19:45
Sale Sharks23 - 3Saracens
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,497
21 April 2002
15:00
Bristol Shoguns40 - 41Gloucester
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 7,066

Week 22

26 April 2002
19:35
London Wasps16 - 6NEC Harlequins
Loftus Road
Attendance: 8,388
27 April 2002
15:00
Northampton Saints52 - 27Saracens
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 8,479
28 April 2002
14:30
Newcastle Falcons36 - 9Bath Rugby
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,430

Week 23

3 May 2002
19:45
NEC Harlequins40 - 16Leeds Tykes
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,255
4 May 2002
15:00
Gloucester68 - 12Bath Rugby
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
4 May 2002
15:00
London Wasps17 - 6Northampton Saints
Loftus Road
Attendance: 6,133
5 May 2002
14:30
Newcastle Falcons47 - 18Saracens
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,083
5 May 2002
15:00
Bristol Shoguns38 - 21Leicester Tigers
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 6,500
5 May 2002
15:00
London Irish32 - 36Sale Sharks
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 6,076

Week 24

8 May 2002
19:30
Newcastle Falcons33 - 28London Irish
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,218
8 May 2002
19:45
Sale Sharks35 - 20Leeds Tykes
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,871
8 May 2002
20:00
Bristol Shoguns27 - 37Northampton Saints
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,002
12 May 2002
15:00
Bath Rugby22 - 24London Wasps
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,000
12 May 2002
15:00
Leeds Tykes17 - 50Gloucester
Headingley
Attendance: 4,144
12 May 2002
15:00
Leicester Tigers34 - 16London Irish
Welford Road
Attendance: 15,800
12 May 2002
15:00
Northampton Saints24 - 19Newcastle Falcons
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 9,292
12 May 2002
15:00
Sale Sharks40 - 11NEC Harlequins
Heywood Road
Attendance: 5,678
12 May 2002
15:00
Saracens26 - 28Bristol Shoguns
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,726

Playoff

Seeding

Seed Team Table points Wins Points diff
1 Leicester Tigers 83 18 +309
2 Sale Sharks 69 14 +72
3 Gloucester 68 14 +207
4 London Irish 57 11 +109
5 Northampton Saints 56 12 +80
6 Newcastle Falcons 56 12 +32
7 London Wasps 54 12 +12
8 Bristol Shoguns 50 9 −32

Quarter-finals

18 May 2002
Leicester Tigers13 – 27Bristol Shoguns
Report
Welford Road
Attendance: 4,771
Referee: Chris White
18 May 2002
Gloucester60 – 9Newcastle Falcons
Report
Kingsholm
Attendance: 5,776
Referee: Steve Lander
19 May 2002
London Irish14 – 38Northampton Saints
Report
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 3,336
Referee: Dave Pearson
19 May 2002
Sale Sharks43 – 27London Wasps
Report
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,283
Referee: Tony Spreadbury

Semi-finals

1 June 2002
Bristol Shoguns32 – 24Northampton Saints
report
Memorial Ground
Attendance: 5,292
Referee: Chris White
2 June 2002
Sale Sharks11 – 33Gloucester
Report
Heywood Road
Attendance: 4,298
Referee: Steve Lander

Final

8 June 2002
Bristol Shoguns23–28Gloucester
Try: Pichot
Johnstone
Con: Contepomi (2)
Pen: Contepomi (3)		ReportTry: Boer
Con: Mercier
Pen: Mercier (7)
Twickenham Stadium
Attendance: 28,500
Referee: Roy Maybank

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.

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.