2009–10 Guinness Premiership
Encyclopedia
The 2009–10 Guinness Premiership was the 23rd season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union
competitions, played between September 2009 and May 2010. Defending champions Leicester Tigers
topped the regular season league table and then won their third title in four years and their ninth overall after they defeated Saracens
in the Premiership final at Twickenham
on 29 May 2010.
This was the final season for the competition as the Guinness Premiership. Effective with the 2010–11 season, the competition will be known as the Aviva
Premiership for at least four seasons.
, although only 13 of the rules were used, as opposed to the 30 that were trialled in the Super 14
. Most were abandoned at the end of the season.
Leicester Tigers
finished top of the league after the home-and-away season and went on to win the championship, first defeating Bath
24–10 in the semifinals and then edging London Irish
10–9 in the final at Twickenham
.
Bristol
were relegated, to be replaced by Leeds Carnegie promoted back to the premiership at the first opportunity.
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
(C)-Champions
(Q)-Qualified for home play-off.
(q)-Qualified for away play-off.
(F)-Losing Finalists
(R)-Relegated to Championship
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
competitions, played between September 2009 and May 2010. Defending champions Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
topped the regular season league table and then won their third title in four years and their ninth overall after they defeated Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
in the Premiership final at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
on 29 May 2010.
This was the final season for the competition as the Guinness Premiership. Effective with the 2010–11 season, the competition will be known as the Aviva
Aviva
Aviva plc is a global insurance company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the sixth-largest insurance company in the world measured by net premium income and has 53 million customers in 28 countries...
Premiership for at least four seasons.
The previous season
The season saw the introduction of the controversial ELVsExperimental law variations
The experimental law variations were a proposed set of amendments to the laws of rugby union. They were propsed by the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board , and trialled games at Stellenbosch University in 2006...
, although only 13 of the rules were used, as opposed to the 30 that were trialled in the Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
. Most were abandoned at the end of the season.
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
finished top of the league after the home-and-away season and went on to win the championship, first defeating Bath
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
24–10 in the semifinals and then edging London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
10–9 in the final at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
.
Bristol
Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...
were relegated, to be replaced by Leeds Carnegie promoted back to the premiership at the first opportunity.
Teams
| Club | Kit Supplier | Captain |
|---|---|---|
| Bath Bath Rugby Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league... |
Puma |  Michael ClaassensMichael Claassens Michael Claassens is a South African rugby union player for Bath Rugby in the English Aviva Premiership.Claassens previously played for the Free State Cheetahs and the Springboks, and plays as a scrum-half.... |
| Gloucester | RugbyTech |  Gareth DelveGareth Delve Gareth Leon Delve is a Wales international rugby union player. In 2010 he captained Gloucester in the English Guinness Premiership, before moving to Australia where he became vice captain of the Melbourne Rebels. His usual position is number 8...  Mike TindallMike Tindall Michael James Tindall, MBE is an English rugby player who plays outside centre for Gloucester Rugby and has captained the England team... |
| Harlequins Harlequin F.C. The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop... |
KooGa KooGa KooGa is an Australia-based rugby apparel company. It was established in December 1999. The company is headquartered in Labrador on the Gold Coast of Queensland, with other Australian offices as well as a UK office in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.... |
Will Skinner |
| Leeds Carnegie | ISC International Sports Clothing International Sports Clothing is an Australian sports apparel manufacturer. Although they are an Australian company they have an operating base set up in the UK. The New Zealand Distributor for ISC is Lenco Sport NZ... |
Marco Wentzel Marco Wentzel Marco Wentzel is a rugby union player, formerly with Leicester Tigers, and also Leeds Carnegie in the Aviva Premiership, and now plying his trade with London Wasps, joining fellow team-mate Steve Thompson at the Wycombe based club. Wentzel plays as a lock or in the back-row.-External links:*... |
| Leicester Tigers Leicester Tigers Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010... |
Cotton Cotton Traders Cotton Traders is a British clothing company, specialising in rugby apparel and leisurewear, based in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. It was founded in 1987 by former England national rugby union team captains Fran Cotton and Steve Smith.... |
Geordan Murphy Geordan Murphy Geordan Edward Andrew Murphy is an Irish rugby union rugby player and plays fullback or wing for the English club Leicester Tigers and Ireland.... |
| London Irish London Irish London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top... |
RugbyTech | Bob Casey Bob Casey (rugby player) Bob Casey is an Irish rugby union footballer who plays at lock for London Irish. Casey is originally from Maynooth, County Kildare, and was educated at Blackrock College, a Dublin secondary school renowned for producing international rugby players.-Club career:Casey joined Leinster in 1999 and... |
| London Wasps 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 were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999... |
CCC Canterbury of New Zealand Canterbury of New Zealand is a New Zealand-based sports apparel company that focuses on rugby football. The company is named after the Canterbury area in New Zealand where the company started to make knitwear. Other than producing rugby kits, the brand is also known for their rugby protective wear... |
Tom Rees |
| Newcastle Falcons Newcastle Falcons The Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in... |
Cotton |  Carl HaymanCarl Hayman Carl Hayman is an international rugby union footballer who has played at tighthead prop for Otago at provincial level, the Highlanders in the Super 14 and the All Blacks at international level... |
| Northampton Saints Northampton Saints Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591.... |
Rhino | Dylan Hartley Dylan Hartley Dylan Hartley is an English, New Zealand born rugby union footballer who plays at hooker for Northampton Saints, and England.-Early career:Hartley was born in New Zealand, but qualifies to play for England through his English mother... |
| Sale Sharks Sale Sharks Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the... |
Cotton | Dean Schofield Dean Schofield Dean Schofield is a professional Rugby union player who plays for RC Toulon. He plays lock and is a product of Aldwinians RUFC. He first came to prominence when scoring twice as Aldwinians beat Dudley Kingswinsford in the NPI Cup Final at Twickenham... |
| Saracens Saracens F.C. Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England... |
KooGa | Steve Borthwick Steve Borthwick Stephen William "Steve" Borthwick is an English rugby union footballer who plays lock for Saracens F.C.... |
| Worcester Warriors | Kukri Kukri Sports Kukri Sports Ltd is an English sports brand specialising in manufacturing sporting apparel and equipment for the sports of Rugby, Cricket and Hockey... |
Pat Sanderson Pat Sanderson Patrick Harold Sanderson is a former England international rugby union player and flanker for Worcester, the team he currently captains... |
Table
| Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points For | Points Against | Points Difference | Tries For | Tries Against | Try Bonus | Losing Bonus | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leicester Tigers Leicester Tigers Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010... (C) |
22 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 541 | 325 | 216 | 46 | 18 | 7 | 4 | 73 |
| 2 | Northampton Saints Northampton Saints Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591.... (SF) |
22 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 472 | 322 | 150 | 44 | 26 | 2 | 5 | 71 |
| 3 | Saracens Saracens F.C. Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England... (F) |
22 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 480 | 367 | 113 | 39 | 22 | 2 | 5 | 69 |
| 4 | Bath Bath Rugby Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league... (SF) |
22 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 450 | 366 | 84 | 49 | 33 | 5 | 4 | 61 |
| 5 | London Wasps 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 were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999... |
22 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 394 | 399 | −5 | 35 | 31 | 2 | 3 | 57 |
| 6 | London Irish London Irish London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top... |
22 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 469 | 384 | 85 | 42 | 33 | 3 | 3 | 52 |
| 7 | Gloucester | 22 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 470 | 457 | 13 | 46 | 42 | 2 | 4 | 48 |
| 8 | Harlequins Harlequin F.C. The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop... |
22 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 420 | 484 | −64 | 42 | 46 | 3 | 3 | 46 |
| 9 | Newcastle Falcons Newcastle Falcons The Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in... |
22 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 319 | 431 | −112 | 20 | 41 | 1 | 4 | 37 |
| 10 | Leeds Carnegie | 22 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 283 | 493 | −210 | 17 | 48 | 0 | 6 | 36 |
| 11 | Sale Sharks Sale Sharks Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the... |
22 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 333 | 495 | −162 | 24 | 51 | 0 | 6 | 32 |
| 12 | Worcester Warriors (R) | 22 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 312 | 420 | −108 | 23 | 36 | 0 | 8 | 28 |
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
- Number of matches won
- Difference between points for and against
- Total number of points for
- Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
- Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
(C)-Champions
(Q)-Qualified for home play-off.
(q)-Qualified for away play-off.
(F)-Losing Finalists
(R)-Relegated to Championship
RFU Championship
The RFU Championship replaced National Division One as the second tier in the English rugby union system in September 2009. Unlike National Division One, which is semi-professional, the RFU Championship is a fully professional league.-History:...
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Rearranged fixture
Round 18
Rearranged fixture
Round 19
Rearranged fixtures
Round 20
Round Rearranged fixture
Round 21
Round 22
Semi-finals
----Final
Top points scorers
| Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Gopperth Jimmy Gopperth James 'Jimmy' Gopperth is a rugby union player who plays for Newcastle Falcons in the Aviva Premiership. His position is first five-eighth and he played previously for the Hurricanes and Blues in the Super 14 and the Junior All Blacks... |
Newcastle Falcons Newcastle Falcons The Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in... |
219 |
| Toby Flood Toby Flood Tobias Gerald Albert Lieven "Toby" Flood is an English rugby union player. He currently plays at fly half or inside centre for Leicester Tigers, having signed from Newcastle Falcons, and England.-Background:... |
Leicester Tigers Leicester Tigers Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010... |
216 |
| Nicky Robinson | Gloucester | 198 |
Top try scorers
| Player | Team | Tries |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Ashton Chris Ashton Chris Ashton is an English rugby union player who has represented England in both Rugby League and Rugby Union... |
Northampton Saints Northampton Saints Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591.... |
16 |
| Joe Maddock Joe Maddock (rugby player) Joe Maddock , is a rugby union winger/fullback who currently plays for Saracens F.C. in the Aviva Premiership.... |
Bath Bath Rugby Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league... |
11 |
| Matt Banahan Matt Banahan Matthew Andrew Banahan is a Jerseyman who plays rugby union for Bath in the Aviva Premiership and England in international rugby union... |
Bath Bath Rugby Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league... |
10 |