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2003–04 Premiership Rugby

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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 teamsEdit

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Locations of the 2003-04 Zurich Premiership 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

TableEdit

Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Tries For Tries Against Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
1 Bath 22 18 0 4 508 311 +197 45 24 4 3 79
C London Wasps 22 16 0 6 575 406 +169 59 37 6 3 73
3 Northampton Saints 22 15 1 6 574 416 +158 61 48 6 2 70
4 Gloucester 22 14 0 8 491 412 +79 51 41 4 3 63
5 Leicester Tigers* 22 11 3 8 537 430 +107 53 37 4 2 55
6 Harlequins 22 10 2 10 502 449 +53 50 43 4 6 54
7 Sale Sharks 22 9 3 10 510 472 +38 56 50 5 6 53
8 London Irish 22 10 1 11 427 454 -27 30 37 1 6 49
9 Newcastle Falcons 22 7 2 13 497 525 -28 53 55 4 9 45
10 Saracens* 22 8 1 13 397 543 -146 40 56 3 3 39
11 Leeds Tykes 22 7 1 14 449 588 -139 47 59 4 3 37
R Rotherham Titans 22 0 0 22 309 770 -461 32 90 0 3 3
Source:Guinness Premiership[permanent dead link]
* 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.

ResultsEdit

Week 1Edit

12 September 2003
19:45
Sale Sharks37 – 37Northampton Saints
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 8,105
13 September 2003
14:45
Harlequins33 – 27London Wasps
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,223
13 September 2003
15:00
Gloucester22 – 8Rotherham Titans
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,114
13 September 2003
15:00
Leicester Tigers29 – 19London Irish
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,029
14 September 2003
14:30
Leeds Tykes32 – 44Bath
Headingley
Attendance: 4,093
14 September 2003
15:00
Newcastle Falcons20 – 25Saracens
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,012

Week 2Edit

20 September 2003
14:15
Bath24 – 6Northampton Saints
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,381
20 September 2003
14:45
Rotherham Titans15 – 43Harlequins
Millmoor
Attendance: 4,003
21 September 2003
15:00
London Irish16 – 10Gloucester
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,968
21 September 2003
15:00
London Wasps33 – 10Leeds Tykes
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 5,721
21 September 2003
15:00
Newcastle Falcons9 – 8Sale Sharks
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,628
21 September 2003
15:00
Saracens19 – 19Leicester Tigers
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,730

Week 3Edit

26 September 2003
19:45
Leicester Tigers28 – 21Newcastle Falcons
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
26 September 2003
19:45
Sale Sharks9 – 14Bath
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 6,500
26 September 2003
20:00
Leeds Tykes23 – 13Rotherham Titans
Headingley
Attendance: 4,842
27 September 2003
14:45
Gloucester30 – 7Saracens
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,050
27 September 2003
15:00
Harlequins15 – 10London Irish
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,523
27 September 2003
15:00
Northampton Saints27 – 17London Wasps
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 10,571

Week 4Edit

4 October 2003
14:45
Leicester Tigers16 – 22Sale Sharks
Welford Road
Attendance: 15,507
4 October 2003
15:00
Rotherham Titans13 – 42Northampton Saints
Millmoor
Attendance: 3,118
5 October 2003
14:00
London Wasps19 – 20Bath
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 7,767
5 October 2003
15:00
London Irish31 – 16Leeds Tykes
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 5,725
5 October 2003
15:00
Newcastle Falcons42 – 22Gloucester
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,102
5 October 2003
15:00
Saracens39 – 33Harlequins
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,380

Week 5Edit

10 October 2003
19:45
Sale Sharks33 – 37London Wasps
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 5,803
11 October 2003
14:15
Bath47 – 3Rotherham Titans
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,733
11 October 2003
14:45
Gloucester24 – 3Leicester Tigers
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
11 October 2003
15:00
Harlequins18 – 11Newcastle Falcons
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,523
11 October 2003
15:00
Northampton Saints24 – 30London Irish
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 10,384
12 October 2003
15:00
Leeds Tykes41 – 31Saracens
Headingley
Attendance: 2,888

Week 6Edit

17 October 2003
19:45
Rotherham Titans14 – 28Sale Sharks
Millmoor
Attendance: 2,229
18 October 2003
15:30
Harlequins0 – 16Gloucester
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,223
18 October 2003
16:00
Northampton Saints33 – 20Newcastle Falcons
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 9,923
19 October 2003
14:00
Bath25 – 3Saracens
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,154
19 October 2003
14:30
Leeds Tykes39 – 18Leicester Tigers
Headingley
Attendance: 4,073
19 October 2003
15:00
London Wasps22 – 15London Irish
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 6,463

Week 7Edit

25 October 2003
14:45
Newcastle Falcons19 – 17Bath
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,885
25 October 2003
15:00
Gloucester24 – 19Leeds Tykes
Kingsholm
Attendance: 9,832
25 October 2003
15:00
Leicester Tigers15 – 32Northampton Saints
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
25 October 2003
15:00
Harlequins21 – 30Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,123
26 October 2003
15:00
London Irish47 – 26Rotherham Titans
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 5,831
26 October 2003
15:00
Saracens3 – 42London Wasps
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,950

Week 8Edit

31 October 2003
19:45
Sale Sharks26 – 28London Irish
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 5,605
31 October 2003
20:00
Leeds Tykes16 – 30Harlequins
Headingley
Attendance: 3,205
1 November 2003
14:15
Bath31 – 17Leicester Tigers
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,980
1 November 2003
14:45
Northampton Saints30 – 17Gloucester
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 11,026
1 November 2003
15:00
Rotherham Titans12 – 25Saracens
Millmoor
Attendance: 2,500
2 November 2003
15:00
London Wasps30 – 26Newcastle Falcons
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 5,151

Week 9Edit

8 November 2003
14:45
Sale Sharks37 – 21Leeds Tykes
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 3,367
8 November 2003
15:00
Gloucester14 – 20Bath
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
8 November 2003
15:00
Leicester Tigers32 – 22London Wasps
Welford Road
Attendance: 15,384
8 November 2003
15:00
Harlequins43 – 21Northampton Saints
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,223
9 November 2003
15:00
Newcastle Falcons56 – 10Rotherham Titans
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,452
9 November 2003
15:00
Saracens31 – 34London Irish
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,013

Week 10Edit

21 November 2003
19:45
London Wasps20 – 12Gloucester
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 7,288
21 November 2003
19:45
Sale Sharks33 – 3Saracens
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 5,487
22 November 2003
14:15
Bath18 – 10Harlequins
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,980
22 November 2003
15:00
Northampton Saints48 – 24Leeds Tykes
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 11,292
22 November 2003
16:00
Rotherham Titans17 – 27Leicester Tigers
Millmoor
Attendance: 2,900
23 November 2003
15:00
London Irish15 – 19Newcastle Falcons
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 6,791

Week 11Edit

29 November 2003
14:45
Newcastle Falcons20 – 23London Wasps
Kingston Park
Attendance: 10,001
29 November 2003
15:00
Gloucester28 – 20Northampton Saints
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
29 November 2003
15:00
Leicester Tigers12 – 13Bath
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
29 November 2003
15:00
Harlequins9 – 16Leeds Tykes
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,123
30 November 2003
15:00
London Irish9 – 3Sale Sharks
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,488
30 November 2003
15:00
Saracens29 – 10Rotherham Titans
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,680

Week 12Edit

19 December 2003
19:45
Sale Sharks27 – 27Harlequins
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 6,643
20 December 2003
13:00
Rotherham Titans10 – 15London Irish
Millmoor
Attendance: 1,910
20 December 2003
14:15
Bath20 – 10Newcastle Falcons
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,800
20 December 2003
14:45
Northampton Saints14 – 0Leicester Tigers
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,150
21 December 2003
14:30
Leeds Tykes22 – 18Gloucester
Headingley
Attendance: 7,467
21 December 2003
15:00
London Wasps41 – 0Saracens
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 9,350

Week 13Edit

27 December 2003
15:00
Gloucester18 – 17Harlequins
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
27 December 2003
15:00
Leicester Tigers39 – 11Leeds Tykes
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
27 December 2003
15:00
Sale Sharks35 – 7Rotherham Titans
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 8,797
27 December 2003
15:00
Saracens15 – 24Bath
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 11,477
27 December 2003
15:15
London Irish19 – 34London Wasps
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 20,318
28 December 2003
14:30
Newcastle Falcons23 – 19Northampton Saints
Kingston Park
Attendance: 10,000

Week 14Edit

1 January 2004
15:00
Saracens27 – 3Leeds Tykes
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,350
3 January 2004
14:45
Leicester Tigers18 – 28Gloucester
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
4 January 2004
14:30
Newcastle Falcons25 – 29Harlequins
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,975
4 January 2004
15:00
London Irish15 – 36Northampton Saints
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 10,004
4 January 2004
15:00
London Wasps26 – 10Sale Sharks
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 9,506
4 January 2004
15:00
Rotherham Titans18 – 34Bath
Millmoor
Attendance: 6,894

Week 15Edit

6 February 2004
19:45
Sale Sharks3 – 3Leicester Tigers
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,541
6 February 2004
20:00
Leeds Tykes9 – 16London Irish
Headingley
Attendance: 3,230
7 February 2004
14:40
Bath6 – 10London Wasps
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,980
7 February 2004
15:00
Gloucester36 – 12Newcastle Falcons
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
7 February 2004
15:00
Harlequins12 – 10Saracens
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 8,170
7 February 2004
15:00
Northampton Saints18 – 8Rotherham Titans
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 10,839

Week 16Edit

14 February 2004
15:00
Rotherham Titans20 – 27London Wasps
Millmoor
Attendance: 2,200
14 February 2004
18:00
Gloucester38 – 12Sale Sharks
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,993
15 February 2004
13:00
Saracens18 – 22Northampton Saints
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,651
15 February 2004
13:30
Newcastle Falcons25 – 28Leeds Tykes
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,503

Week 17Edit

21 February 2004
14:15
Bath22 – 13Leeds Tykes
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,818
21 February 2004
14:30
London Irish9 – 22Leicester Tigers
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 10,836
21 February 2004
15:00
Northampton Saints51 – 12Sale Sharks
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 11,756
22 February 2004
15:00
Rotherham Titans21 – 35Gloucester
Millmoor
Attendance: 2,250
22 February 2004
15:00
Saracens32 – 27Newcastle Falcons
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,516
22 February 2004
18:00
London Wasps22 – 21Harlequins
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 8,549

Week 18Edit

19 March 2004
19:45
Leicester Tigers30 – 21Harlequins
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
21 March 2004
15:00
London Irish20 – 21Bath
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 20,840

Week 19Edit

26 March 2004
19:45
Sale Sharks38 – 20Gloucester
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 6,487
27 March 2004
14:15
Bath23 – 21London Irish
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,980
27 March 2004
15:00
Harlequins20 – 23Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,871
27 March 2004
15:00
Northampton Saints24 – 3Saracens
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,003
28 March 2004
14:30
Leeds Tykes30 – 30Newcastle Falcons
Headingley
Attendance: 4,907
28 March 2004
15:00
London Wasps39 – 11Rotherham Titans
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 6,757

Week 20Edit

2 April 2004
19:45
Rotherham Titans20 – 34Leeds Tykes
Millmoor
Attendance: 2,750
3 April 2004
14:15
Bath16 – 12Sale Sharks
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,980
3 April 2004
14:45
Saracens8 – 16Gloucester
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,907
4 April 2004
15:00
London Irish15 – 15Harlequins
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,574
4 April 2004
15:00
London Wasps31 – 5Northampton Saints
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 10,000
4 April 2004
15:00
Newcastle Falcons25 – 25Leicester Tigers
Kingston Park
Attendance: 10,000

Week 21Edit

16 April 2004
19:45
Leicester Tigers38 – 10Saracens
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
16 April 2004
19:45
Harlequins43 – 20Rotherham Titans
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 4,758
18 April 2004
14:00
Northampton Saints16 – 6Bath
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,005
18 April 2004
14:30
Leeds Tykes7 – 11London Wasps
Headingley
Attendance: 3,194
18 April 2004
16:00
Gloucester28 – 13London Irish
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000

Week 22Edit

23 April 2004
19:45
Sale Sharks41 – 16Newcastle Falcons
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,486

Week 23Edit

1 May 2004
14:45
Gloucester28 – 25London Wasps
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
1 May 2004
15:00
Leicester Tigers75 – 13Rotherham Titans
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
2 May 2004
14:00
Harlequins25 – 22Bath
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,870
2 May 2004
14:30
Leeds Tykes15 – 31Northampton Saints
Headingley
Attendance: 4,239
2 May 2004
15:00
Newcastle Falcons15 – 16London Irish
Kingston Park
Attendance: 8,723
2 May 2004
15:00
Saracens39 – 23Sale Sharks
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,917

Week 24Edit

8 May 2004
15:00
Bath41 – 7Gloucester
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,980
8 May 2004
15:00
Leeds Tykes20 – 31Sale Sharks
Headingley
Attendance: 4,036
8 May 2004
15:00
London Irish14 – 20Saracens
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,856
8 May 2004
15:00
London Wasps17 – 48Leicester Tigers
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 10,000
8 May 2004
15:00
Northampton Saints18 – 17Harlequins
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,048
8 May 2004
15:00
Rotherham Titans20 – 26Newcastle Falcons
Don Valley Stadium
Attendance: 5,203

Play-offsEdit

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-finalEdit

16 May 2004
14:00
London Wasps57 – 20Northampton Saints
Report
The Causeway Stadium, High Wycombe
Attendance: 6,219

FinalEdit

29 May 2004
18:00
Bath6 – 10London Wasps
P-Malone (1)
DG-Malone (1)		ReportT-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 WildcardEdit

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

Semi finalsEdit

15 May 2004
Gloucester44 – 35Sale 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 Tigers43 – 26Harlequins
Welford Road, Leicester
Attendance: 12,004

FinalEdit

29 May 2004
Sale Sharks27 – 48Leicester Tigers
Twickenham, London
Attendance: 30,000

Leading scorersEdit

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 AttendancesEdit

Club Home
Games 		Total Average Highest Lowest % Capacity
Bath 11 106,766 9,706 9,980 8,733 97%
Gloucester 12 122,848 10,237 11,000 4,859 93%
Harlequins 11 74,630 6,785 8,170 4,758 80%
Leeds Tykes 11 46,174 4,198 7,467 2,888 19%
Leicester Tigers 12 193,444 16,120 16,815 12,004 96%
London Irish 11 117,231 10,657 20,840 5,725 44%
London Wasps 12 92,771 7,731 10,000 5,151 77%
Newcastle Falcons 11 83,281 7,571 10,001 4,885 76%
Northampton Saints 11 122,563 11,142 12,150 9,923 92%
Rotherham Titans 11 35,957 3,269 6,894 1,910 30%
Sale Sharks 11 76,821 6,984 10,541 3,367 66%
Saracens 11 79,571 7,234 11,477 5,013 33%

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ "Gloucester 44 Sale 35". Archived from the original on 2010-01-02. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  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.

External linksEdit

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2003–04_Premiership_Rugby&oldid=1089563419"