2000–01 Premiership Rugby

The 2000–01 English Premiership (called the Zurich Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was the 14th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions. Leicester Tigers finished top of the league for the third year in a row giving them their fifth English champions title.

2000–2001 Zurich Premiership
Countries England
ChampionsLeicester Tigers (5th title)
Runners-upLondon Wasps
RelegatedRotherham Titans
Matches played139
Attendance898,438
(average 6,464 per match)

This season saw the introduction of the bonus points scoring system.[1]

Additionally, an 8 team end of season knock-out competition, the Zurich Championship was introduced, although this was not used to determine the English Champions, that being the preserve of the Zurich Premiership winners. Leicester also won the Zurich Championship in this season.

Rotherham were relegated, to be replaced by Leeds Tykes for the 2001–02 season.[2][3]

Participating teams
Locations of the 2000-01 Zurich Premiership teams
Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bath Bath 8,200 Bath, Somerset
Bristol Memorial Stadium 12,100 Bristol
Gloucester Kingsholm 11,000 Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Harlequins The Stoop 8,500 Twickenham, London
Leicester Tigers Welford Road 16,000 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 10,000 Northampton, Northamptonshire
Rotherham Titans Clifton Lane 2,500 Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Sale Heywood Road 5,400 Sale, 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
1Leicester Tigers (C)221813571346+22560257182
2London Wasps221606663428+23577377374
3Bath221408680430+25072379570
4Northampton Saints221309518463+5545453459
5Saracens2212010589501+8863486458
6Newcastle Falcons2211011554568-1457657657
7Gloucester2210012473526-5343453548
8London Irish2210111476576-10036601245
9Bristol229112443492-4934361544
10Sale Sharks228113561622-6156676343
11Harlequins227015440538-9844483738
12Rotherham Titans (R)222020335813-478291031312
Green background denotes qualification for the playoffs. These teams and those highlighted in blue qualified for the 2001–02 Heineken Cup. Newcastle gained a spot by virtue of winning the Powergen Cup. Harlequins gained a spot in the Heineken Cup by winning the 2000-01 European Challenge Cup.

Results

Week 1
19 August 2000
14:00
London Wasps22 – 24Leicester Tigers
Loftus Road
Attendance: 6,328
19 August 2000
15:00
NEC Harlequins16 – 22London Irish
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,093
19 August 2000
15:00
Sale Sharks33 – 32Bath Rugby
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,980
20 August 2000
14:30
Newcastle Falcons27 – 21Northampton Saints
Kingston Park
Attendance: 3,245
20 August 2000
15:00
Rotherham Titans20 – 23Bristol Shoguns
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 2,700
20 August 2000
15:00
Saracens50 – 20Gloucester
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,682

Week 2
26 August 2000
14:00
Bristol Shoguns23 – 34Saracens
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,280
26 August 2000
15:00
Gloucester18 – 19Sale Sharks
Kingsholm
Attendance: 5,500
26 August 2000
15:00
NEC Harlequins26 – 13Rotherham Titans
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 3,217
26 August 2000
15:00
Northampton Saints27 – 10London Irish
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 6,713
27 August 2000
14:30
Newcastle Falcons22 – 25Leicester Tigers
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,298
27 August 2000
15:00
London Wasps12 – 36Bath Rugby
Loftus Road
Attendance: 4,037

Week 3
2 September 2000
14:00
Leicester Tigers33 – 19Northampton Saints
Welford Road
Attendance: 14,088
2 September 2000
14:15
Bath Rugby38 – 22NEC Harlequins
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 6,958
2 September 2000
15:00
London Irish27 – 22Saracens
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,312
2 September 2000
15:00
Rotherham Titans23 – 29Gloucester
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 2,500
2 September 2000
15:00
Sale Sharks13 – 27Newcastle Falcons
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,885
3 September 2000
15:00
London Wasps23 – 17Bristol Shoguns
Loftus Road
Attendance: 3,525

Week 4
6 September 2000
19:30
Bristol Shoguns13 – 36Sale Sharks
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,100
6 September 2000
19:30
Newcastle Falcons18 – 19Gloucester
Kingston Park
Attendance: 2,623
6 September 2000
19:30
Northampton Saints27 – 20NEC Harlequins
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 6,645
6 September 2000
19:45
Leicester Tigers26 – 18Rotherham Titans
Welford Road
Attendance: 9,801
6 September 2000
19:45
Saracens24 – 30London Wasps
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,312
9 September 2000
14:00
Gloucester21 – 22Bath Rugby
Kingsholm
Attendance: 6,754
9 September 2000
15:00
NEC Harlequins18 – 31London Wasps
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 4,880
9 September 2000
15:00
Sale Sharks34 – 23Northampton Saints
Heywood Road
Attendance: 1,844
10 September 2000
14:30
Newcastle Falcons34 – 19Rotherham Titans
Kingston Park
Attendance: 2,735
10 September 2000
15:00
Bristol Shoguns26 – 30London Irish
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,902
10 September 2000
15:00
Saracens17 – 9Leicester Tigers
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 13,021

Week 5
16 September 2000
14:15
Bath Rugby19 – 12Newcastle Falcons
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,503
16 September 2000
14:15
NEC Harlequins31 – 25Bristol Shoguns
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 3,089
16 September 2000
15:00
Leicester Tigers33 – 20London Irish
Welford Road
Attendance: 12,168
16 September 2000
15:00
Rotherham Titans19 – 32Northampton Saints
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 2,363
16 September 2000
15:00
Sale Sharks6 – 51Saracens
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,130
17 September 2000
15:00
London Wasps43 – 23Gloucester
Loftus Road
Attendance: 4,277

Week 6
23 September 2000
14:15
Newcastle Falcons59 – 21London Wasps
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,233
23 September 2000
15:00
Bristol Shoguns24 – 20Leicester Tigers
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 6,200
23 September 2000
15:00
Gloucester27 – 23NEC Harlequins
Kingsholm
Attendance: 5,428
23 September 2000
15:00
Northampton Saints24 – 13Bath Rugby
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 7,465
24 September 2000
15:00
London Irish28 – 13Sale Sharks
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 4,198
24 September 2000
15:00
Saracens59 – 5Rotherham Titans
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,092

Week 7
30 September 2000
14:15
Bath Rugby21 – 33Saracens
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,000
30 September 2000
15:00
Gloucester38 – 16Bristol Shoguns
Kingsholm
Attendance: 6,503
30 September 2000
15:00
NEC Harlequins18 – 20Newcastle Falcons
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 4,445
30 September 2000
15:00
Rotherham Titans19 – 18London Irish
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 2,000
30 September 2000
15:00
Sale Sharks17 – 17Leicester Tigers
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,407
1 October 2000
15:00
London Wasps53 – 17Northampton Saints
Loftus Road
Attendance: 4,612

Week 8
18 November 2000
12:30
Bristol Shoguns32 – 21Rotherham Titans
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,380
18 November 2000
12:30
Gloucester16 – 15Saracens
Kingsholm
Attendance: 5,909
18 November 2000
13:00
Leicester Tigers28 – 13London Wasps
Welford Road
Attendance: 9,300
18 November 2000
13:00
Northampton Saints26 – 18Newcastle Falcons
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 6,734
19 November 2000
14:15
Bath Rugby34 – 32Sale Sharks
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,348
19 November 2000
15:00
London Irish21 – 16NEC Harlequins
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 5,918

Week 9
24 November 2000
20:00
NEC Harlequins13 – 16Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 4,613
25 November 2000
12:30
Gloucester26 – 6London Irish
Kingsholm
Attendance: 5,618
25 November 2000
13:00
Northampton Saints24 – 6Bristol Shoguns
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 6,093
26 November 2000
14:15
Bath Rugby42 – 19Rotherham Titans
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,100
26 November 2000
14:30
Newcastle Falcons32 – 27Saracens
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,473
26 November 2000
15:00
London Wasps33 – 24Sale Sharks
Loftus Road
Attendance: 3,087

Week 10
2 December 2000
12:30
Bristol Shoguns16 – 9Bath Rugby
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 6,335
2 December 2000
13:00
Leicester Tigers31 – 28Gloucester
Welford Road
Attendance: 11,800
2 December 2000
13:00
Rotherham Titans15 – 30London Wasps
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 2,100
2 December 2000
13:00
Sale Sharks35 – 10NEC Harlequins
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,002
3 December 2000
15:00
Saracens10 – 30Northampton Saints
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,483
5 December 2000
20:00
London Irish19 – 17Newcastle Falcons
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 4,612

Week 11
16 December 2000
14:00
Northampton Saints34 – 15Gloucester
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 7,225
16 December 2000
15:00
Leicester Tigers27 – 19Bath Rugby
Welford Road
Attendance: 14,552
16 December 2000
15:00
London Irish14 – 13London Wasps
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 5,220
16 December 2000
15:00
Sale Sharks45 – 12Rotherham Titans
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,200
17 December 2000
15:00
Bristol Shoguns27 – 14Newcastle Falcons
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,687
17 December 2000
15:00
Saracens26 – 18NEC Harlequins
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,681

Week 12
23 December 2000
14:00
Sale Sharks25 – 26Bristol Shoguns
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,631
23 December 2000
14:15
Bath Rugby56 – 20London Irish
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,317
23 December 2000
14:15
Rotherham Titans9 – 27Leicester Tigers
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 4,000
23 December 2000
15:00
Gloucester28 – 13Newcastle Falcons
Kingsholm
Attendance: 7,455
23 December 2000
15:00
London Wasps25 – 6Saracens
Loftus Road
Attendance: 7,835
23 December 2000
15:00
NEC Harlequins25 – 34Northampton Saints
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 4,128

Week 13
26 December 2000
14:15
Bath Rugby16 – 17Leicester Tigers
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,500
27 December 2000
14:30
Newcastle Falcons23 – 15Bristol Shoguns
Kingston Park
Attendance: 3,738
27 December 2000
15:00
NEC Harlequins14 – 30Saracens
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,089
27 December 2000
19:30
Gloucester12 – 15Northampton Saints
Kingsholm
Attendance: 9,859
27 December 2000
19:45
London Wasps29 – 16London Irish
Loftus Road
Attendance: 5,084
30 December 2000
15:00
Northampton Saints18 – 21London Wasps
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 9,437
30 December 2000
15:00
Saracens11 – 31Bath Rugby
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 11,192

Week 14
6 January 2001
14:15
Bath Rugby36 – 13Northampton Saints
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,802
6 January 2001
14:15
Rotherham Titans19 – 8Saracens
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 3,500
6 January 2001
15:00
Bristol Shoguns18 – 9Gloucester
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 6,781

Week 15
6 February 2001
19:45
Leicester Tigers17 – 10Bristol Shoguns
Welford Road
Attendance: 12,332
6 February 2001
20:00
NEC Harlequins21 – 19Gloucester
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 4,800
10 February 2001
14:00
Northampton Saints42 – 0Rotherham Titans
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 8,062
10 February 2001
15:00
Gloucester3 – 28London Wasps
Kingsholm
Attendance: 6,940
10 February 2001
15:00
London Irish9 – 28Leicester Tigers
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,531
11 February 2001
14:30
Newcastle Falcons24 – 23Bath Rugby
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,319
11 February 2001
15:00
Bristol Shoguns13 – 9NEC Harlequins
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,600
11 February 2001
15:00
Saracens44 – 30Sale Sharks
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,115

Week 16
20 February 2001
20:00
London Irish54 – 11Rotherham Titans
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 2,504
24 February 2001
14:15
Bath Rugby50 – 16Gloucester
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
24 February 2001
15:00
Leicester Tigers56 – 15Saracens
Welford Road
Attendance: 14,212
24 February 2001
15:00
London Irish26 – 26Bristol Shoguns
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 3,349
24 February 2001
15:00
Northampton Saints32 – 26Sale Sharks
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 7,849

Week 17
6 March 2001
19:15
Newcastle Falcons22 – 24NEC Harlequins
Kingston Park
Attendance: 3,620
6 March 2001
19:45
Leicester Tigers24 – 12Sale Sharks
Welford Road
Attendance: 9,000
10 March 2001
14:15
Northampton Saints9 – 12Leicester Tigers
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 10,000
10 March 2001
15:00
Gloucester50 – 17Rotherham Titans
Kingsholm
Attendance: 5,850
10 March 2001
15:00
NEC Harlequins24 – 22Bath Rugby
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,067
11 March 2001
14:30
Newcastle Falcons48 – 24Sale Sharks
Kingston Park
Attendance: 3,318
11 March 2001
15:00
Bristol Shoguns12 – 24London Wasps
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,444
11 March 2001
15:00
Saracens35 – 22London Irish
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,913

Week 18
14 March 2001
20:00
London Irish13 – 58Bath Rugby
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 5,303
17 March 2001
12:15
Leicester Tigers51 – 7Newcastle Falcons
Welford Road
Attendance: 15,009
17 March 2001
14:15
Bath Rugby16 – 13London Wasps
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
17 March 2001
14:15
Rotherham Titans12 – 32NEC Harlequins
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 2,000
17 March 2001
15:00
London Irish13 – 10Northampton Saints
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 12,037
17 March 2001
15:00
Sale Sharks16 – 24Gloucester
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,514
18 March 2001
15:00
Saracens24 – 13Bristol Shoguns
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 12,843

Week 19
24 March 2001
14:15
Rotherham Titans13 – 39Sale Sharks
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 2,000
28 March 2001
19:45
London Wasps44 – 7Newcastle Falcons
Loftus Road
Attendance: 3,444
31 March 2001
14:15
Bath Rugby19 – 16Bristol Shoguns
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
31 March 2001
15:00
Gloucester22 – 13Leicester Tigers
Kingsholm
Attendance: 7,614
31 March 2001
15:00
NEC Harlequins36 – 10Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,039
31 March 2001
15:00
Northampton Saints25 – 14Saracens
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 9,424
1 April 2001
14:30
Newcastle Falcons42 – 35London Irish
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,963
1 April 2001
15:00
London Wasps58 – 3Rotherham Titans
Loftus Road
Attendance: 4,276

Week 20
10 April 2001
18:00
Rotherham Titans36 – 39Newcastle Falcons
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 1,800
10 April 2001
19:30
Sale Sharks43 – 18London Irish
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,469
10 April 2001
19:45
London Wasps38 – 19NEC Harlequins
Loftus Road
Attendance: 12,137
14 April 2001
14:15
Sale Sharks29 – 59London Wasps
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,877
14 April 2001
15:00
Leicester Tigers37 – 5NEC Harlequins
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,006
14 April 2001
15:00
Rotherham Titans12 – 68Bath Rugby
Clifton Lane
Attendance: 3,000
15 April 2001
15:00
Saracens34 – 29Newcastle Falcons
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,107

Week 21
16 April 2001
15:00
Bristol Shoguns46 – 16Northampton Saints
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,315
16 April 2001
15:00
London Irish35 – 10Gloucester
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,131

Zurich Championship

The top eight teams qualified for the knock-out Zurich Championship, seeded on the basis of their league finish.

Seeding
Seed Team Table points Wins Points diff
1 Leicester Tigers 8218+225
2 London Wasps 7416+235
3 Bath Rugby 7014+250
4 Northampton Saints 5913+55
5 Saracens 5812+88
6 Newcastle Falcons 5711−14
7 Gloucester 4810−53
8 London Irish 4510−100

Quarter–finals
28 April 2001
Leicester Tigers24 – 11London Irish
Report
Welford Road
Attendance: 8,112
Referee: Tony Spreadbury
28 April 2001
Northampton Saints45 – 17Saracens
Report
Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 8,500
Referee: Chris White
28 April 2001
Bath18 – 9Newcastle Falcons
Report
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 6,840
Referee: Rob Goodliffe
29 April 2001
London Wasps18 – 6Gloucester
Report
Loftus Road
Attendance: 4,986
Referee: Steve Lander

Semi–finals
5 May 2001
Leicester Tigers17 – 13Northampton Saints
Report
Welford Road
Attendance: 10,787[4]
6 May 2001
London Wasps31 – 36Bath
Report
Loftus Road
Attendance: 8,094
Referee: Brian Campsall

Final
13 May 2001
Leicester Tigers22–10Bath
T-Johnson, Healey, Stanley
C-Stimpson (2)
P-Stimpson		ReportT-Thirlby
C-Perry
P-Perry
Twickenham Stadium
Attendance: 33,500[5]
Referee: Steve Lander

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
Bath1291,9687,6648,5006,84093%
Bristol1151,0244,6396,7812,38038%
Gloucester1173,4306,6759,8595,42861%
Harlequins1151,4604,6787,0673,08955%
Leicester Tigers13157,16712,09016,0068,11276%
London Irish1165,1155,92012,0372,50424%
London Wasps1373,7195,67112,1373,44431%
Newcastle Falcons1255,0654,5898,5002,62346%
Northampton Saints1185,6477,78610,0006,09378%
Rotherham Titans1127,9632,5424,0001,80087%
Sale Sharks1130,9392,8133,8771,84452%
Saracens11101,4419,22213,0216,09242%

References
  1. BBC Sport
  2. "ZURICH PREMIER LEAGUE RUGBY UNION: HOT BATH TURN THE HEAT HIGH; ROTHERHAM 12 BATH 68". Sunday Mirror. 15 April 2001. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016.
  3. "Leagues 2000/01". Moseley Rugby Club. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  4. "Match Centre | Rugby | Leicester Tigers | Official Website : Match Centre". Archived from the original on 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  5. "Match Centre | Rugby | Leicester Tigers | Official Website : Match Centre". Archived from the original on 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  6. "2000-01 Premiership Rugby top points scorers". ESPNScrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  7. "2000-01 Premiership Rugby top try scorers". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
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