2023–24 Premiership Rugby
The 2023–24 Premiership Rugby is the 37th season of the top flight of English domestic rugby union competition and the sixth to be sponsored by Gallagher.[1] The competition is being broadcast by TNT Sports for the eleventh and final year of their current broadcast deal,[2] with six league season games and the final also simulcast free-to-air by ITV.[3] Highlights of each weekend's games are to be shown on ITV, with extended highlights on TNT Sports.
| 2023–24 Premiership Rugby | |
|---|---|
| Countries |  England |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Date | 13 October 2023 – 8 June 2024 |
| Relegated | London Irish |
| Matches played | 10 |
| Tries scored | 67 (average 6.7 per match) |
| Top point scorer |  Robert du Preez (Sale Sharks) Ben Spencer (Bath) – 19 points |
| Top try scorer | Josh Hodge (Exeter Chiefs) Ben Spencer (Bath) – 3 Tries |
| Official website | |
| www | |
The reigning champions entering the season are Saracens, who claimed their 6th league title after winning the 2023 final.[4] No team was promoted from the 2022–23 RFU Championship, as the champions were not able to satisfy the eligibility criteria required to enter the league.[5]
Rule changes
The 2023–24 season is set to be the final year under the current Premiership competition structure, before a planned 're-launch' taking place ahead of the 2024–25 season.[6] As a result, the moratorium on relegation to the RFU Championship will cease and be replaced by a play-off between the team placed last in the Premiership and the team placed first in the Championship. Promotion from the Championship is therefore also set to be reinstated, subject to the winning club successfully fulfilling the RFU minimum standards criteria.[7]
This season is also the last year of the league's temporary salary cap reduction, implemented to keep the participating clubs financially solvent following the COVID-19 pandemic, with further regulatory changes set to be made for the 2024–25 season.[8]
Teams
The competition will feature 10 of the 13 teams which began the 2022–23 season. Two of the other three – Wasps and Worcester Warriors – were previously confirmed to be excluded from competing in the 2023–24 season, after both clubs were expelled from the league, upon entering into administration in 2022.[9] The final team – London Irish – had originally been due to compete, but the club was also expelled in summer 2023, prior to the start of the season, because of insufficient funds to continue operating.[10] As a result, the 2023–24 season is the first time the top flight of English rugby has featured just 10 teams since the 1995–96 season.
For the second consecutive year, the top team in the Championship was ineligible for promotion to the Premiership, after 2022–23 Championship winners Jersey Reds failed to meet the minimum standards criteria.[11]
London Irish administration
On 15 May 2023, London Irish were warned by the RFU that they faced suspension from the Premiership ahead of the beginning of the 2023–24 season, unless they met a deadline of 30 May to complete a takeover by new ownership, due to concerns about the club's finances.[12] On 31 May, the RFU granted the club a one-week extension, on the condition that evidence of funding for the 2023–24 season, from either the existing benefactor or the prospective new owners, was provided by 6 June.[13] On 2 June, HMRC issued a winding-up petition against the club, in response to unpaid tax.[14] On 6 June, after failing to provide proof of funds for the upcoming season, London Irish were officially suspended from the Premiership.[15] The following day, the club filed for administration, resulting in automatic relegation under RFU regulations.[16]
Stadiums and locations
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Player movements
Table
| |||||||||||||||||
| Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Tries for | Tries against | Try bonus | Losing bonus | Points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bath | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 42 | + 17 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | ||||
| 2 | Bristol Bears | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 41 | + 17 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 9 | ||||
| 3 | Gloucester | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 42 | + 5 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 9 | ||||
| 4 | Sale Sharks | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 32 | + 12 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||||
| 5 | Exeter Chiefs | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 79 | 32 | + 47 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Harlequins | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50 | 43 | + 7 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | ||||
| 7 | Northampton Saints | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 53 | – 11 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 8 | Newcastle Falcons | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 40 | 52 | – 12 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| 9 | Leicester Tigers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 31 | 49 | – 18 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| 10 | Saracens | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 90 | – 64 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Source: Premiership Rugby — Updated 22/10/2023 | |||||||||||||||||
Green background (rows 1 to 4) indicate teams that qualify for the play-offs, which also earn a space in the 2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup.
Blue background (rows 5 to 8) indicates teams outside the play-off places, but which also earn a space in the 2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup based on their position in the table.
Yellow background (row 9) indicates a team that earn a space in the 2024–25 EPCR Challenge Cup.
Plain background (rows 10) indicates team that will enter playoff with 2023–24 RFU Championship winner (subject to eligibility) for a place in 2024–25 Premiership Rugby and the 2024–25 EPCR Challenge Cup.
(CH) Champions. (RU) Runners-up. (SF) Losing semi-finalists.
Points allocation
- Four points are awarded for a win.
- Two points are awarded for a draw.
- A try bonus point is awarded to teams that score four or more tries in a match.
- A losing bonus point is awarded to teams that lose a match by seven or fewer points.
| Tie-breaking criteria for pool play |
|---|
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
|
Round-by-round progression
The grid below shows each team's progression throughout the season, indicating their points total (and league table position) at the end of every round:
| Team Progression | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | R16 | R17 | R18 |
| Bath | 5 (2nd) |
10 (1st) |
||||||||||||||||
| Bristol Bears | 4 (4th) |
9 (2nd) |
||||||||||||||||
| Gloucester | 5 (3rd) |
9 (3rd) |
||||||||||||||||
| Sale Sharks | 4 (5th) |
8 (4th) |
||||||||||||||||
| Exeter Chiefs | 5 (1st) |
5 (5th) |
||||||||||||||||
| Harlequins | 1 (6th) |
5 (6th) |
||||||||||||||||
| Northampton Saints | 1 (7th) |
3 (7th) |
||||||||||||||||
| Newcastle Falcons | 0 (8th) |
1 (8th) |
||||||||||||||||
| Leicester Tigers | 0 (9th) |
1 (9th) |
||||||||||||||||
| Saracens | 0 (10th) |
0 (10th) |
||||||||||||||||
| Key | ||
| Win | Draw | Loss |
Regular season
The regular season fixtures were announced on 18 July 2023.[23] They are due to play out over the course of 18 rounds, with each round consisting of five matches.[24]
The league begins on 13 October 2023, with the full season schedule staggered to start and finish one month later than the 2022–23 season, in order to reduce fixture overlap with the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which reaches the knockout stages on the same weekend as the Premiership's opening round.[25] A revamped version of the Premiership Rugby Cup, involving teams from the RFU Championship, was also announced to take place before the beginning of the Premiership season.[26] The Premiership season will pause for eight weeks between the ends of January 2023 and March 2023, to avoid any fixture clashes with the 2024 Six Nations Championship.[27]
Highlights of the season include:
- Derby Weekend – All five fixtures scheduled for Round 6, on the weekend of 17–19 November 2023, are derby matches between local rivals – the Northern Derby (Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons), the West Country Derbies (Bath v Bristol Bears and Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester), the East Midlands Derby (Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints), and the London Derby (Harlequins v Saracens).[28]
- Slater Cup – Leicester Tigers and Gloucester will contest the Slater Cup at Kingsholm on 25 November 2023, and at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in March 2023, in honour of Ed Slater.[29]
- Big Game 15 – Harlequins will host Gloucester in this season's edition of The Big Game at Twickenham Stadium on 30 December 2023.[30]
- The Showdown 4 – Saracens will host Harlequins in this season's edition of The Showdown at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 23 March 2024.[31]
- Big Summer Kick-Off 3 – Harlequins will host Northampton Saints in this season's edition of the Big Summer Kick-Off at Twickenham Stadium in April 2024.
All fixtures are subject to change.[32]
Results
Round 1
| 13 October 2023 19:45 |
| Bristol Bears | 25–14 | Leicester Tigers |
| Try: Ibitoye (2) 2' m, 23' c Thacker 21' c Con: MacGinty (2/3) 22', 24' Pen: Wiliams (2/3) 38', 43' Drop: MacGinty (0/1) | Report | Try: Kelly 51' c Liebenberg 72' c Con: Atkinson (1/1) 52' Shillcock (1/1) 73' Pen: Atkinson (0/1) |
| Ashton Gate Attendance: 15,674 Referee: Ian Tempest |
| 14 October 2023 13:30 |
| (1 BP) Exeter Chiefs | 65–10 | Saracens |
| Try: Feyi-Waboso 1' m Fisilau 8' c Roots 12' m Hendrickson 16' m Slade 22' c Hodge (3) 28' c, 25' m, 55' c Tuima 59' Vintcent 72' m Armstrong 74' c Con: Slade (4/9) 9', 23', 30', 56' Skinner (1/2) 75' | Report | Try: Hartley 45' m Maitland 65' m Con: Lozowski (0/2) |
| Sandy Park Attendance: 9,371 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
| 14 October 2023 14:00 |
| (1 BP) Bath | 34–26 | Newcastle Falcons |
| Try: Barbeary 11' m Spencer (3) 21' m, 39' c, 46' m Redpath 30' c Muir 69' m Con: Spencer (2/5) 31', 40' Russell (0/1) | Report | Try: Orlando 26' c Stevenson 50' m Blamire 78' m Con: Connon (1/3) 27' Pen: Connon (3/3) 1', 8', 16' |
| Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,680 Referee: Dan Jones |
| 14 October 2023 14:00 |
| (1 BP) Gloucester | 29–28 | Harlequins (1 BP) |
| Try: Clark 19' c McGuigan 23' c Ludlow 58' c Ford-Robinson 80' + 2 Con: Barton (3/4) 20', 24', 59' Pen: Barton (1/1) 27' | Report | Try: Dombrandt 1' c Evans 25' m Northmore 31' c Con: Edwards (2/3) 2', 32' Pen: Evans (3/4) 62', 65', 72' |
| Kingsholm Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
| 15 October 2023 13:30 |
| Sale Sharks | 20–15 | Northampton Saints (1 BP) |
| Try: Roebuck 5' c O'Flaherty 11' m Caine 37' m Con: R. Du Preez (1/3) 5' Pen: R. Du Preez (1/1) 35' | Report | Try: Freeman 2' c Ramm 68' Con: Smith (1/2) 3' Pen: Smith (1/2) 26' |
| Salford Community Stadium Attendance: 3,842 Referee: Adam Leal |
Round 2
| 20 October 2023 18:00 |
| (1 BP) Newcastle Falcons | 14–18 | Gloucester |
| Try: Penalty try '67 Radwan 72' c Con: Connon (1/1) 73' | Report | Try: McGuigan 16' c Morris 21' m Con: Barton (1/2) 18' Pen: Barton (2/2) 8', 54' |
| Kingston Park Attendance: 3,821 Referee: Jack Makepeace |
| 21 October 2023 15:00 |
| (2 BP) Northampton Saints | 27–33 | Bristol Bears (1 BP) |
| Try: Seabrook (2) 2' c, 13' c Pearson 22' m Freeman 40' m Con: Smith (2/4) 3', 14' Pen: Smith (1/1) 73' | Report | Try: Bradbury (2) 10' m, 40+1' c Lahiff 50' c Thacker 59' m Con: Sheedy (2/4) 40+2', 51' Pen: Sheedy (3/3) 16', 37', 53' J. Williams (0/1) |
| cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 13,795 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
| 21 October 2023 15:00 |
| Saracens | 16–25 | Bath (1 BP) |
| Try: Christie 1' c Con: Lozowski (1/1) 1' Pen: Lozowski (3/4) 18', 36', 51' | Report | Try: de Glanville 3' m Reid 7' c McConnochie 21' m du Toit 55' m Con: Russell (1/4) 8' Pen: Russell (1/1) 33' |
| StoneX Stadium Attendance: 7,061 Referee: Hamish Smales |
| 21 October 2023 15:05 |
| (1 BP) Leicester Tigers | 17–24 | Sale Sharks |
| Try: Brown 7' m Liebenberg 34' c Hassell-Collins 59' m Con: Shillcock (1/3) 35' | Report | Try: Roebuck 9' c D. du Preez 31' c R. du Preez 69' c Con: R. du Preez (3/3) 10, 32', 70' Pen: R. du Preez (1/2) 45' |
| Mattioli Woods Welford Road Attendance: 17,719 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
| 22 October 2023 15:00 |
| Harlequins | 22–14 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Try: Kenningham 8' c Lynagh 17' c Joseph 34' m Con: Evans (2/3) 10', 17' Pen: Edwards (1/1) 80+1' | Report | Try: Painter 4' c Frost 70' c Con: Slade (2/2) 5', 71' |
| Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 11,000 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
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
Round 18
Play-offs
As in previous seasons, the top four teams in the Premiership table, following the conclusion of the regular season, will contest the play-off semi-finals in a 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd format, with the higher ranking team having home advantage.[33] The two winners of the semi-finals then meet in the Premiership Final at Twickenham on 8 June 2024.[25]
| Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| 1 | 1st in League Table | ||||||||
| 4 | 4th in League Table | ||||||||
| 1 | Winner of Semi-Final 1 | ||||||||
| 2 | Winner of Semi-Final 2 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2nd in League Table | ||||||||
| 3 | 3rd in League Table | ||||||||
Semi-finals
| 1 June 2024 |
| 1st in League Table | v | 4th in League Table |
| 1 June 2024 |
| 2nd in League Table | v | 3rd in League Table |
Final
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 yet earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.
Most points
|
Most tries
|
Promotion/relegation play-off
Subject to meeting the eligible criteria for promotion, the team which places 1st in the 2023–24 RFU Championship will contest a play-off against the team which finishes bottom of the Premiership table, with the winner competing in the following year's Premiership season. If the Championship winner is ineligible for promotion, no play-off will take place.
On 29 June 2023, it was announced that the promotion/relegation play-off would take place across two legs, with each team playing one of the matches at their home ground, during the weekends of 31 May–2 June and 7–9 June 2024.[34]
Season attendances
By club
- Attendances do not include the final at Twickenham.
| Club | Home Games |
Total | Average | Highest | Lowest | % Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bristol Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exeter Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gloucester | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harlequins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leicester Tigers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Newcastle Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Northampton Saints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sale Sharks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Saracens | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Notes
- Harlequins would also play two home games at Twickenham Stadium.
- Saracens would also play one home game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.[22]
See also
References
- "Gallagher confirmed as new title sponsors of Premiership Rugby". Sky Sports. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- "BT Sport to remain the home of Premiership Rugby in the UK for the next four years". BT Sport. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- Rendell, Sarah (20 January 2022). "Premiership agrees broadcast deal with ITV until 2023-24". Rugby World. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- Kitson, Robert (27 May 2023). "Saracens seal Premiership title as Owen Farrell steals Sale's thunder". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- Richardson, Charles (13 February 2023). "Ealing Trailfinders will not be promoted even if they win Championship, says RFU". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- Jones, Chris (12 December 2022). "Premiership Rugby to 'relaunch' for 2024-25 after demise of Wasps & Worcester". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- "RFU update on Championship Clubs Minimum Standards Criteria". England Rugby. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- "Premiership Rugby clubs unanimously vote to temporarily reduce the salary cap". Premiership Rugby. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- Scott, Ged (14 February 2023). "Worcester Warriors & Wasps: What happens next for relegated Premiership pair?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- Purewal, Nick (6 June 2023). "London Irish: Club expelled from Premiership after failing to meet deadline". Evening Standard. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- Morgan, Charlie (3 May 2023). "Jersey won the Championship but remain in a state of purgatory". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- "London Irish: Gallagher Premiership club given May 30 takeover deadline by RFU". Sky Sports. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- Orchard, Sara (31 May 2023). "London Irish granted further extension until 6 June to complete takeover". Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- Meagher, Gerard (2 June 2023). "London Irish crisis deepens after HMRC issues winding-up petition against club". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- Latham-Coyle, Harry (6 June 2023). "London Irish suspended from Gallagher Premiership after takeover fails". The Independent. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- Mairs, Gavin (7 June 2023). "London Irish file for administration after Premiership suspension". The Telegraph. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- "Ben Spencer named Bath Rugby captain for 2023/24". Bath Rugby. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- "Fitz Harding named Club Captain and signs long-term extension". Bristol Bears. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- "Lewis Ludlow to lead Gloucester Rugby for 2021-22 season". Gloucester Rugby. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- "Ludlam retains Saints captaincy for 2022/23". Northampton Saints. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- "Owen Farrell named Club Captain of Saracens". Saracens. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- "Saracens to play annual showpiece at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium". BBC Sport. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- "Gallagher Premiership Rugby: Fixtures 2023-24". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- "Premiership Rugby – Fixtures/Results". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- "Start of season and Gallagher Premiership Final dates confirmed". Premiership Rugby. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- "Premiership Rugby Cup: Championship sides to play in 2023-24 competition". BBC Sport. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- "Gallagher Premiership fixtures: league will pause during Six Nations". The Times. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- "New 'Derby Weekend' and blockbusting big games launched for the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership Rugby Season". Premiership Rugby. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- Cameron, Ian (18 November 2022). "Leicester and Gloucester to contest The Slater Cup". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- "Big Game 15 Is Here". Harlequins. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- "The Showdown 4". Saracens. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- "Premiership Rugby – FAQs". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- "A Guide to the Gallagher Premiership". The Rugby Paper. 4 December 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- "2023/24 Fixtures Announced". Championship Rugby. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.