2006-07 Guinness Premiership

The 2006-07 Guinness Premiership, the top level of club rugby union in England, started in September 2006, and ended with the final in May 2007. It was announced during the 2005-06 season that the 2006-07 competition would end two weeks early due to the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, as England would be defending their titlecite web |url=http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/201_109.php|title="Derby Day" to Kick Off the 2006-07 Guinness Premiership Season|accessdate=2007-05-31 |last=McConnell |first=Jonathan |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2006-05-26 |format= |work= |publisher= GuinnessPremiership.com|pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] . At the end of the previous season, Harlequins gained promotion to this season, while the Leeds Tykes were relegated. The Champions of this season were Leicester Tigers, beating Gloucester RFC 44-15 on May 12th in the Final at Twickenham, while the Northampton Saints were relegated. Leeds Tykes are set to return in 2007-08 under their new name of Leeds Carnegie, after being promoted.

From the start of the season, all half-time intervals were increased from the traditional 10 minutes to 15 minutes. The move has been explained as allowing clubs to capitalise on growing capacities and maximise refreshment income [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/5190594.stm|title= Premiership to extend half-time|accessdate=2007-05-31 |author= BBC Sport — Rugby Union|authorlink= |coauthors= |date= 2006-04-18|format= |work= |publisher= BBC.co.uk|pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] .

The opening games of the Season were played at Twickenham, in the London Double Header, 2006.

Table

If teams are level at any stage, they are ranked by: 1. number of wins 2. league points 3. match points difference 4. match points for 5. head-to-head record.

Fixtures and results

All fixtures and results are retrieved from GuinnessPremiership.com [cite web |url=http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/201_109.php|title=Fixtures and Results|accessdate=2007-05-31 |author= Premier Rugby |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2007 |month= |format= |work= |publisher= GuinnessPremiership.com|pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] .

Round 1

* 2 September Gloucester Rugby 24–19 Bath Rugby (1 BP) Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
* 2 September Worcester Warriors 11–41 Bristol (1 BP) Sixways Stadium, Worcester
* 2 September London Irish 20–19 NEC Harlequins (1 BP) Twickenham, London
* 2 September Saracens (1 BP) 19–21 London Wasps Twickenham, London
* 3 September Leicester Tigers (1 BP) 35–23 Sale Sharks Welford Road, Leicester
* 3 September Northampton Saints 25–23 Newcastle Falcons (1 BP) Franklin's Gardens, Northampton

Round 2

* 8 September Newcastle Falcons 20–19 (1 BP) Worcester Warriors Kingston Park, Newcastle
* 8 September London Wasps 23–17 (1 BP) London Irish Adams Park, High Wycombe
* 9 September Bath Rugby (1 BP) 43–25 Leicester Tigers Recreation Ground, Bath
* 9 September NEC Harlequins 21–31 Gloucester Rugby The Stoop, London
* 9 September Sale Sharks 32–20 Northampton Saints Edgeley Park, Stockport
* 10 September Bristol Rugby 13–13 Saracens Memorial Ground, Bristol

Round 3

* 15 September Worcester Warriors 13–25 Sale Sharks Sixways Stadium, Worcester
* 16 September Leicester Tigers 27–27 Gloucester Rugby Welford Road, Leicester
* 16 September London Irish 11–23 Bristol Rugby Madejski Stadium, Reading
* 16 September Northampton Saints (1 BP) 33–18 Bath Rugby Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
* 17 September Saracens (1 BP) 44–20 Newcastle Falcons Vicarage Road, Watford
* 17 September London Wasps (1 BP) 42–23 NEC Harlequins Adams Park, High Wycombe

Round 4

* 22 September Newcastle Falcons (1 BP) 21–26 London Irish Kingston Park, Newcastle
* 22 September Sale Sharks 34–26 Saracens Edgeley Park, Stockport
* 23 September Bath Rugby 17–11 (1 BP) Worcester Warriors Recreation Ground, Bath
* 23 September Gloucester Rugby 28–7 Northampton Saints Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
* 23 September NEC Harlequins (1 BP) 15–21 Leicester Tigers The Stoop, London
* 24 September Bristol Rugby (1 BP) 26–21 London Wasps (1 BP) Memorial Ground, Bristol

Round 5

* 13 October Worcester Warriors 24–33 Gloucester Rugby Sixways Stadium, Worcester
* 14 October Northampton Saints (1 BP) 10–15 Leicester Tigers Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
* 15 October Bristol Rugby (1 BP) 33–20 NEC Harlequins Memorial Ground, Bristol
* 15 October London Irish 14–31 (1 BP) Sale Sharks Madejski Stadium, Reading
* 15 October Saracens (1 BP) 55–23 Bath Rugby Vicarage Road, Watford
* 15 October London Wasps (1 BP) 35–15 Newcastle Falcons Adams Park, High Wycombe

Round 6

* 3 November Newcastle Falcons 26–21 (1BP) Bristol Rugby Kingston Park, Newcastle
* 3 November Sale Sharks 18–12 London Wasps Edgeley Park, Stockport
* 4 November Bath Rugby (1BP) 17–21 London Irish Recreation Ground, Bath
* 4 November Gloucester Rugby 21–12 Saracens Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
* 4 November NEC Harlequins (1BP) 34–19 Northampton Saints The Stoop, London
* 4 November Leicester Tigers (1BP) 40–21 Worcester Warriors Welford Road, Leicester

Round 7

* 10 November Bristol Rugby 15–9 (1 BP) Sale Sharks Memorial Ground, Bristol
* 10 November Newcastle Falcons 3–14 NEC Harlequins Kingston Park, Newcastle
* 10 November London Irish 11–22 Gloucester Rugby Madejski Stadium, Reading
* 11 November Worcester Warriors (1 BP) 18–23 Northampton Saints Sixways Stadium, Worcester
* 12 November Saracens 22–16 (1 BP) Leicester Tigers Vicarage Road, Watford
* 12 November London Wasps (1 BP) 47–18 Bath Rugby Adams Park, High Wycombe

Round 8

* 17 November NEC Harlequins 20–6 Worcester Warriors The Stoop, London
* 17 November Sale Sharks 18–26 Newcastle Falcons Edgeley Park, Stockport
* 18 November Bath Rugby (1 BP) 12–19 Bristol Rugby Recreation Ground, Bath
* 18 November Gloucester Rugby 27–21 (1 BP) London Wasps Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
* 18 November Leicester Tigers 26–18 London Irish Welford Road, Leicester
* 18 November Northampton Saints 13–35 (1 BP) Saracens Franklin's Gardens, Northampton

Round 9

* 24 November Bristol Rugby 14–12 (1BP) Gloucester Rugby Memorial Ground, Bristol
* 24 November Sale Sharks 17–12 (1BP) NEC Harlequins Edgeley Park, Stockport
* 25 November Bath Rugby 20–14 (1BP) Newcastle Falcons Recreation Ground, Bath
* 26 November London Irish (1BP) 40–5 Northampton Saints Madejski Stadium, Reading
* 26 November Saracens (1BP) 17–20 Worcester Warriors Vicarage Road, Watford
* 26 November London Wasps (1BP) 13–19 Leicester Tigers Adams Park, High Wycombe

Round 10

* 22 December Bath Rugby 18–16 (1BP) Sale Sharks Recreation Ground, Bath
* 22 December Gloucester Rugby P–P Newcastle Falcons Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
* 22 December NEC Harlequins (1BP) 16–20 Saracens The Stoop, London
* 22 December Leicester Tigers (1BP) 43–15 Bristol Rugby Welford Road, Leicester
* 22 December Northampton Saints 8–6 (1BP) London Wasps Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
* 22 December Worcester Warriors (1BP) 14–16 London Irish Sixways Stadium, Worcester

Round 11

* 26 December London Irish 26–25 (2BP) Leicester Tigers Madejski Stadium, Reading
* 26 December Newcastle Falcons (1BP) 45–25 (1BP) Sale Sharks Kingston Park, Newcastle
* 26 December London Wasps (1BP) 33–12 Gloucester Rugby Adams Park, High Wycombe
* 27 December Bristol Rugby 16–6 Bath Rugby Ashton Gate, Bristol
* 27 December Saracens (1BP) 38–15 Northampton Saints Vicarage Road, Watford
* 27 December Worcester Warriors (1BP) 20–27 NEC Harlequins Sixways Stadium, Worcester

Round 12

* 1 January Bath Rugby 30–19 London Wasps Recreation Ground, Bath
* 1 January Gloucester Rugby 15–3 London Irish Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
* 1 January NEC Harlequins (1BP) 42–15 Newcastle Falcons The Stoop, London
* 1 January Leicester Tigers (1BP) 28–15 Saracens Welford Road, Leicester
* 1 January Northampton Saints (1BP) 9–10 Worcester Warriors Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
* 1 January Sale Sharks (1BP) 6–10 Bristol Rugby Edgeley Park, Stockport

Round 13

* 6 January NEC Harlequins 9–3 (1 BP) Bath Rugby The Stoop, London
* 6 January Sale Sharks 20–19 (1 BP) Gloucester Rugby Edgeley Park, Stockport
* 7 January Bristol Rugby P–P Northampton Saints Memorial Ground, Bristol
* 7 January London Irish P–P Saracens Madejski Stadium, Reading
* 7 January Newcastle Falcons 31–29 (1 BP) Leicester Tigers Kingston Park, Newcastle
* 7 January London Wasps 19–14 (1 BP) Worcester Warriors Adams Park, High Wycombe

Round 14

* 26 January Worcester Warriors 3–3 London Wasps Sixways Stadium, Worcester
* 27 January Bath Rugby (1BP) 31–23 NEC Harlequins Recreation Ground, Bath
* 27 January Gloucester Rugby (1BP) 44–24 Sale Sharks Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
* 27 January Leicester Tigers (1BP) 39–5 Newcastle Falcons Welford Road, Leicester
* 27 January Northampton Saints (1BP) 8–14 Bristol Rugby Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
* 28 January Saracens 19–8 London Irish Vicarage Road, Watford

Round 15

* 17 February London Irish 15–7 (1BP) Bath Rugby Madejski Stadium, Reading
* 17 February Northampton Saints 15–28 NEC Harlequins Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
* 17 February Worcester Warriors (1BP) 6–13 Leicester Tigers Sixways Stadium, Worcester
* 18 February Bristol Rugby 22–21 (1BP) Newcastle Falcons Memorial Ground, Bristol
* 18 February Saracens 24–22 (1BP) Gloucester Rugby Vicarage Road, Watford
* 18 February London Wasps 26–18 Sale Sharks Adams Park, High Wycombe

Round 16

* 23 February Newcastle Falcons (1 BP) 37–11 London Wasps Kingston Park, Newcastle
* 23 February Sale Sharks (1 BP) 9–14 London Irish Edgeley Park, Stockport
* 24 February Bath Rugby 20–20 Saracens Recreation Ground, Bath
* 24 February Gloucester Rugby 33–19 Worcester Warriors Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
* 24 February NEC Harlequins 15–8 (1BP) Bristol Rugby The Stoop, London
* 24 February Leicester Tigers (1BP) 9–10 Northampton Saints Welford Road, Leicester

Round 17

* 3 March Leicester Tigers 27–22 (1BP) NEC Harlequins Welford Road, Leicester
* 3 March London Irish (1BP) 38–12 Newcastle Falcons Madejski Stadium, Reading
* 3 March Northampton Saints (1BP) 5–7 Gloucester Rugby Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
* 3 March Worcester Warriors 21–15 (1BP) Bath Rugby Sixways Stadium, Worcester
* 4 March Saracens 22–9 Sale Sharks Vicarage Road, Watford
* 4 March London Wasps 28–0 Bristol Rugby Adams Park, High Wycombe

Round 18

* 9 March Newcastle Falcons 20–14 Saracens (1BP) Kingston Park, Newcastle
* 9 March Sale Sharks (1BP) 12–18 Worcester Warriors Edgeley Park, Stockport
* 10 March Bath Rugby 22–17 (1BP) Northampton Saints Recreation Ground, Bath
* 10 March Bristol Rugby (1BP) 7–12 London Irish Memorial Ground, Bristol
* 10 March NEC Harlequins (1BP) 16–23 London Wasps The Stoop, London
* 11 March Gloucester Rugby 28–24 (2BP) Leicester Tigers Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester

Round 19

* 16 March Worcester Warriors 23–21 (1BP) Newcastle Falcons Sixways Stadium, Worcester
* 17 March Gloucester Rugby (1BP) 34–25 NEC Harlequins Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
* 17 March Leicester Tigers (1BP) 29–25 (1BP) Bath Rugby Welford Road, Leicester
* 17 March Northampton Saints 18–18 Sale Sharks Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
* 18 March London Irish 16–13 (1BP) London Wasps Madejski Stadium, Reading
* 18 March Saracens (1BP) 36–5 Bristol Rugby Vicarage Road, Watford

Makeup matches

* 23 March London Irish 7–22 (1BP) Saracens Madejski Stadium, Reading
* 24 March Gloucester Rugby 24–18 (1BP) Newcastle Falcons Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
* 25 March Bristol Rugby 31–19 Northampton Saints Memorial Ground, Bristol

Round 20

* 6 April Sale Sharks (1BP) 25–26 Leicester Tigers Edgeley Park, Stockport
* 7 April Bath Rugby 21–21 Gloucester Rugby Recreation Ground, Bath
* 7 April NEC Harlequins (1BP) 34–17 London Irish The Stoop, London
* 7 April Bristol Rugby 22–17 (1BP) Worcester Warriors Memorial Ground, Bristol
* 8 April Newcastle Falcons 16–7 Northampton Saints Kingston Park, Newcastle
* 8 April London Wasps 27–26 (1BP) Saracens Adams Park, High Wycombe

Round 21

* 13 April Newcastle Falcons 19–12 (1BP) Gloucester Rugby Kingston Park, Newcastle
* 13 April Sale Sharks 25–23 (1BP) Bath Rugby Edgeley Park, Stockport
* 15 April London Irish (1BP) 26–16 Worcester Warriors Madejski Stadium, Reading
* 15 April Saracens (1BP) 33–19 NEC Harlequins Vicarage Road, Watford
* 15 April London Wasps (1BP) 35–29 (1BP) Northampton Saints Adams Park, High Wycombe
* 24 April Bristol Rugby 30–13 Leicester Tigers Ashton Gate, Bristol

Round 22

* 28 April Gloucester Rugby (1BP) 35–13 Bristol Rugby Ashton Gate, Bristol
* 28 April NEC Harlequins (1BP) 49–0 Sale Sharks The Stoop, London
* 28 April Leicester Tigers (1BP) 40–26 London Wasps Welford Road, Leicester
* 28 April Newcastle Falcons 12–20 Bath Rugby Kingston Park, Newcastle
* 28 April Northampton Saints 27–22 (1BP) London Irish Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
* 28 April Worcester Warriors 22–7 Saracens Sixways Stadium, Worcester

emi-finals

* 5 May Gloucester Rugby 50-9 Saracens Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
* 5 May Leicester Tigers 26-14 Bristol Rugby Welford Road, Leicester

Final

* 12 May Gloucester Rugby 16–44 Leicester Tigers Twickenham Stadium, LondonATTENDANCE

References

See also

* Summary of the Current League positions for English National Leagues

External links

* [http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/ Official site]