2007–08 Premiership Rugby

The 2007–08 Guinness Premiership was the 21st season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions, played between September 2007 and May 2008. Round 1 included the London Double Header at Twickenham, between the four London teams.

2007–08 Guinness Premiership
Countries England
ChampionsLondon Wasps (6th title)
Runners-upLeicester Tigers
RelegatedLeeds Carnegie
Matches played135
Attendance1,517,863
(average 11,243 per match)
Top point scorerEngland Andy Goode (207 points)
Top try scorerEngland Tom Varndell (14 tries)

Due to the 2007 Rugby World Cup the season started a week later than usual, as England were trying to defend their title. Leeds Tykes, which renamed themselves Leeds Carnegie shortly after the 2006–07 season, were promoted from National Division One 2006–07, taking the place of Northampton Saints who were relegated.

During the course of the season, London Wasps went from 10th in the league during October, to beat Leicester in the Guinness Premiership Final at Twickenham on 31 May 2008.

Teams

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Leeds Carnegie, having won the 2006–07 National Division One, replaced Northampton Saints, who were relegated last season after finishing bottom of the table.

Club Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bath Recreation Ground 10,600 Bath, Somerset
Bristol Memorial Stadium[n 1] 12,100 Bristol
Gloucester Kingsholm 16,500 Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Harlequins The Stoop[n 2] 12,638 Twickenham, London
Leeds Carnegie Headingley Stadium 22,250 Leeds, West Yorkshire
Leicester Tigers Welford Road 17,500 Leicester, Leicestershire
London Irish Madejski Stadium 24,161 Reading, Berkshire
London Wasps Adams Park[n 3] 10,000 High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Newcastle Falcons Kingston Park 10,200 Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Sale Edgeley Park 10,852 Stockport, Greater Manchester
Saracens Vicarage Road[n 4] 22,000 Watford, Hertfordshire
Worcester Sixways 10,197 Worcester, Worcestershire
Notes
  1. ^ *Bristol would also play 1 home game at Ashton Gate in Bristol on 2 March 2008
  2. ^ *Harlequins would also play 1 home game at Twickenham in London on 15 September 2007
  3. ^ *London Wasps would also play 1 home game at Twickenham in London on 15 September 2007
  4. ^ *Saracens would also play 1 home game at Stadium mk in Milton Keynes on 10 May 2008

Table

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Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Gloucester (SF) 22 15 0 7 551 377 +174 65 39 7 7 74 Play off place
2 London Wasps (C) 22 14 2 6 599 459 +140 67 49 7 3 70
3 Bath (SF) 22 15 0 7 526 387 +139 59 37 6 3 69
4 Leicester Tigers (F) 22 13 0 9 539 428 +111 58 40 6 6 64
5 Sale Sharks 22 14 0 8 481 374 +107 44 37 4 3 63
6 Harlequins 22 12 0 10 480 440 +40 53 49 7 8 63
7 London Irish 22 13 0 9 433 382 +51 44 37 2 5 59
8 Saracens 22 11 0 11 533 525 +8 58 58 3 5 52
9 Bristol 22 7 1 14 393 473 −80 40 52 3 5 37[a]
10 Worcester Warriors 22 6 2 14 387 472 −85 48 47 1 7 36
11 Newcastle Falcons 22 7 0 15 333 542 −209 34 62 1 5 34
12 Leeds Carnegie (R) 22 2 1 19 336 732 −396 33 96 0 2 12 Relegation place
Source: www.guinnesspremiership.com
Rules for classification: If teams were level at any stage, tie-breakers applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points scored and allowed
  3. Total number of points scored
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
    Notes:
  1. ^ Bristol Rugby deducted one point for fielding an ineligible player in the match against London Wasps on 22 December 2007.

Results

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Round 1

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15 September 2007
14:15
Bath29–15Worcester Warriors
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,010
15 September 2007
15:30
Harlequins35–27London Irish
Twickenham
Attendance: 39,400
15 September 2007
18:00
London Wasps19–29Saracens
Twickenham
Attendance: 39,400
16 September 2007
15:00
Bristol13–26Leicester Tigers
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 8,125
16 September 2007
15:00
Leeds Carnegie24–49Gloucester
Headingley
Attendance: 10,674
16 September 2007
15:00
Newcastle Falcons33–12Sale Sharks
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,859

Round 2

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22 September 2007
15:00
Leicester Tigers26–16Bath
Welford Road
Attendance: 17,059
22 September 2007
17:00
Harlequins39–15Leeds Carnegie
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,459
22 September 2007
17:00
Worcester Warriors24–24London Wasps
Sixways
Attendance: 7,105
23 September 2007
15:00
London Irish19–0Newcastle Falcons
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 6,800
23 September 2007
15:00
Sale Sharks20–6Bristol
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 6,402
23 September 2007
15:00
Saracens31–38Gloucester
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,976

Round 3

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29 September 2007
14:15
Bath21–19Sale Sharks
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,105
29 September 2007
18:00
Gloucester29–7Worcester Warriors
Kingsholm
Attendance: 15,781
29 September 2007
18:00
Newcastle Falcons19–12Harlequins
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,478
30 September 2007
15:00
Bristol14–11London Irish
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 6,751
30 September 2007
15:00
Leeds Carnegie7–31Saracens
Headingley
Attendance: 9,620
30 September 2007
15:00
London Wasps17–20Leicester Tigers
Adams Park
Attendance: 7,313

Round 4

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5 October 2007
19:45
Sale Sharks16–0London Wasps
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,368
5 October 2007
20:00
London Irish20–22Bath
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 8,092
5 October 2007
20:00
Newcastle Falcons21–19Leeds Carnegie
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,847
6 October 2007
16:00
Harlequins24–18Bristol
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,732
6 October 2007
17:00
Worcester Warriors16–21Saracens
Sixways
Attendance: 8,863
6 October 2007
18:00
Leicester Tigers17–30Gloucester
Welford Road
Attendance: 17,101

Round 5

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12 October 2007
20:00
Leeds Carnegie26–21Worcester Warriors
Headingley
Attendance: 4,516
13 October 2007
12:30
Bath25–10Harlequins
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,142
13 October 2007
15:00
Gloucester31–12Sale Sharks
Kingsholm
Attendance: 14,075
14 October 2007
15:00
Bristol23–16Newcastle Falcons
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 6,829
14 October 2007
15:00
London Wasps28–14London Irish
Adams Park
Attendance: 6,629
14 October 2007
15:00
Saracens26–19Leicester Tigers
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,427

Round 6

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19 October 2007
19:45
Sale Sharks34–30Saracens
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,051
20 October 2007
15:00
Harlequins26–25London Wasps
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 10,115
20 October 2007
15:00
Leicester Tigers28–20Worcester Warriors
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,219
21 October 2007
14:00
Newcastle Falcons20–33Bath
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,592
21 October 2007
15:00
Bristol39–13Leeds Carnegie
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 6,439
21 October 2007
16:00
London Irish15–10Gloucester
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,582

Round 7

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23 November 2007
20:00
Worcester Warriors15–34Sale Sharks
Sixways
Attendance: 10,197
24 November 2007
14:15
Bath28–13Bristol
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
24 November 2007
14:45
Leeds Carnegie6–29Leicester Tigers
Headingley
Attendance: 9,496
24 November 2007
15:00
Gloucester27–25Harlequins
Kingsholm
Attendance: 13,506
25 November 2007
15:00
London Wasps35–12Newcastle Falcons
Adams Park
Attendance: 9,502
25 November 2007
15:00
Saracens24–20London Irish
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,020

Round 8

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22 December 2007
14:15
Bath41–10Leeds Carnegie
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
22 December 2007
14:45
Bristol23–23London Wasps
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 9,926
22 December 2007
15:00
Harlequins20–27Saracens
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 11,672
23 December 2007
14:45
Sale Sharks20–14Leicester Tigers
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,872
23 December 2007
15:00
London Irish23–16Worcester Warriors
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,266
23 December 2007
15:00
Newcastle Falcons13–20Gloucester
Kingston Park
Attendance: 9,612

Round 9

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29 December 2007
14:45
Leicester Tigers25–17London Irish
Welford Road
Attendance: 17,498
29 December 2007
14:45
London Wasps25–10Bath
Adams Park
Attendance: 10,000
29 December 2007
15:00
Gloucester27–0Bristol
Kingsholm
Attendance: 16,500
29 December 2007
15:00
Worcester Warriors7–10Harlequins
Sixways
Attendance: 10,197
30 December 2007
15:00
Leeds Carnegie20–34Sale Sharks
Headingley
Attendance: 11,116
30 December 2007
16:00
Saracens19–22Newcastle Falcons
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 17,223

Round 10

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4 January 2008
20:00
Bath10–5Gloucester
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
5 January 2008
15:00
London Wasps25–17Leeds Carnegie
Adams Park
Attendance: 7,667
6 January 2008
13:15
Harlequins13–42Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 12,605
6 January 2008
15:00
Bristol18–3Saracens
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 8,129
6 January 2008
15:00
London Irish20–12Sale Sharks
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,744
6 January 2008
15:00
Newcastle Falcons15–12Worcester Warriors
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,219

Round 11

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25 January 2008
20:00
Sale Sharks20–13Harlequins
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,216
26 January 2008
15:00
Gloucester18–17London Wasps
Kingsholm
Attendance: 16,200
26 January 2008
15:00
Leicester Tigers41–14Newcastle Falcons
Welford Road
Attendance: 17,498
26 January 2008
15:00
Worcester Warriors25–5Bristol
Sixways
Attendance: 9,822
27 January 2008
13:30
Saracens26–20Bath
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,952
27 January 2008
15:00
Leeds Carnegie24–26London Irish
Headingley
Attendance: 4,886

Rearranged fixtures

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9 February 2008
15:00
Gloucester13–20Leicester Tigers
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,597
10 February 2008
15:00
Saracens19–6Worcester Warriors
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,739

Round 12

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15 February 2008
19:45
Sale Sharks29–3Leeds Carnegie
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 8,006
16 February 2008
14:45
Bath34–42London Wasps
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
16 February 2008
15:00
Harlequins36–15Worcester Warriors
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 10,363
17 February 2008
13:45
London Irish22–13Leicester Tigers
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 10,559
17 February 2008
15:00
Bristol29–26Gloucester
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 11,418
17 February 2008
15:00
Newcastle Falcons16–14Saracens
Kingston Park
Attendance: 8,266

Round 13

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22 February 2008
20:00
Worcester Warriors11–12London Irish
Sixways
Attendance: 10,197
23 February 2008
15:00
Gloucester28–20Newcastle Falcons
Kingsholm
Attendance: 13,047
23 February 2008
15:00
Leicester Tigers11–14Sale Sharks
Welford Road
Attendance: 17,498
23 February 2008
15:00
London Wasps32–30Bristol
Adams Park
Attendance: 8,583
24 February 2008
15:00
Leeds Carnegie15–34Bath
Headingley
Attendance: 4,859
24 February 2008
18:05
Saracens6–15Harlequins
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,553

Round 14

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29 February 2008
19:45
Sale Sharks15–22Worcester Warriors
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,862
1 March 2008
13:30
London Irish27–24Saracens
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 8,298
1 March 2008
14:45
Harlequins30–25Gloucester
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 12,638
1 March 2008
15:00
Leicester Tigers34–21Leeds Carnegie
Welford Road
Attendance: 17,002
2 March 2008
15:00
Bristol9–19Bath
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 16,234

Round 15

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8 March 2008
13:00
Bath22–11Newcastle Falcons
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
8 March 2008
15:00
Worcester Warriors23–19Leicester Tigers
Sixways
Attendance: 10,047
8 March 2008
17:30
Gloucester34–14London Irish
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,354
9 March 2008
15:00
Leeds Carnegie13–30Bristol
Headingley
Attendance: 3,841
9 March 2008
15:00
London Wasps29–25Harlequins
Adams Park
Attendance: 10,000
9 March 2008
15:00
Saracens24–20Sale Sharks
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,712

Round 16

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14 March 2008
19:45
Sale Sharks22–16Gloucester
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,266
15 March 2008
15:00
Leicester Tigers36–23Saracens
Welford Road
Attendance: 17,071
16 March 2008
13:00
Worcester Warriors10–10Leeds Carnegie
Sixways
Attendance: 9,371
16 March 2008
15:00
Harlequins22–16Bath
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 11,196
16 March 2008
15:00
London Irish16–22London Wasps
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 23,709
16 March 2008
15:00
Newcastle Falcons8–28Bristol
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,088

Round 17

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21 March 2008
19:00
Leeds Carnegie16–15Newcastle Falcons
Headingley
Attendance: 8,917
22 March 2008
14:15
Bath19–16London Irish
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
23 March 2008
15:00
Bristol15–28Harlequins
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 9,764

Round 18

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28 March 2008
19:45
Sale Sharks22–6Bath
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,068
29 March 2008
14:45
Leicester Tigers19–24London Wasps
Welford Road
Attendance: 17,498
29 March 2008
15:00
Harlequins15–9Newcastle Falcons
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 12,638
29 March 2008
15:00
Worcester Warriors17–14Gloucester
Sixways
Attendance: 10,197
30 March 2008
15:00
London Irish28–8Bristol
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,573
30 March 2008
15:00
Saracens66–7Leeds Carnegie
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,896

Round 19

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11 April 2008
19:30
Bristol17–24Sale Sharks
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 8,178
12 April 2008
12:35
Gloucester39–15Saracens
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,300
12 April 2008
15:00
London Wasps49–12Worcester Warriors
Adams Park
Attendance: 8,138
13 April 2008
15:00
Leeds Carnegie6–32Harlequins
Headingley
Attendance: 3,854
13 April 2008
15:00
Newcastle Falcons8–13London Irish
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,484

Rearranged fixtures

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15 April 2008
19:30
London Wasps29–19Sale Sharks
Adams Park
Attendance: 9,823
15 April 2008
20:00
Bath26–12Leicester Tigers
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600

Round 20

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19 April 2008
14:45
London Irish13–6Harlequins
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 10,324
19 April 2008
15:00
Gloucester39–16Leeds Carnegie
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,753
19 April 2008
15:00
Leicester Tigers32–14Bristol
Welford Road
Attendance: 17,324
19 April 2008
15:00
Worcester Warriors20–23Bath
Sixways
Attendance: 10,049
20 April 2008
15:00
Saracens29–40London Wasps
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 13,210
20 April 2008
15:30
Sale Sharks53–10Newcastle Falcons
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,134

Round 21

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3 May 2008
15:00
Bristol21–22Worcester Warriors
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 9,127
3 May 2008
18:00
Bath66–21Saracens
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
4 May 2008
15:00
Harlequins16–23Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 12,638
4 May 2008
15:00
London Irish43–20Leeds Carnegie
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,502
4 May 2008
15:00
London Wasps17–25Gloucester
Adams Park
Attendance: 10,000
4 May 2008
15:00
Newcastle Falcons28–25Leicester Tigers
Kingston Park
Attendance: 9,184

Rearranged fixture

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7 May 2008
20:00
Newcastle Falcons13–32London Wasps
Kingston Park
Attendance: 10,200

Round 22

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10 May 2008
15:00
Gloucester8–6Bath
Kingsholm
Attendance: 16,500
10 May 2008
15:00
Leeds Carnegie28–45London Wasps
Headingley
Attendance: 7,842
10 May 2008
15:00
Leicester Tigers31–28Harlequins
Welford Road
Attendance: 17,498
10 May 2008
15:00
Sale Sharks7–17London Irish
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,252
10 May 2008
15:00
Saracens25–20Bristol
Stadium:mk
Attendance: 8,050
10 May 2008
15:00
Worcester Warriors51–10Newcastle Falcons
Sixways
Attendance: 10,197

Play-offs

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Semi-finals

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18 May 2008
14:00
London Wasps21–10Bath
Adams Park
Attendance: 10,000
18 May 2008
16:30
Gloucester25–26Leicester Tigers
Kingsholm
Attendance: 16,500

Final

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31 May 2008
15:00
London Wasps26–16Leicester Tigers
Try: Rees 12' c
Lewsey 37' c
Con: Van Gisbergen (2/2)
Pen: Van Gisbergen 6', 24', 35', 72'
Report 1
Report 2
Try: Varndell 56' m
Ellis 62' m
Pen: Goode 9', 29'
Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 81,600
Referee: Wayne Barnes

Top scorers

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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 did not earn international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.

References

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  1. ^ "2007-08 Premiership Rugby top points scorers". ESPNScrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  2. ^ "2007-08 Premiership Rugby top try scorers". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
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