1997–98 Premiership 1

1997–98 Premiership 1
Countries England
Date23 August 1997 – 17 May 1998
ChampionsNewcastle Falcons (1st title)
Runners-upSaracens
RelegatedBristol
Matches played132
Attendance823,446
(average 6,238 per match)
Highest attendance19,764 – Saracens v Newcastle (19 April 1998)
Lowest attendance1,500 – London Irish v Bristol (20 February 1998)
Top point scorer279 – Michael Lynagh (Saracens)
Top try scorer17 – Dominic Chapman (Richmond)

The 1997–98 Premiership 1 was the eleventh season of the top tier of the English rugby union league system, currently known as Premiership Rugby, and the first to be sponsored by Allied Dunbar, having previously been sponsored by Courage Brewery. The end of the previous season had seen a wide scale restructuring of the old league system, with the two leagues (formerly National Division 1 and 2) being renamed as Premiership 1 and Premiership 2, with Allied Dunbar agreeing to sponsor the top two divisions for £7,500,000.[1] Wasps were defending champions and Richmond and Newcastle Falcons the promoted sides.[2]

Newly promoted Newcastle Falcons finished as league champions for the first time in their history, just one point clear of runners up Saracens.[3] Only one side was relegated this season, with Bristol enduring a nightmare season and dropping down to the 1998–99 Premiership 2, in what would be their first season outside of the top flight since the leagues began.

Structure

Each side played one another twice, in a round robin system, home and away, to make a total of twenty-two matches for each team. The bottom side would be automatically relegated to Premiership 2 (formerly known as National Division 1).

Participating teams

Locations of the 1997–98 Allied Dunbar Premiership One teams
1997–98 Allied Dunbar Premiership One teams in London
Team Stadium Capacity City/Area Previous season
Bath Recreation Ground 8,300 (1,000 seats)[4] Bath, Somerset 2nd
Bristol Memorial Stadium 8,500 (1,200 seats)[5] Bristol 10th
Gloucester Kingsholm 12,000 Gloucester, Gloucestershire 7th
Harlequins The Stoop 9,000 (2,000 seats)[6] Twickenham, London 3rd
Leicester Tigers Welford Road 17,000 Leicester, Leicestershire 4th
London Irish The Avenue 6,600[a] Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey 9th
Newcastle Falcons Kingston Park[b] 6,900[c] Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear Promoted from National 2 (2nd)
Northampton Saints Franklin's Gardens 9,000[d] Northampton, Northamptonshire 8th
Richmond Athletic Ground, Richmond 7,300 (1,300 seats)[11] Richmond, London Promoted from National 2 (1st)
Sale Heywood Road 4,800[e] Sale, Greater Manchester 5th
Saracens Vicarage Road[f] 22,000 Watford, Hertfordshire 6th
Wasps Loftus Road[g] 18,439 Shepherd's Bush, London Champions

Final table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Pts Qualification
1 Newcastle Falcons (C) 22 19 0 3 645 387 +258 85 31 38 Champions
2 Saracens 22 18 1 3 584 396 +188 59 36 37
3 Bath 22 13 0 9 575 455 +120 66 49 26
4 Leicester Tigers 22 12 2 8 569 449 +120 64 45 26
5 Richmond 22 12 0 10 607 499 +108 81 50 24
6 Gloucester 22 11 1 10 512 528 −16 52 65 23
7 Sale 22 10 2 10 605 558 +47 71 60 22
8 Northampton Saints 22 9 1 12 493 472 +21 46 53 19
9 Wasps 22 8 1 13 490 609 −119 47 68 17
10 Harlequins 22 8 0 14 516 645 −129 58 73 16
11 London Irish 22 6 0 16 457 673 −216 45 82 12
12 Bristol (R) 22 2 0 20 351 733 −382 36 98 4 Relegated
Source:
(C) Champion; (R) Relegated

Fixtures & Results

Week 1

23 August 1997
14:15
Bath13–20Newcastle Falcons
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,000
23 August 1997
15:00
Gloucester35–13Bristol
Kingsholm
Attendance: 7,564
23 August 1997
15:00
Northampton Saints23–26NEC Harlequins
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 6,027
23 August 1997
15:00
Richmond32–12London Irish
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 4,779
24 August 1997
15:00
Sale10–19Saracens
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,000

Week 2

30 August 1997
14:15
NEC Harlequins20–27Bath
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,154
30 August 1997
15:00
Bristol21–38London Wasps
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,000
30 August 1997
15:00
Leicester Tigers33–16Gloucester
Welford Road
Attendance: 11,159
30 August 1997
15:00
London Irish20–26Sale
The Avenue
Attendance: 5,000

Week 3

8 October 1997
19:30
Newcastle Falcons37–12Northampton Saints
Kingston Park
Attendance: 3,390
8 October 1997
20:00
Saracens15–9Richmond
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 4,134

Week 4

18 October 1997
14:15
Richmond37–16NEC Harlequins
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 4,836
18 October 1997
15:00
Bath44–15Bristol
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,000
18 October 1997
15:00
Northampton Saints25–6Leicester Tigers
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 8,186
18 October 1997
15:00
Sale26–33Newcastle Falcons
Heywood Road
Attendance: 4,000
19 October 1997
15:00
London Wasps15–19Saracens
Loftus Road
Attendance: 9,700
19 October 1997
15:15
Gloucester29–7London Irish
Kingsholm
Attendance: 6,287

Week 5

25 October 1997
14:15
Leicester Tigers33–22Bath
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,000
25 October 1997
15:00
NEC Harlequins52–41Sale
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,810
26 October 1997
15:00
Bristol22–15Northampton Saints
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,062
26 October 1997
15:00
London Irish22–17London Wasps
The Avenue
Attendance: 4,000
26 October 1997
15:00
Newcastle Falcons18–12Richmond
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,202
26 October 1997
15:00
Saracens42–24Gloucester
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,163

Week 6

1 November 1997
15:00
Bath47–31Richmond
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,000
1 November 1997
15:00
London Irish19–35Newcastle Falcons
The Avenue
Attendance: 5,000
2 November 1997
15:00
Gloucester16–17NEC Harlequins
Kingsholm
Attendance: 7,937
2 November 1997
15:00
London Wasps22–38Sale
Loftus Road
Attendance: 4,105
2 November 1997
15:00
Saracens31–9Bristol
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 4,258

Week 7

8 November 1997
15:00
Northampton Saints13–19Saracens
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 7,088
9 November 1997
15:00
Sale76–0Bristol
Try: Rees (3)
Beim (4)
Sanderson
Winstanley (2)
Ellis
Mallinder
Con: Howarth (8/12)		Report
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: J.P. Pearson

Week 8

13 December 1997
14:15
Leicester Tigers55–15Sale
Welford Road
Attendance: 10,695
13 December 1997
15:00
Bristol12–13Richmond
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,415
13 December 1997
15:00
London Irish10–51Northampton Saints
The Avenue
Attendance: 4,300
13 December 1997
15:00
NEC Harlequins53–17London Wasps
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,812
14 December 1997
15:00
Newcastle Falcons37–27Gloucester
Kingston Park
Attendance: 3,000
14 December 1997
15:00
Saracens50–23Bath
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,658
16 December 1997
20:00
Richmond32–15Leicester Tigers
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 2,076

Week 9

20 December 1997
15:00
Leicester Tigers27–3NEC Harlequins
Welford Road
Attendance: 11,606
21 December 1997
14:30
Richmond21–24Northampton Saints
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 2,204

Week 10

26 December 1997
15:00
Saracens21–22Leicester Tigers
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 14,291
27 December 1997
14:00
Bristol8–50Newcastle Falcons
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,000
27 December 1997
15:00
Gloucester26–20Richmond
Kingsholm
Attendance: 8,328
27 December 1997
15:00
NEC Harlequins26–24London Irish
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,348
27 December 1997
15:00
Northampton Saints18–10London Wasps
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 8,772
27 December 1997
15:00
Sale11–13Bath
Heywood Road
Attendance: 4,500

Week 11

30 December 1997
15:00
Bath26–3Northampton Saints
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,000
30 December 1997
19:30
London Irish10–25Saracens
The Avenue
Attendance: 3,800
30 December 1997
19:30
London Wasps22–18Richmond
Loftus Road
Attendance: 4,912
30 December 1997
19:30
Sale24–24Gloucester
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,500
30 December 1997
19:45
Leicester Tigers19–25Newcastle Falcons
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,000
31 December 1997
15:00
NEC Harlequins38–40Bristol
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,124

Week 12

10 January 1998
15:00
Northampton Saints33–14Sale
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 5,929
11 January 1998
15:00
London Wasps26–20Gloucester
Loftus Road
Attendance: 4,245
11 January 1998
15:00
Newcastle Falcons46–13London Irish
Kingston Park
Attendance: 3,500
11 January 1998
15:00
Saracens25–16NEC Harlequins
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,753

Week 13

17 January 1998
14:00
Leicester Tigers45–21London Wasps
Welford Road
Attendance: 15,000
17 January 1998
15:00
London Irish14–45Richmond
The Avenue
Attendance: 3,500
18 January 1998
15:00
Bristol13–14Gloucester
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,601
18 January 1998
15:00
NEC Harlequins5–30Northampton Saints
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 4,612

Week 14

31 January 1998
14:30
Richmond10–15Saracens
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 3,888
31 January 1998
15:00
Northampton Saints17–21Newcastle Falcons
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 8,989
1 February 1998
15:00
Gloucester32–25Leicester Tigers
Kingsholm
Attendance: 7,963
1 February 1998
15:00
London Wasps32–18Bristol
Loftus Road
Attendance: 4,112
1 February 1998
15:00
Sale Sharks41–16London Irish
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,500

Week 15

11 February 1998
19:15
Bath47–3Gloucester
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 5,500
14 February 1998
14:00
Gloucester20–15Northampton Saints
Kingsholm
Attendance: 5,689
14 February 1998
15:00
Bath43–27London Wasps
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,000
14 February 1998
15:00
Bristol20–37Saracens
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,239
14 February 1998
15:00
Leicester Tigers34–19London Irish
Welford Road
Attendance: 10,762
15 February 1998
15:00
Newcastle Falcons43–15NEC Harlequins
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,031
15 February 1998
15:00
Richmond20–28Sale
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 2,017

Week 16

20 February 1998
20:00
London Irish38–23Bristol
The Avenue
Attendance: 1,500
24 February 1998
19:30
Saracens42–20Sale
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 3,722

Week 17

28 February 1998
15:00
Bath39–13NEC Harlequins
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,200
28 February 1998
15:00
Bristol24–27Leicester Tigers
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,143

Week 18

7 March 1998
15:00
Leicester Tigers15–15Northampton Saints
Welford Road
Attendance: 14,500
7 March 1998
15:00
NEC Harlequins41–12Richmond
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 4,532
8 March 1998
15:00
Bristol16–22Bath
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,271
8 March 1998
15:00
Saracens33–27London Wasps
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 12,332
10 March 1998
19:30
Newcastle Falcons23–18Sale
Kingston Park
Attendance: 2,638
11 March 1998
19:30
Gloucester22–15London Wasps
Kingsholm
Attendance: 6,629

Week 19

14 March 1998
14:15
Bath16–5Leicester Tigers
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
14 March 1998
15:00
Northampton Saints35–12Bristol
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 4,900
14 March 1998
15:00
Richmond30–17Newcastle Falcons
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 4,367
14 March 1998
15:00
Sale23–13NEC Harlequins
Heywood Road
Attendance: 4,000
15 March 1998
15:00
Gloucester38–15Saracens
Kingsholm
Attendance: 7,135
15 March 1998
15:00
London Wasps19–38London Irish
Loftus Road
Attendance: 7,935

Week 20

24 March 1998
19:30
London Irish23–19Gloucester
The Avenue
Attendance: 2,300
25 March 1998
19:30
Newcastle Falcons30–25Saracens
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,868
28 March 1998
15:00
Leicester Tigers42–19Richmond
Welford Road
Attendance: 10,146
28 March 1998
15:00
London Irish35–49Bath
The Avenue
Attendance: 4,800
29 March 1998
15:00
NEC Harlequins36–16Gloucester
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 4,127

Week 21

7 April 1998
19:30
Newcastle Falcons20–13London Wasps
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,500
10 April 1998
15:00
Bath13–29Saracens
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
10 April 1998
15:00
Richmond43–3Bristol
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 2,500
11 April 1998
15:00
Gloucester27–29Newcastle Falcons
Kingsholm
Attendance: 9,048
11 April 1998
15:00
Sale35–21Leicester Tigers
Heywood Road
Attendance: 4,000
12 April 1998
15:00
London Wasps29–26NEC Harlequins
Loftus Road
Attendance: 5,749

Week 22

13 April 1998
15:00
Richmond32–14Bath
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 6,500
15 April 1998
19:15
Bristol15–25Sale
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 1,547
18 April 1998
14:00
NEC Harlequins14–23Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,362
18 April 1998
15:00
Gloucester27–17Bath
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,574
18 April 1998
15:00
Northampton Saints39–47Richmond
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 5,350
18 April 1998
15:00
Sale28–28London Wasps
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,800
19 April 1998
15:00
Bristol5–17London Irish
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,265
19 April 1998
15:05
Saracens12–10Newcastle Falcons
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 19,764

Week 23

22 April 1998
19:30
Northampton Saints33–18London Irish
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 4,600
22 April 1998
19:45
London Wasps18–17Newcastle Falcons
Loftus Road
Attendance: 5,045
25 April 1998
14:15
Leicester Tigers10–10Saracens
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,900
25 April 1998
15:00
Bath19–29Sale
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 6,500
25 April 1998
15:00
London Irish62–14NEC Harlequins
The Avenue
Attendance: 4,200
25 April 1998
15:00
Richmond33–22Gloucester
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 2,000
26 April 1998
15:00
London Wasps31–15Northampton Saints
Loftus Road
Attendance: 5,261
26 April 1998
15:00
Newcastle Falcons43–18Bristol
Kingston Park
Attendance: 3,162

Week 24

28 April 1998
19:15
Bath20–3London Irish
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 5,500
29 April 1998
19:30
NEC Harlequins26–28Saracens
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 4,152
29 April 1998
19:45
London Wasps17–13Leicester Tigers
Loftus Road
Attendance: 3,791
2 May 1998
15:00
Gloucester31–19Sale
Kingsholm
Attendance: 6,319
2 May 1998
15:00
Northampton Saints16–15Bath
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 6,320
2 May 1998
15:00
Richmond51–29London Wasps
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 4,551
3 May 1998
15:00
Bristol19–26NEC Harlequins
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,110
3 May 1998
15:00
Saracens29–21London Irish
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,143

Week 25

4 May 1998
15:00
Newcastle Falcons27–10Leicester Tigers
Gateshead International Stadium
Attendance: 7,210
10 May 1998
15:00
Leicester Tigers34–25Bristol
Welford Road
Attendance: 8,678
10 May 1998
15:00
Sale30–19Northampton Saints
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,000

Week 26

11 May 1998
19:30
Newcastle Falcons20–15Bath
Gateshead International Stadium
Attendance: 11,750
14 May 1998
19:45
Saracens43–20Northampton Saints
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,117
17 May 1998
13:00
NEC Harlequins20–44Newcastle Falcons
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 8,897
  • Newcastle Falcons are champions.
17 May 1998
15:00
London Irish16–55Leicester Tigers
The Avenue
Attendance: 2,500
17 May 1998
15:00
London Wasps17–31Bath
Loftus Road
Attendance: 9,324
17 May 1998
15:00
Northampton Saints22–24Gloucester
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 5,500
17 May 1998
15:00
Sale28–40Richmond
Heywood Road
Attendance: 4,000

Attendances

Club Home
Games 		Total Average Highest Lowest % Capacity
Bath 11 80,100 7,282 8,200 5,500 88%
Bristol 11 39,653 3,605 5,601 1,547 42%
Gloucester 11 83,473 7,588 10,574 5,689 63%
Harlequins 11 64,930 5,903 8,897 4,127 66%
Leicester Tigers 11 141,446 12,859 16,900 8,678 76%
London Irish 11 40,900 3,718 5,000 1,500 56%
Newcastle Falcons 11 55,251 5,023 11,750 2,638 62%
Northampton Saints 11 71,661 6,515 8,989 4,600 72%
Richmond 11 39,718 3,611 6,500 2,000 49%
Sale 11 39,800 3,618 4,500 2,500 75%
Saracens 11 102,335 9,303 19,764 3,722 42%
Wasps 11 64,179 5,834 9,700 3,791 32%

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

See also

Note

  1. ^ The Avenue capacity up from 3,600 to around 6,600 for the 1997–98 season.[7][8].
  2. ^ Newcastle played two home games at the 11,800 capacity Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead on 4 May 1998 and 11 May 1998.
  3. ^ Kingston Park capacity was up from 6,600 to around 6,900 for the 1997–98 season with 6,868 attending for the fixture against Saracens on 25 March 1998.[9]
  4. ^ Franklin's Gardens capacity up from 8,400 to around 9,000 for the 1997–98 season with a crowd of 8,989 attending the home fixture against Newcastle Falcons on 31 January 1998.[10]
  5. ^ The capacity of Heywood Road went up from 4,000 to around 4,800 for the 1997–98 season.[12][13]
  6. ^ For the 1997–98 season Saracens would groundshare with football team Watford at Vicarage Road having spent the previous season ground sharing with Enfield at Southbury Road.
  7. ^ Wasps would continue to groundshare with football team Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

References

  1. ^ Mick Cleary and John Griffiths, ed. (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997–98. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7732-X.
  2. ^ "Rugby: Team Dallaglio take the title". The Independent. 26 April 1997.
  3. ^ "Rugby Union: Newcastle triumph with passion". The Independent. 18 May 1998.
  4. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Bath F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 40.
  5. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Bristol F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 43.
  6. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Harlequins F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 50.
  7. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "London Irish R.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 98.
  8. ^ "The Avenue, London Irish R.F.C., 1931-1999". Rugby Journal. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Rugby Union: Winger Inga has the power". Independent. 1 March 1999.
  10. ^ "Grayson's deftness tames the Tigers". The Independent. 13 January 1997.
  11. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Richmond F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 112.
  12. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Sale F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 118.
  13. ^ "Sale Sharks - Heywood Rd". BBC Sport. 6 March 2002.
  14. ^ "1997-98 Premiership Rugby top points scorers". ESPNScrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  15. ^ "1997-98 Premiership Rugby top try scorers". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
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