1999–00 Premiership 1

1999–00 Premiership 1
Countries England
Date10 September 1999 – 28 May 2000
ChampionsLeicester Tigers (4th title)
Runners-upBath
RelegatedBedford
Matches played132
Attendance751,784
(average 5,695 per match)
Highest attendance17,109 – Leicester v Bath (21 May 2000)
Lowest attendance1,486 – Bedford v Sale (14 May 2000)
Top point scorer324 – Jarrod Cunningham (London Irish)
Top try scorer15 – Iain Balshaw (Bath)

The 1999–00 Premiership 1 was the thirteenth season of the first tier of the English league system, currently known a Premiership Rugby, and the third and final to be sponsored by Allied Dunbar, having previous been sponsored by Courage Brewery. Leicester Tigers were defending champions and Bristol the promoted side.[1][2] The league was reduced from fourteen teams to twelve following London Scottish and Richmond both entering administration.[3]

At the end of the season Leicester Tigers finished as champions, retaining their title (and fourth overall).[4] Bottom side Bedford were relegated to the 2000–01 National Division One (formerly Premiership 2) after losing the promotion-relegation playoff against Premiership 2 champions Rotherham.[5]

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 play a two legged promotion-relegation playoff against the Premiership 2 league champion to decide who be in the division for the following season.

Participating teams

Locations of the 1999–00 Allied Dunbar Premiership One teams
Team Stadium Capacity City/Area Previous season
Bath Recreation Ground 8,500 Bath, Somerset 6th
Bedford Goldington Road 6,500[6] Bedford, Bedfordshire 13th
Bristol Memorial Stadium 8,500 (1,200 seats)[7] Bristol Promoted from Premiership 2 (1st)
Gloucester Kingsholm 12,000 Gloucester, Gloucestershire 10th
Harlequins The Stoop 9,000 (2,000 seats)[8] Twickenham, London 4th
Leicester Tigers Welford Road 17,000[a] Leicester, Leicestershire Champions
London Irish The Stoop[b] 9,000[8] Twickenham, London 7th
London Wasps Loftus Road[c] 18,439 Shepherd's Bush, London 5th
Newcastle Falcons Kingston Park[d] 8,000[e] Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear 8th
Northampton Saints Franklin's Gardens 10,000 Northampton, Northamptonshire 2nd
Sale Sharks[f] Heywood Road 4,800[11] Sale, Greater Manchester 11th
Saracens Vicarage Road[g] 22,000 Watford, Hertfordshire 3rd

Table

The season began on 10 September 1999.

Points increased from 2 to 3 for a win after the World Cup in November 1999. This was an attempt to ensure competitive balance in the leagues for teams while they were without their international players.

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Pts Qualification
1 Leicester Tigers (C) 22 18 1 3 687 425 +262 74 45 51 Champion
2 Bath 22 15 2 5 690 425 +265 71 44 43
3 Gloucester 22 15 0 7 628 490 +138 68 46 40
4 Saracens 22 14 0 8 729 514 +215 83 57 37
5 Northampton Saints 22 13 0 9 551 480 +71 61 51 35
6 Bristol 22 12 1 9 632 602 +30 76 60 34
7 London Wasps 22 11 1 10 640 461 +179 76 39 32
8 London Irish 22 9 1 12 613 616 −3 63 77 25
9 Newcastle Falcons 22 6 2 14 377 630 −253 32 74 20
10 Harlequins 22 7 0 15 441 687 −246 55 82 18
11 Sale Sharks 22 7 0 15 381 633 −252 40 73 18
12 Bedford Blues (R) 22 1 0 21 396 802 −406 51 102 3 Relegated
Source:

Results

Week 1

10 September 1999
15:00
Bristol Shoguns40–25Bedford Blues
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,785
11 September 1999
15:00
Gloucester31–16Newcastle Falcons
Kingsholm
Attendance: 5,453
11 September 1999
15:00
NEC Harlequins10–30Bath Rugby
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,428
11 September 1999
15:00
Northampton Saints46–24Leicester Tigers
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 9,512
11 September 1999
15:00
Sale Sharks16–8London Wasps
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,210
12 September 1999
15:00
Saracens23–28London Irish
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,121

Week 2

25 September 1999
15:00
Bath Rugby33–13Northampton Saints
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 5,000
25 September 1999
15:00
Bedford Blues8–27London Irish
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,659
25 September 1999
15:00
Leicester Tigers18–3Sale Sharks
Welford Road
Attendance: 8,721
25 September 1999
15:00
NEC Harlequins33–24Saracens
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,361
26 September 1999
15:00
London Wasps30–26Gloucester
Loftus Road
Attendance: 5,127
26 September 1999
15:00
Newcastle Falcons32–37Bristol Shoguns
Kingston Park
Attendance: 3,342

Week 3

1 October 1999
19:30
Gloucester34–6Leicester Tigers
Kingsholm
Attendance: 5,338
1 October 1999
20:00
Bristol Shoguns20–13London Wasps
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,385
1 October 1999
20:00
Saracens39–15Bedford Blues
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 4,513
2 October 1999
15:00
Northampton Saints29–27NEC Harlequins
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 6,257
2 October 1999
15:00
Sale Sharks28–22Bath Rugby
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,800
3 October 1999
14:00
London Irish56–8Newcastle Falcons
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 3,951

Week 4

9 October 1999
14:30
Northampton Saints8–32Saracens
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 5,781
10 October 1999
13:00
London Wasps43–20London Irish
Loftus Road
Attendance: 3,566
10 October 1999
13:00
NEC Harlequins3–10Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 2,322
10 October 1999
14:15
Bath Rugby33–20Gloucester
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 6,600

Week 5

15 October 1999
19:30
Gloucester24–23NEC Harlequins
Kingsholm
Attendance: 4,809
16 October 1999
15:00
Bristol Shoguns31–31Bath Rugby
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 7,020
16 October 1999
15:00
London Irish30–31Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 3,705
17 October 1999
15:00
Sale Sharks9–13Northampton Saints
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,900
17 October 1999
15:00
Saracens55–6Newcastle Falcons
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,319

Week 6

23 October 1999
13:00
Leicester Tigers36–19Bristol Shoguns
Welford Road
Attendance: 7,785

Week 7

28 October 1999
15:00
NEC Harlequins36–20Bristol Shoguns
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 2,719
29 October 1999
19:45
Sale Sharks12–58Saracens
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,800
30 October 1999
13:00
Bath Rugby25–25London Irish
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 6,200
30 October 1999
13:00
Leicester Tigers61–12Bedford Blues
Welford Road
Attendance: 8,308
30 October 1999
15:00
Northampton Saints9–25Gloucester
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 6,257
30 October 1999
19:30
London Wasps19–19Newcastle Falcons
Loftus Road
Attendance: 2,871

Week 8

5 November 1999
19:30
Gloucester35–14Sale Sharks
Kingsholm
Attendance: 4,725
5 November 1999
19:30
Newcastle Falcons12–12Leicester Tigers
Kingston Park
Attendance: 2,835
5 November 1999
20:00
Bristol Shoguns19–29Northampton Saints
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,500
6 November 1999
12:00
Bedford Blues24–28Bath Rugby
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,119
7 November 1999
15:00
Saracens27–26London Wasps
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,517
7 November 1999
15:05
London Irish16–17NEC Harlequins
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 4,671

Week 9

13 November 1999
14:15
Bath Rugby45–12Newcastle Falcons
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 6,400
13 November 1999
15:00
Leicester Tigers28–9London Wasps
Welford Road
Attendance: 10,043
13 November 1999
15:00
NEC Harlequins11–10Bedford Blues
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 2,753
13 November 1999
15:00
Northampton Saints24–19London Irish
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 6,489
13 November 1999
16:00
Sale Sharks15–40Bristol Shoguns
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,588
14 November 1999
15:00
Gloucester22–19Saracens
Kingsholm
Attendance: 9,084

Week 10

4 December 1999
15:00
Bedford Blues17–41Northampton Saints
Goldington Road
Attendance: 4,306
4 December 1999
15:00
Bristol Shoguns25–38Gloucester
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 7,620
4 December 1999
15:00
London Irish26–3Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 3,716
5 December 1999
15:00
London Wasps23–21Bath Rugby
Loftus Road
Attendance: 6,012
5 December 1999
15:00
Newcastle Falcons15–16NEC Harlequins
Kingston Park
Attendance: 2,844
5 December 1999
18:30
Saracens36–20Leicester Tigers
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,182

Week 11

23 December 1999
19:00
NEC Harlequins16–52London Wasps
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 4,046
26 December 1999
14:15
Bath Rugby3–13Leicester Tigers
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
26 December 1999
15:00
Gloucester40–15London Irish
Kingsholm
Attendance: 7,388
26 December 1999
15:00
Northampton Saints37–5Newcastle Falcons
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 9,478
26 December 1999
15:00
Sale Sharks22–3Bedford Blues
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,800

Week 12

27 December 1999
13:00
Bristol Shoguns45–22Saracens
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 6,420
29 December 1999
15:00
Leicester Tigers29–17NEC Harlequins
Welford Road
Attendance: 15,499
29 December 1999
19:30
London Irish35–21Bristol Shoguns
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 3,478
29 December 1999
19:30
Newcastle Falcons12–6Sale Sharks
Kingston Park
Attendance: 2,359
29 December 1999
19:45
London Wasps15–21Northampton Saints
Loftus Road
Attendance: 5,117
30 December 1999
15:00
Bedford Blues6–18Gloucester
Goldington Road
Attendance: 1,813
30 December 1999
15:00
Saracens19–6Bath Rugby
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,292

Week 13

22 January 2000
14:00
Gloucester29–23Bristol Shoguns
Kingsholm
Attendance: 8,903
22 January 2000
14:15
Bath Rugby27–16London Wasps
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,300
22 January 2000
15:00
Leicester Tigers48–20Saracens
Welford Road
Attendance: 13,910
22 January 2000
15:00
NEC Harlequins12–15Newcastle Falcons
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 3,978
22 January 2000
15:00
Northampton Saints38–16Bedford Blues
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 7,049
23 January 2000
14:00
Sale Sharks24–31London Irish
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,900

Week 14

25 January 2000
19:30
Bedford Blues25–28NEC Harlequins
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,181
25 January 2000
19:30
Newcastle Falcons16–20Bath Rugby
Kingston Park
Attendance: 2,901
25 January 2000
19:45
Saracens35–21Gloucester
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,772
25 January 2000
20:00
London Wasps20–29Leicester Tigers
Loftus Road
Attendance: 5,168
26 January 2000
19:30
London Irish20–44Northampton Saints
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 4,229

Week 15

12 February 2000
14:00
Northampton Saints19–23Bristol Shoguns
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 7,228
12 February 2000
15:00
Bath Rugby32–22Bedford Blues
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 6,800
12 February 2000
15:00
Leicester Tigers34–26Newcastle Falcons
Welford Road
Attendance: 13,246
12 February 2000
15:00
NEC Harlequins14–39London Irish
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,588
12 February 2000
15:00
Sale Sharks13–31Gloucester
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,079
13 February 2000
15:00
London Wasps41–17Saracens
Loftus Road
Attendance: 8,372

Week 16

27 February 2000
15:00
Newcastle Falcons23–20Bedford Blues
Kingston Park
Attendance: 2,403

Week 17

8 March 2000
19:30
Bristol Shoguns35–16Sale Sharks
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,656
11 March 2000
14:00
Gloucester11–35Northampton Saints
Kingsholm
Attendance: 9,381
11 March 2000
15:00
Bedford Blues22–32Leicester Tigers
Goldington Road
Attendance: 4,722
11 March 2000
15:00
Bristol Shoguns42–39NEC Harlequins
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,825
11 March 2000
15:00
London Irish16–64Bath Rugby
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,174
12 March 2000
15:00
Newcastle Falcons8–34London Wasps
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,260
12 March 2000
15:00
Saracens56–28Sale Sharks
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,112

Week 18

25 March 2000
14:15
Bath Rugby39–13Bristol Shoguns
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,500
25 March 2000
15:00
Leicester Tigers41–16London Irish
Welford Road
Attendance: 13,247
25 March 2000
15:00
NEC Harlequins24–38Gloucester
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 4,127
25 March 2000
15:00
Northampton Saints26–7Sale Sharks
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 7,460
26 March 2000
15:00
London Wasps62–8Bedford Blues
Loftus Road
Attendance: 4,932
26 March 2000
15:00
Newcastle Falcons15–6Saracens
Kingston Park
Attendance: 3,950

Week 19

8 April 2000
15:00
Bedford Blues32–22Newcastle Falcons
Goldington Road
Attendance: 3,165
8 April 2000
15:00
Gloucester16–36Bath Rugby
Kingsholm
Attendance: 9,500
8 April 2000
15:00
Sale Sharks36–20NEC Harlequins
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,398

Week 20

15 April 2000
14:15
Bath Rugby36–6Sale Sharks
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 5,300
16 April 2000
15:00
Bedford Blues29–57Saracens
Goldington Road
Attendance: 3,067

Week 21

18 April 2000
19:30
Newcastle Falcons28–23London Irish
Kingston Park
Attendance: 2,880
18 April 2000
19:45
Leicester Tigers24–13Gloucester
Welford Road
Attendance: 14,850
19 April 2000
19:30
NEC Harlequins29–17Northampton Saints
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 3,500
19 April 2000
19:45
London Wasps25–31Bristol Shoguns
Loftus Road
Attendance: 3,257
22 April 2000
15:00
Gloucester26–12London Wasps
Kingsholm
Attendance: 6,040
22 April 2000
15:00
London Irish33–23Bedford Blues
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 3,108
22 April 2000
15:00
Northampton Saints13–17Bath Rugby
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 8,972
22 April 2000
15:00
Sale Sharks13–48Leicester Tigers
Heywood Road
Attendance: 3,443
23 April 2000
15:00
Bristol Shoguns30–11Newcastle Falcons
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,126

Week 22

24 April 2000
15:00
Saracens50–10NEC Harlequins
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,352
26 April 2000
19:30
Bedford Blues7–21London Wasps
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,283
29 April 2000
15:00
Bath Rugby77–19NEC Harlequins
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
29 April 2000
15:00
Bedford Blues19–57Bristol Shoguns
Goldington Road
Attendance: 2,093
29 April 2000
15:00
Leicester Tigers26–21Northampton Saints
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,880
29 April 2000
15:00
London Irish27–41Saracens
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,067
30 April 2000
15:00
London Wasps58–5Sale Sharks
Loftus Road
Attendance: 3,499
30 April 2000
15:00
Newcastle Falcons36–28Gloucester
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,380

Week 23

6 May 2000
15:00
Bath Rugby40–27Saracens
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
6 May 2000
15:00
Gloucester60–16Bedford Blues
Kingsholm
Attendance: 4,402
6 May 2000
15:00
NEC Harlequins5–54Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,628
6 May 2000
15:00
Sale Sharks45–17Newcastle Falcons
Heywood Road
Attendance: 2,478

Week 24

9 May 2000
15:00
Northampton Saints12–54London Wasps
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 5,617
10 May 2000
20:00
Bristol Shoguns28–26London Irish
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,429
14 May 2000
15:00
Bedford Blues37–50Sale Sharks
Goldington Road
Attendance: 1,486
14 May 2000
15:00
Bristol Shoguns23–30Leicester Tigers
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 7,775

Week 25

17 May 2000
19:45
London Irish45–24London Wasps
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 2,801
17 May 2000
19:45
Saracens29–24Northampton Saints
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,592
20 May 2000
15:00
London Irish40–42Gloucester
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,172
21 May 2000
15:00
Leicester Tigers43–25Bath Rugby
Welford Road
Attendance: 17,109
21 May 2000
15:00
London Wasps35–32NEC Harlequins
Loftus Road
Attendance: 6,175
21 May 2000
15:00
Newcastle Falcons23–32Northampton Saints
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,000
21 May 2000
15:00
Saracens37–10Bristol Shoguns
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,988

Promotion/Relegation Playoff

12th place Bedford faced 1999–00 Premiership 2 champions Rotherham in a two legged playoff to see who was promoted or relegated.

24 May 2000
Rotherham40–20Bedford
Clifton Lane
28 May 2000
Bedford14–0Rotherham
Goldington Road

Attendances

Club Home
Games 		Total Average Highest Lowest % Capacity
Bath 11 76,700 6,973 8,500 5,000 82%
Bedford 11 29,894 2,718 4,722 1,486 42%
Bristol 11 54,541 4,958 7,775 2,656 58%
Gloucester 11 75,023 6,820 9,500 4,402 57%
Harlequins 11 47,450 4,314 7,588 2,322 48%
Leicester Tigers 11 139,598 12,691 17,109 7,785 74%
London Irish 11 48,072 4,370 7,174 2,801 49%
Newcastle Falcons 11 36,154 3,287 4,380 2,359 41%
Northampton Saints 11 80,100 7,282 9,512 5,617 73%
Sale Sharks 11 30,396 2,763 3,443 2,210 58%
Saracens 11 79,760 7,251 10,292 4,513 33%
Wasps 11 54,096 4,918 8,372 2,871 27%

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.

Note

  1. ^ Welford Road capacity up from 17,000 to 17,109 for the 1999-00 season, which was achieved against Bath on 21 May 2000.
  2. ^ London Irish would groundshare with Harlequins for the 1999–00 season having previous been based at The Avenue in Sunbury-on-Thames.
  3. ^ Wasps would continue to groundshare with football team Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
  4. ^ Newcastle played three home games at the 11,800 capacity Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead on 2 September 1998, 27 September 1998 and 11 October 1998.
  5. ^ Kingston Park capacity up from 6,900 to around 8,000 for the 1999-00 season, due to the construction of the 2,500 capacity North Stand in 1999.[9][10]
  6. ^ Sale became official known as Sale Sharks from the 1999–00 season onward.
  7. ^ Saracens would continue to groundshare with football team Watford at Vicarage Road.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Stimpson kicks Tigers to title". BBC News. 2 May 1999.
  2. ^ "Rugby Union: Bristol promoted in top drawer fashion". The Independent. 10 May 1999.
  3. ^ "Anglos' merger is disputed". The Herald. 7 June 1999.
  4. ^ "Back sinks Bath's pretenders". BBC News. 21 May 2000.
  5. ^ a b "Tears for Bedford as Rotherham go up". BBC News. 28 May 2000.
  6. ^ "Rugby Union: Popplewell's punch sullies thriller". Independent. 7 April 1997.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b 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.
  9. ^ "Fans on the terraced North Stand of Kingston Park stadium, Newcastle upon Tyne, watching a rugby match in play between the Newcastle Falcons and the Leicester Tigers". Historic England. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  10. ^ "Newcastle Cup fury at RFU". ESPN. 10 December 2000.
  11. ^ "Sale Sharks - Heywood Rd". BBC Sport. 6 March 2002.
  12. ^ "Rotherham stride towards top flight". BBC News. 28 May 2000.
  13. ^ "1999-2000 Premiership Rugby top points scorers". ESPNScrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  14. ^ "1999-2000 Premiership Rugby top try scorers". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
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