2002–03 Premiership Rugby

2002-2003 Zurich Premiership
Countries England
ChampionsLondon Wasps (3rd title)
Runners-upGloucester
RelegatedBristol Shoguns
Matches played139
Attendance1,183,972
(average 8,518 per match)

The 2002-03 Zurich Premiership was the 16th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions.

The Zurich Championship which had been competed for in seasons 2000–01 and 2001–02 was dropped from this season.

Participating teams

[edit]
class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2002-03 Zurich Premiership teams
Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bath Recreation Ground 8,200 Bath, Somerset
Bristol Shoguns Memorial Stadium[n 1] 12,100 Bristol
Gloucester Kingsholm 11,000 Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Harlequins The Stoop 8,500 Twickenham, London
Leeds Tykes Headingley Stadium 22,250 Leeds, West Yorkshire
Leicester Tigers Welford Road 16,815 Leicester, Leicestershire
London Irish Madejski Stadium 24,161 Reading, Berkshire
London Wasps Adams Park 10,000 High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Newcastle Falcons Kingston Park 10,000 Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Northampton Saints Franklin's Gardens 12,500 Northampton, Northamptonshire
Sale Heywood Road 5,700 Sale, Greater Manchester
Saracens Vicarage Road 22,000 Watford, Hertfordshire
Notes
  1. ^ *Bristol Shoguns would also play a home game at Ashton Gate in Bristol on 4 May 2003

Table

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Gloucester (F) 22 17 2 3 617 396 +221 67 35 7 3 82 Playoff place
2 London Wasps (C) 22 13 2 7 553 460 +93 55 36 6 5 67
3 Northampton Saints (SF) 22 13 0 9 512 376 +136 52 24 5 5 62
4 Sale Sharks 22 12 2 8 556 470 +86 61 46 8 2 62 2003–04 Heineken Cup
5 Leeds Tykes[a] 22 12 2 8 478 435 +43 38 39 1 5 58
6 Leicester Tigers 22 12 0 10 448 396 +52 44 32 4 3 55
7 Harlequins 22 9 0 13 461 560 −99 43 60 3 5 44
8 Saracens 22 8 0 14 499 587 −88 49 61 5 5 42
9 London Irish 22 8 1 13 432 485 −53 32 46 2 4 40
10 Newcastle Falcons 22 8 0 14 388 545 −157 31 58 3 5 40
11 Bath 22 7 2 13 385 490 −105 33 44 1 3 36
12 Bristol Shoguns (R) 22 7 1 14 504 633 −129 47 71 3 3 36 Relegation place
Source: Guinness Premiership[permanent dead link]
Notes:
  1. ^ Wasps won the 2002–03 Parker Pen Challenge Cup therefore automatically qualifying for the 2003–04 Heineken Cup. With Leicester Tigers winning the Zurich Wildcard Final, the final 2003–04 Heineken Cup berth was awarded to Leeds Tykes, placed fifth in the league.[1]

Results

[edit]

Week 1

[edit]
30 August 2002
19:45
Sale Sharks24 – 21Northampton Saints
Heywood Road
Attendance: 5,313
31 August 2002
14:00
Leeds Tykes26 – 13Leicester Tigers
Headingley
Attendance: 4,301
31 August 2002
15:00
NEC Harlequins19 – 25Gloucester
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,015
1 September 2002
14:30
Newcastle Falcons24 – 17London Wasps
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,263
1 September 2002
15:00
Bristol Shoguns30 – 45Saracens
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,761
1 September 2002
15:00
London Irish22 – 24Bath
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,203

Week 2

[edit]
7 September 2002
14:00
Northampton Saints31 – 13Newcastle Falcons
Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 10,213
7 September 2002
15:00
Gloucester44 – 8Sale Sharks
Kingsholm
Attendance: 9,544
7 September 2002
15:00
Leicester Tigers30 – 6Harlequins
Welford Road
Attendance: 15,387
8 September 2002
14:30
Leeds Tykes41 – 16London Irish
Headingley
Attendance: 3,190
8 September 2002
15:00
London Wasps38 – 35Bristol Shoguns
Adams Park
Attendance: 7,171
8 September 2002
15:00
Saracens28 – 3Bath
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,068

Week 3

[edit]
13 September 2002
19:45
Sale Sharks29 – 16Leicester Tigers
Heywood Road
Attendance: 5,678
14 September 2002
14:00
Bath Rugby27 – 27London Wasps
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
14 September 2002
15:00
NEC Harlequins23 – 33Leeds Tykes
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 5,352
15 September 2002
14:30
Newcastle Falcons19 – 22Gloucester
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,304
15 September 2002
15:00
Bristol Shoguns28 – 36Northampton Saints
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,674
15 September 2002
15:00
London Irish32 – 10Saracens
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,177

Week 4

[edit]
20 September 2002
20:00
Leeds Tykes29 – 29Sale Sharks
Headingley
Attendance: 5,123
21 September 2002
14:00
Gloucester45 – 18Bristol Shoguns
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,117
21 September 2002
15:00
Leicester Tigers52 – 9Newcastle Falcons
Welford Road
Attendance: 15,656
21 September 2002
15:00
NEC Harlequins29 – 19London Irish
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,223
21 September 2002
15:00
Northampton Saints24 – 3Bath
Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 9,560
22 September 2002
15:00
London Wasps51 – 23Saracens
Adams Park
Attendance: 8,512

Week 5

[edit]
27 September 2002
19:45
Sale Sharks20 – 16Harlequins
Heywood Road
Attendance: 5,613
28 September 2002
14:00
Saracens31 – 19Northampton Saints
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,289
28 September 2002
14:15
Bath Rugby21 – 21Gloucester
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
29 September 2002
14:30
Newcastle Falcons27 – 20Leeds Tykes
Kingston Park
Attendance: 5,457
29 September 2002
15:00
Bristol Shoguns25 – 20Leicester Tigers
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 6,237
29 September 2002
15:00
London Irish21 – 31London Wasps
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,267

Week 6

[edit]
5 October 2002
14:00
Sale Sharks36 – 14London Irish
Heywood Road
Attendance: 4,514
5 October 2002
15:00
Gloucester44 – 14Saracens
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,439
5 October 2002
15:00
Leicester Tigers22 – 20Bath
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,811
5 October 2002
15:00
NEC Harlequins47 – 23Newcastle Falcons
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,923
5 October 2002
15:00
Northampton Saints34 – 20London Wasps
Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 9,888
6 October 2002
14:30
Leeds Tykes25 – 13Bristol Shoguns
Headingley
Attendance: 4,420

Week 7

[edit]
26 October 2002
14:00
London Wasps23 – 16Gloucester
Adams Park
Attendance: 8,768
26 October 2002
14:15
Bath Rugby20 – 22Leeds Tykes
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
27 October 2002
14:30
Newcastle Falcons31 – 20Sale Sharks
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,245
27 October 2002
15:00
London Irish12 – 14Northampton Saints
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,579
27 October 2002
15:00
Saracens18 – 26Leicester Tigers
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,531

Week 8

[edit]
1 November 2002
19:45
Sale Sharks28 – 14Bristol Shoguns
Heywood Road
Attendance: 4,688
2 November 2002
14:00
NEC Harlequins18 – 9Bath
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 8,311
2 November 2002
15:00
Gloucester18 – 9Northampton Saints
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
2 November 2002
15:00
Leicester Tigers9 – 6London Wasps
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,845
3 November 2002
14:30
Leeds Tykes27 – 18Saracens
Headingley
Attendance: 5,015
3 November 2002
14:30
Newcastle Falcons16 – 24London Irish
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,515

Week 9

[edit]
9 November 2002
12:00
Northampton Saints3 – 16Leicester Tigers
Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 12,600
10 November 2002
14:15
Bath Rugby24 – 18Sale Sharks
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,430
10 November 2002
14:30
London Irish19 – 40Gloucester
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 8,449
10 November 2002
15:00
Bristol Shoguns38 – 10Newcastle Falcons
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,342
10 November 2002
15:00
London Wasps27 – 27Leeds Tykes
Adams Park
Attendance: 4,475
10 November 2002
15:00
Saracens36 – 30Harlequins
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,634

Week 10

[edit]
15 November 2002
19:45
Leicester Tigers20 – 15Gloucester
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,845
15 November 2002
19:45
Sale Sharks37 – 26Saracens
Heywood Road
Attendance: 5,196
17 November 2002
14:30
Leeds Tykes26 – 19Northampton Saints
Headingley
Attendance: 4,017
17 November 2002
14:30
Newcastle Falcons20 – 24Bath
Kingston Park
Attendance: 4,532
17 November 2002
15:00
Bristol Shoguns32 – 32London Irish
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,005
17 November 2002
15:00
NEC Harlequins27 – 14London Wasps
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,252

Week 11

[edit]
23 November 2002
12:00
Northampton Saints35 – 7Harlequins
Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 8,296
24 November 2002
14:15
Bath Rugby19 – 30Bristol Shoguns
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
24 November 2002
14:30
Gloucester28 – 10Leeds Tykes
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,276
24 November 2002
15:00
London Irish27 – 7Leicester Tigers
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 10,605
24 November 2002
15:00
London Wasps25 – 32Sale Sharks
Adams Park
Attendance: 5,242
24 November 2002
15:00
Saracens17 – 13Newcastle Falcons
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,742

Week 12

[edit]
29 November 2002
19:45
Sale Sharks36 – 18Bath
Heywood Road
Attendance: 5,700
30 November 2002
15:00
Gloucester25 – 20London Irish
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,217
30 November 2002
15:00
NEC Harlequins36 – 32Saracens
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,714
30 November 2002
17:35
Leicester Tigers12 – 25Northampton Saints
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,875
1 December 2002
14:30
Leeds Tykes15 – 18London Wasps
Headingley
Attendance: 4,751
1 December 2002
14:30
Newcastle Falcons12 – 20Bristol Shoguns
Kingston Park
Attendance: 3,273

Week 13

[edit]
27 December 2002
15:00
London Wasps26 – 13Leicester Tigers
Adams Park
Attendance: 10,000
28 December 2002
14:15
Bath Rugby23 – 9Harlequins
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
28 December 2002
14:30
Northampton Saints13 – 16Gloucester
Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 12,500
29 December 2002
15:00
Bristol Shoguns18 – 6Sale Sharks
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,642
29 December 2002
15:00
London Irish20 – 0Newcastle Falcons
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 10,877
29 December 2002
15:00
Saracens11 – 6Leeds Tykes
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,328

Week 14

[edit]
3 January 2003
19:00
Leeds Tykes20 – 7Bath
Headingley
Attendance: 4,553
3 January 2003
19:45
Sale Sharks38 – 3Newcastle Falcons
Heywood Road
Attendance: 5,678
4 January 2003
15:00
Gloucester24 – 17London Wasps
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
4 January 2003
15:00
Leicester Tigers23 – 18Saracens
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,845
4 January 2003
15:00
NEC Harlequins26 – 17Bristol Shoguns
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,123
4 January 2003
15:00
Northampton Saints10 – 22London Irish
Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 10,604

Week 15

[edit]
1 February 2003
14:00
Newcastle Falcons32 – 17Harlequins
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,109
1 February 2003
14:15
Bath Rugby8 – 15Leicester Tigers
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
2 February 2003
15:00
Bristol Shoguns12 – 17Leeds Tykes
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,032
2 February 2003
15:00
London Irish11 – 23Sale Sharks
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,565
2 February 2003
15:00
London Wasps16 – 9Northampton Saints
Adams Park
Attendance: 9,400
2 February 2003
15:00
Saracens22 – 29Gloucester
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,089

Week 16

[edit]
7 February 2003
20:00
Leeds Tykes12 – 17Newcastle Falcons
Headingley
Attendance: 7,207
8 February 2003
14:00
Leicester Tigers40 – 6Bristol Shoguns
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,875
8 February 2003
15:00
Gloucester29 – 16Bath
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
8 February 2003
15:00
NEC Harlequins0 – 45Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,823
8 February 2003
15:00
Northampton Saints34 – 25Saracens
Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 12,500
9 February 2003
15:00
London Wasps35 – 11London Irish
Adams Park
Attendance: 8,590

Week 17

[edit]
1 March 2003
14:15
Bath Rugby30 – 9Saracens
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 7,290
1 March 2003
15:00
London Wasps13 – 12Newcastle Falcons
Adams Park
Attendance: 6,199
2 March 2003
15:00
Bristol Shoguns48 – 41Harlequins
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 5,205

Week 18

[edit]
15 March 2003
14:15
Bath Rugby10 – 27Northampton Saints
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
15 March 2003
14:30
Sale Sharks32 – 20Leeds Tykes
Heywood Road
Attendance: 5,700
16 March 2003
14:30
London Irish6 – 16Harlequins
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 18,585
16 March 2003
14:30
Newcastle Falcons24 – 22Leicester Tigers
Kingston Park
Attendance: 9,105
16 March 2003
15:00
Bristol Shoguns21 – 38Gloucester
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 10,693
16 March 2003
15:00
Saracens31 – 42London Wasps
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,912

Week 19

[edit]
4 April 2003
20:00
Leeds Tykes23 – 22Harlequins
Headingley
Attendance: 4,305
6 April 2003
15:00
London Wasps36 – 17Bath
Adams Park
Attendance: 8,231
6 April 2003
15:00
Saracens12 – 14London Irish
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,089
6 April 2003
16:45
Leicester Tigers33 – 20Sale Sharks
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815

Week 20

[edit]
10 April 2003
20:00
Bath Rugby18 – 15London Irish
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
12 April 2003
15:00
Gloucester25 – 23Newcastle Falcons
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,404

Week 21

[edit]
16 April 2003
20:00
Northampton Saints43 – 13Bristol Shoguns
Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 8,805
18 April 2003
15:00
Sale Sharks30 – 30Gloucester
Heywood Road
Attendance: 5,800
19 April 2003
15:00
NEC Harlequins17 – 9Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,123
20 April 2003
15:00
Bristol Shoguns19 – 34London Wasps
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,866
20 April 2003
15:00
London Irish14 – 26Leeds Tykes
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,125
20 April 2003
15:00
Newcastle Falcons22 – 20Northampton Saints
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,428

Week 22

[edit]
26 April 2003
15:00
Gloucester29 – 11Harlequins
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
26 April 2003
15:00
Leicester Tigers18 – 17Leeds Tykes
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
26 April 2003
16:00
Northampton Saints27 – 17Sale Sharks
Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 9,202
29 April 2003
19:30
Saracens17 – 16Bristol Shoguns
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,090

Week 23

[edit]
2 May 2003
19:45
NEC Harlequins19 – 31Northampton Saints
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,423
3 May 2003
14:00
Leicester Tigers19 – 20London Irish
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
3 May 2003
17:15
Sale Sharks9 – 16London Wasps
Heywood Road
Attendance: 5,800
4 May 2003
14:30
Leeds Tykes30 – 23Gloucester
Headingley
Attendance: 6,088
4 May 2003
15:00
Bristol Shoguns30 – 20Bath
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 20,793
4 May 2003
15:00
Newcastle Falcons26 – 22Saracens
Kingston Park
Attendance: 9,127

Week 24

[edit]
10 May 2003
15:00
Bath Rugby24 – 12Newcastle Falcons
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,200
10 May 2003
15:00
Gloucester31 – 13Leicester Tigers
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,000
10 May 2003
15:00
London Irish41 – 21Bristol Shoguns
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 12,696
10 May 2003
15:00
London Wasps21 – 25Harlequins
Adams Park
Attendance: 8,747
10 May 2003
15:00
Northampton Saints28 – 6Leeds Tykes
Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 12,500
10 May 2003
15:00
Saracens34 – 19Sale Sharks
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,211

Play-offs

[edit]

Semi final

[edit]
17 May 2003
18:00
London Wasps19 – 10Northampton Saints
Adams Park
Attendance: 7,398

Final

[edit]
31 May 2003
15:30
Gloucester3–39London Wasps
Pen: Mercier (1/1) 4'Report
Report		Try: Lewsey (2) 2' c, 40' c
Worsley 71' c
Con: King (3/3) 3', 40', 71'
Pen: King (4/4) 9', 12', 45', 53'
Drop: King (2) 19', 47'
Twickenham Stadium
Attendance: 42,000
Referee: Tony Spreadbury

Zurich Wildcard

[edit]

Meanwhile, Leeds (5th place), Leicester (6th), Harlequins (7th), Saracens (8th) played for a Zurich Wildcard to the 2003–04 Heineken Cup:

Semi-finals

[edit]

First leg

[edit]
14 May 2003
Harlequins26 – 23Leicester Tigers
Report
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 2,350
Referee: D Pearson
14 May 2003
Saracens57 – 21Leeds Tykes
Report
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 2,900
Referee: Roy Maybank

Second leg

[edit]
18 May 2003
Leicester Tigers28– 13Harlequins
[ Report]
Welford Road
Attendance: 5,552

Leicester advanced to the wildcard final due to a superior aggregate score of 51–39

18 May 2003
Leeds Tykes27 – 13Saracens
Report
Headingley
Attendance: 1,407
Referee: Tony Spreadbury

Saracens advanced to the wildcard final due to a superior aggregate score of 70–48

Final

[edit]
31 May 2003
Leicester Tigers27 – 20 (a.e.t.)Saracens
[ Report]
Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 8,066

Leading scorers

[edit]

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 earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "News | Official Aviva Premiership Website : Gary Gold Post Match Interview v Gloucester Rugby". Archived from the original on 2013-01-25. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
  2. ^ "2002-03 Premiership Rugby top points scorers". ESPNScrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  3. ^ "2002-03 Premiership Rugby top try scorers". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2002–03_Premiership_Rugby&oldid=1233219383"