The 2000–01 English Premiership (called the Zurich Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was the 14th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions. Leicester Tigers finished top of the league for the third year in a row giving them their fifth English champions title.
This season saw the introduction of the bonus points scoring system .[ 1]
Additionally, an 8 team end of season knock-out competition, the Zurich Championship was introduced, although this was not used to determine the English Champions, that being the preserve of the Zurich Premiership winners. Leicester also won the Zurich Championship in this season.
Rotherham were relegated, to be replaced by Leeds Tykes for the 2001–02 season .[ 2] [ 3]
Locations of the 2000-01 Zurich Premiership teams
Team
Stadium
Capacity
City/Area
Bath
Recreation Ground
8,200
Bath , Somerset
Bristol
Memorial Stadium
12,100
Bristol
Gloucester
Kingsholm
11,000
Gloucester , Gloucestershire
Harlequins
The Stoop
8,500
Twickenham , London
Leicester Tigers
Welford Road
16,000
Leicester , Leicestershire
London Irish
Madejski Stadium
24,161
Reading , Berkshire
London Wasps
Loftus Road
18,439
Shepherd's Bush , London
Newcastle Falcons
Kingston Park
10,000
Newcastle upon Tyne , Tyne and Wear
Northampton Saints
Franklin's Gardens
10,000
Northampton , Northamptonshire
Rotherham Titans
Clifton Lane
2,500
Rotherham , South Yorkshire
Sale
Heywood Road
5,400
Sale , Greater Manchester
Saracens
Vicarage Road
22,000
Watford , Hertfordshire
London Wasps 22 – 24 Leicester Tigers
Loftus Road Attendance: 6,328
NEC Harlequins 16 – 22 London Irish
Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 5,093
Sale Sharks 33 – 32 Bath Rugby
Newcastle Falcons 27 – 21 Northampton Saints
Kingston Park Attendance: 3,245
Rotherham Titans 20 – 23 Bristol Shoguns
Clifton Lane Attendance: 2,700
Saracens 50 – 20 Gloucester
Vicarage Road Attendance: 7,682
Bristol Shoguns 23 – 34 Saracens
Memorial Stadium Attendance: 4,280
Gloucester 18 – 19 Sale Sharks
Kingsholm Attendance: 5,500
NEC Harlequins 26 – 13 Rotherham Titans
Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 3,217
Northampton Saints 27 – 10 London Irish
Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 6,713
Newcastle Falcons 22 – 25 Leicester Tigers
Kingston Park Attendance: 4,298
London Wasps 12 – 36 Bath Rugby
Loftus Road Attendance: 4,037
Leicester Tigers 33 – 19 Northampton Saints
Welford Road Attendance: 14,088
Bath Rugby 38 – 22 NEC Harlequins
Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,958
London Irish 27 – 22 Saracens
Madejski Stadium Attendance: 7,312
Rotherham Titans 23 – 29 Gloucester
Clifton Lane Attendance: 2,500
Sale Sharks 13 – 27 Newcastle Falcons
Heywood Road Attendance: 2,885
London Wasps 23 – 17 Bristol Shoguns
Loftus Road Attendance: 3,525
Bristol Shoguns 13 – 36 Sale Sharks
Memorial Stadium Attendance: 3,100
Newcastle Falcons 18 – 19 Gloucester
Kingston Park Attendance: 2,623
Northampton Saints 27 – 20 NEC Harlequins
Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 6,645
Leicester Tigers 26 – 18 Rotherham Titans
Welford Road Attendance: 9,801
Saracens 24 – 30 London Wasps
Vicarage Road Attendance: 7,312
Gloucester 21 – 22 Bath Rugby
Kingsholm Attendance: 6,754
NEC Harlequins 18 – 31 London Wasps
Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 4,880
Sale Sharks 34 – 23 Northampton Saints
Heywood Road Attendance: 1,844
Newcastle Falcons 34 – 19 Rotherham Titans
Kingston Park Attendance: 2,735
Bristol Shoguns 26 – 30 London Irish
Memorial Stadium Attendance: 2,902
Saracens 17 – 9 Leicester Tigers
Vicarage Road Attendance: 13,021
Bath Rugby 19 – 12 Newcastle Falcons
Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,503
NEC Harlequins 31 – 25 Bristol Shoguns
Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 3,089
Leicester Tigers 33 – 20 London Irish
Welford Road Attendance: 12,168
Rotherham Titans 19 – 32 Northampton Saints
Clifton Lane Attendance: 2,363
Sale Sharks 6 – 51 Saracens
Heywood Road Attendance: 3,130
London Wasps 43 – 23 Gloucester
Loftus Road Attendance: 4,277
Newcastle Falcons 59 – 21 London Wasps
Kingston Park Attendance: 4,233
Bristol Shoguns 24 – 20 Leicester Tigers
Memorial Stadium Attendance: 6,200
Gloucester 27 – 23 NEC Harlequins
Kingsholm Attendance: 5,428
Northampton Saints 24 – 13 Bath Rugby
Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 7,465
London Irish 28 – 13 Sale Sharks
Madejski Stadium Attendance: 4,198
Saracens 59 – 5 Rotherham Titans
Vicarage Road Attendance: 6,092
Bath Rugby 21 – 33 Saracens
Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,000
Gloucester 38 – 16 Bristol Shoguns
Kingsholm Attendance: 6,503
NEC Harlequins 18 – 20 Newcastle Falcons
Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 4,445
Rotherham Titans 19 – 18 London Irish
Clifton Lane Attendance: 2,000
Sale Sharks 17 – 17 Leicester Tigers
Heywood Road Attendance: 3,407
London Wasps 53 – 17 Northampton Saints
Loftus Road Attendance: 4,612
Bristol Shoguns 32 – 21 Rotherham Titans
Memorial Stadium Attendance: 2,380
Gloucester 16 – 15 Saracens
Kingsholm Attendance: 5,909
Leicester Tigers 28 – 13 London Wasps
Welford Road Attendance: 9,300
Northampton Saints 26 – 18 Newcastle Falcons
Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 6,734
Bath Rugby 34 – 32 Sale Sharks
Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,348
London Irish 21 – 16 NEC Harlequins
Madejski Stadium Attendance: 5,918
NEC Harlequins 13 – 16 Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 4,613
Gloucester 26 – 6 London Irish
Kingsholm Attendance: 5,618
Northampton Saints 24 – 6 Bristol Shoguns
Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 6,093
Bath Rugby 42 – 19 Rotherham Titans
Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,100
Newcastle Falcons 32 – 27 Saracens
Kingston Park Attendance: 5,473
London Wasps 33 – 24 Sale Sharks
Loftus Road Attendance: 3,087
Bristol Shoguns 16 – 9 Bath Rugby
Memorial Stadium Attendance: 6,335
Leicester Tigers 31 – 28 Gloucester
Welford Road Attendance: 11,800
Rotherham Titans 15 – 30 London Wasps
Clifton Lane Attendance: 2,100
Sale Sharks 35 – 10 NEC Harlequins
Heywood Road Attendance: 2,002
Saracens 10 – 30 Northampton Saints
Vicarage Road Attendance: 10,483
London Irish 19 – 17 Newcastle Falcons
Madejski Stadium Attendance: 4,612
Northampton Saints 34 – 15 Gloucester
Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 7,225
Leicester Tigers 27 – 19 Bath Rugby
Welford Road Attendance: 14,552
London Irish 14 – 13 London Wasps
Madejski Stadium Attendance: 5,220
Sale Sharks 45 – 12 Rotherham Titans
Heywood Road Attendance: 2,200
Bristol Shoguns 27 – 14 Newcastle Falcons
Memorial Stadium Attendance: 3,687
Saracens 26 – 18 NEC Harlequins
Vicarage Road Attendance: 7,681
Sale Sharks 25 – 26 Bristol Shoguns
Heywood Road Attendance: 2,631
Bath Rugby 56 – 20 London Irish
Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,317
Rotherham Titans 9 – 27 Leicester Tigers
Clifton Lane Attendance: 4,000
Gloucester 28 – 13 Newcastle Falcons
Kingsholm Attendance: 7,455
London Wasps 25 – 6 Saracens
Loftus Road Attendance: 7,835
NEC Harlequins 25 – 34 Northampton Saints
Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 4,128
Bath Rugby 16 – 17 Leicester Tigers
Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,500
Newcastle Falcons 23 – 15 Bristol Shoguns
Kingston Park Attendance: 3,738
NEC Harlequins 14 – 30 Saracens
Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 5,089
Gloucester 12 – 15 Northampton Saints
Kingsholm Attendance: 9,859
London Wasps 29 – 16 London Irish
Loftus Road Attendance: 5,084
Northampton Saints 18 – 21 London Wasps
Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 9,437
Saracens 11 – 31 Bath Rugby
Vicarage Road Attendance: 11,192
Bath Rugby 36 – 13 Northampton Saints
Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,802
Rotherham Titans 19 – 8 Saracens
Clifton Lane Attendance: 3,500
Bristol Shoguns 18 – 9 Gloucester
Memorial Stadium Attendance: 6,781
Leicester Tigers 17 – 10 Bristol Shoguns
Welford Road Attendance: 12,332
NEC Harlequins 21 – 19 Gloucester
Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 4,800
Northampton Saints 42 – 0 Rotherham Titans
Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 8,062
Gloucester 3 – 28 London Wasps
Kingsholm Attendance: 6,940
London Irish 9 – 28 Leicester Tigers
Madejski Stadium Attendance: 7,531
Newcastle Falcons 24 – 23 Bath Rugby
Kingston Park Attendance: 7,319
Bristol Shoguns 13 – 9 NEC Harlequins
Memorial Stadium Attendance: 4,600
Saracens 44 – 30 Sale Sharks
Vicarage Road Attendance: 7,115
London Irish 54 – 11 Rotherham Titans
Madejski Stadium Attendance: 2,504
Bath Rugby 50 – 16 Gloucester
Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,200
Leicester Tigers 56 – 15 Saracens
Welford Road Attendance: 14,212
London Irish 26 – 26 Bristol Shoguns
Madejski Stadium Attendance: 3,349
Northampton Saints 32 – 26 Sale Sharks
Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 7,849
Newcastle Falcons 22 – 24 NEC Harlequins
Kingston Park Attendance: 3,620
Leicester Tigers 24 – 12 Sale Sharks
Welford Road Attendance: 9,000
Northampton Saints 9 – 12 Leicester Tigers
Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 10,000
Gloucester 50 – 17 Rotherham Titans
Kingsholm Attendance: 5,850
NEC Harlequins 24 – 22 Bath Rugby
Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 7,067
Newcastle Falcons 48 – 24 Sale Sharks
Kingston Park Attendance: 3,318
Bristol Shoguns 12 – 24 London Wasps
Memorial Stadium Attendance: 5,444
Saracens 35 – 22 London Irish
Vicarage Road Attendance: 7,913
London Irish 13 – 58 Bath Rugby
Madejski Stadium Attendance: 5,303
Leicester Tigers 51 – 7 Newcastle Falcons
Welford Road Attendance: 15,009
Bath Rugby 16 – 13 London Wasps
Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,200
Rotherham Titans 12 – 32 NEC Harlequins
Clifton Lane Attendance: 2,000
London Irish 13 – 10 Northampton Saints
Madejski Stadium Attendance: 12,037
Sale Sharks 16 – 24 Gloucester
Heywood Road Attendance: 3,514
Saracens 24 – 13 Bristol Shoguns
Vicarage Road Attendance: 12,843
Rotherham Titans 13 – 39 Sale Sharks
Clifton Lane Attendance: 2,000
London Wasps 44 – 7 Newcastle Falcons
Loftus Road Attendance: 3,444
Bath Rugby 19 – 16 Bristol Shoguns
Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,200
Gloucester 22 – 13 Leicester Tigers
Kingsholm Attendance: 7,614
NEC Harlequins 36 – 10 Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 5,039
Northampton Saints 25 – 14 Saracens
Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 9,424
Newcastle Falcons 42 – 35 London Irish
Kingston Park Attendance: 5,963
London Wasps 58 – 3 Rotherham Titans
Loftus Road Attendance: 4,276
Rotherham Titans 36 – 39 Newcastle Falcons
Clifton Lane Attendance: 1,800
Sale Sharks 43 – 18 London Irish
Heywood Road Attendance: 2,469
London Wasps 38 – 19 NEC Harlequins
Loftus Road Attendance: 12,137
Sale Sharks 29 – 59 London Wasps
Heywood Road Attendance: 3,877
Leicester Tigers 37 – 5 NEC Harlequins
Welford Road Attendance: 16,006
Rotherham Titans 12 – 68 Bath Rugby
Clifton Lane Attendance: 3,000
Saracens 34 – 29 Newcastle Falcons
Vicarage Road Attendance: 10,107
Bristol Shoguns 46 – 16 Northampton Saints
Memorial Stadium Attendance: 5,315
London Irish 35 – 10 Gloucester
Madejski Stadium Attendance: 7,131
The top eight teams qualified for the knock-out Zurich Championship, seeded on the basis of their league finish.
Leicester Tigers 24 – 11 London Irish Report
Welford Road Attendance: 8,112 Referee: Tony Spreadbury
Northampton Saints 45 – 17 Saracens Report
Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 8,500 Referee: Chris White
Bath 18 – 9 Newcastle Falcons Report
Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,840 Referee: Rob Goodliffe
London Wasps 18 – 6 Gloucester Report
Loftus Road Attendance: 4,986 Referee: Steve Lander
Leicester Tigers 17 – 13 Northampton Saints Report
Welford Road Attendance: 10,787[ 4]
Loftus Road Attendance: 8,094 Referee: Brian Campsall
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.