The 2004–05 Zurich Premiership was the 18th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions.

2004–2005 Zurich Premiership
Countries England
ChampionsLondon Wasps (5th title)
Runners-upLeicester Tigers
RelegatedHarlequins
Matches played137
Attendance1,481,355
(average 10,813 per match)
Top point scorerEngland Andy Goode
(268)
Top try scorerEngland Tom Voyce
(12)

For the first time, two of the opening games of the season were played at Twickenham, in the 2004 London Double Header, between the four "London" teams: Harlequins, London Irish, London Wasps and Saracens.[1]

At the end of the season, Harlequins were relegated, to be replaced by Bristol for 2005–06.

Participating teams

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Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bath Recreation Ground 10,500 Bath, Somerset
Gloucester Kingsholm 13,000 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[n 1] 24,161 Reading, Berkshire
London Wasps The Causeway Stadium 10,000 High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Newcastle Falcons Kingston Park 10,200 Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Northampton Saints Franklin's Gardens 12,100 Northampton, Northamptonshire
Sale Edgeley Park 10,641 Stockport, Greater Manchester
Saracens Vicarage Road[n 2] 22,000 Watford, Hertfordshire
Worcester Sixways 8,477 Worcester, Worcestershire
Notes
  1. ^ *London Irish would also play 1 home game at Twickenham Stadium in London on 4 September 2004
  2. ^ *Saracens would also play 1 home game at Twickenham Stadium in London on 4 September 2004 and 1 home game at Franklin's Gardens in Northampton on 6 November 2004

Table

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Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Leicester Tigers (F) 22 15 3 4 665 323 +342 75 27 9 3 78 Playoff place
2 London Wasps (C) 22 15 1 6 561 442 +119 59 40 6 5 73
3 Sale Sharks (SF) 22 13 0 9 513 442 +71 51 43 4 4 60
4 Bath 22 12 2 8 407 366 +41 33 35 1 5 58 2005–06 Heineken Cup
5 Saracens 22 12 2 8 384 428 −44 39 43 3 2 57
6 Gloucester 22 10 1 11 407 487 −80 43 43 3 2 47
7 Newcastle Falcons 22 9 2 11 475 596 −121 43 64 3 4 47
8 Leeds Tykes 22 9 0 13 380 431 −51 34 40 1 6 43 2005–06 Heineken Cup
9 Worcester Warriors 22 9 0 13 365 493 −128 36 53 1 5 42
10 London Irish 22 8 0 14 378 421 −43 28 35 1 7 40
11 Northampton Saints 22 8 0 14 410 473 −63 31 44 2 6 40
12 Harlequins (R) 22 6 1 15 416 459 −43 41 46 3 9 38 Relegation place

Results

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Week 1

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4 September 2004
14:00
London Irish18 – 12Harlequins
Twickenham
Attendance: 51,000
4 September 2004
15:00
Northampton Saints29 – 14Bath
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,027
4 September 2004
16:15
Saracens13 – 11London Wasps
Twickenham
Attendance: 51,000
5 September 2004
13:30
Sale Sharks26 – 19Leicester Tigers
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 6,952
5 September 2004
14:30
Leeds Tykes16 – 21Gloucester
Headingley
Attendance: 4,079
5 September 2004
15:30
Worcester Warriors9 – 30Newcastle Falcons
Sixways
Attendance: 8,300

Week 2

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11 September 2004
14:15
Bath18 – 33Newcastle Falcons
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,400
11 September 2004
14:45
London Wasps30 – 33Sale Sharks
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 7,011
11 September 2004
15:00
Gloucester23 – 16London Irish
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,265
11 September 2004
15:00
Leicester Tigers42 – 20Leeds Tykes
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,533
11 September 2004
15:00
NEC Harlequins13 – 45Northampton Saints
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 7,823
12 September 2004
15:00
Saracens16 – 10Worcester Warriors
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,620

Week 3

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17 September 2004
19:45
Sale Sharks25 – 15Saracens
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,014
18 September 2004
14:00
Worcester Warriors22 – 26Bath
Sixways
Attendance: 6,348
18 September 2004
14:45
Northampton Saints12 – 18Gloucester
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,093
19 September 2004
15:00
London Irish22 – 39Leicester Tigers
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,472
19 September 2004
15:00
Newcastle Falcons22 – 21NEC Harlequins
Kingston Park
Attendance: 8,706
19 September 2004
19:30
Leeds Tykes9 – 13London Wasps
Headingley
Attendance: 3,526

Week 4

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24 September 2004
19:45
Sale Sharks57 – 3Worcester Warriors
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 6,647
25 September 2004
15:00
Gloucester31 – 17Newcastle Falcons
Kingsholm
Attendance: 13,000
25 September 2004
15:00
Leicester Tigers32 – 13Northampton Saints
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
25 September 2004
15:05
NEC Harlequins10 – 18Bath
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 8,844
26 September 2004
15:00
London Wasps35 – 26London Irish
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 7,957
26 September 2004
15:00
Saracens23 – 29Leeds Tykes
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,325

Week 5

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2 October 2004
14:00
Worcester Warriors33 – 7NEC Harlequins
Sixways
Attendance: 7,235
2 October 2004
14:15
Bath29 – 14Gloucester
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,400
2 October 2004
14:45
Newcastle Falcons15 – 44Leicester Tigers
Kingston Park
Attendance: 8,609
2 October 2004
15:00
Northampton Saints9 – 10London Wasps
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,036
3 October 2004
14:30
Leeds Tykes11 – 14Sale Sharks
Headingley
Attendance: 4,592
3 October 2004
15:00
London Irish20 – 3Saracens
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,047

Week 6

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8 October 2004
19:45
Sale Sharks16 – 17London Irish
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 8,206
9 October 2004
14:45
Leicester Tigers16 – 16Bath
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
9 October 2004
15:00
Gloucester29 – 23NEC Harlequins
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,471
10 October 2004
15:00
Leeds Tykes24 – 19Worcester Warriors
Headingley
Attendance: 5,207
10 October 2004
15:00
London Wasps43 – 29Newcastle Falcons
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 10,000
10 October 2004
15:00
Saracens23 – 12Northampton Saints
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,712

Week 7

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16 October 2004
14:00
Worcester Warriors13 – 18Gloucester
Sixways
Attendance: 8,401
16 October 2004
14:45
Bath16 – 19London Wasps
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,400
16 October 2004
15:00
London Irish12 – 16Leeds Tykes
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 6,410
16 October 2004
15:00
NEC Harlequins9 – 15Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 9,954
16 October 2004
15:00
Northampton Saints6 – 23Sale Sharks
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 11,365
17 October 2004
15:00
Newcastle Falcons20 – 20Saracens
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,762

Week 8

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5 November 2004
19:45
Sale Sharks39 – 25Newcastle Falcons
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,641
5 November 2004
20:00
Leeds Tykes26 – 21Northampton Saints
Headingley
Attendance: 3,247
5 November 2004
20:00
London Wasps19 – 16NEC Harlequins
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 8,283
6 November 2004
14:45
Leicester Tigers28 – 13Gloucester
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
6 November 2004
15:00
Saracens30 – 37Bath
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 3,595
7 November 2004
15:00
London Irish25 – 15Worcester Warriors
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,232

Week 9

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12 November 2004
19:45
Gloucester17 – 27London Wasps
Kingsholm
Attendance: 13,000
12 November 2004
19:45
NEC Harlequins40 – 10Saracens
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 8,050
13 November 2004
12:30
Bath27 – 13Sale Sharks
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,500
13 November 2004
12:30
Northampton Saints20 – 21London Irish
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 11,749
13 November 2004
12:30
Worcester Warriors11 – 38Leicester Tigers
Sixways
Attendance: 8,477
14 November 2004
14:30
Newcastle Falcons29 – 16Leeds Tykes
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,020

Week 10

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19 November 2004
19:45
Leeds Tykes28 – 30Bath
Headingley
Attendance: 4,096
19 November 2004
19:45
Sale Sharks13 – 19NEC Harlequins
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 6,186
20 November 2004
12:30
Northampton Saints6 – 17Worcester Warriors
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 11,208
21 November 2004
15:00
London Irish21 – 15Newcastle Falcons
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,560
21 November 2004
15:00
London Wasps17 – 17Leicester Tigers
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 10,000
21 November 2004
15:00
Saracens14 – 9Gloucester
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,860

Week 11

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26 November 2004
19:30
Gloucester24 – 14Sale Sharks
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,365
26 November 2004
20:00
Worcester Warriors27 – 24London Wasps
Sixways
Attendance: 8,477
27 November 2004
14:45
Leicester Tigers21 – 9Saracens
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
28 November 2004
14:15
Bath27 – 15London Irish
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,500
28 November 2004
14:30
Newcastle Falcons27 – 16Northampton Saints
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,871
28 November 2004
15:00
NEC Harlequins31 – 17Leeds Tykes
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 6,447

Week 12

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26 December 2004
15:00
Saracens8 – 8NEC Harlequins
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,285
27 December 2004
14:30
Leeds Tykes11 – 15Newcastle Falcons
Headingley
Attendance: 14,293
27 December 2004
15:00
Leicester Tigers50 – 7Worcester Warriors
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
27 December 2004
15:00
London Irish21 – 22Northampton Saints
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 17,364
27 December 2004
15:00
London Wasps33 – 20Gloucester
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 10,000
27 December 2004
15:00
Sale Sharks19 – 10Bath
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,641

Week 13

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1 January 2005
14:00
Worcester Warriors16 – 6London Irish
Sixways
Attendance: 8,477
1 January 2005
14:15
Bath6 – 13Saracens
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,500
1 January 2005
15:00
Northampton Saints18 – 9Leeds Tykes
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,001
2 January 2005
14:30
Newcastle Falcons30 – 29Sale Sharks
Kingston Park
Attendance: 10,200
2 January 2005
15:00
NEC Harlequins15 – 27London Wasps
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 9,999
2 January 2005
17:00
Gloucester13 – 28Leicester Tigers
Kingsholm
Attendance: 13,000

Week 14

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28 January 2005
19:45
Saracens32 – 13Newcastle Falcons
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,870
28 January 2005
20:00
Leeds Tykes16 – 5London Irish
Headingley
Attendance: 4,252
29 January 2005
14:45
Sale Sharks37 – 24Northampton Saints
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,887
29 January 2005
15:00
Gloucester28 – 16Worcester Warriors
Kingsholm
Attendance: 13,000
29 January 2005
15:00
Leicester Tigers32 – 17NEC Harlequins
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
29 January 2005
17:35
London Wasps9 – 12Bath
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 10,000

Week 15

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4 February 2005
20:00
Worcester Warriors22 – 15Leeds Tykes
Sixways
Attendance: 8,441
5 February 2005
14:00
NEC Harlequins38 – 9Gloucester
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 8,782
5 February 2005
15:00
Northampton Saints20 – 21Saracens
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,020
5 February 2005
19:45
Bath6 – 6Leicester Tigers
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,500
6 February 2005
14:30
Newcastle Falcons29 – 28London Wasps
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,659
6 February 2005
15:00
London Irish6 – 9Sale Sharks
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 8,125

Week 16

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18 February 2005
19:45
Sale Sharks19 – 10Leeds Tykes
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,556
19 February 2005
14:00
NEC Harlequins9 – 15Worcester Warriors
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 8,166
19 February 2005
15:00
Gloucester17 – 16Bath
Kingsholm
Attendance: 13,000
19 February 2005
15:00
Leicester Tigers83 – 10Newcastle Falcons
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
20 February 2005
15:00
London Wasps39 – 9Northampton Saints
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 9,507
20 February 2005
15:00
Saracens12 – 30London Irish
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,254

Week 17

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25 February 2005
20:00
Leeds Tykes5 – 14Saracens
Headingley
Attendance: 3,132
25 February 2005
20:00
Worcester Warriors23 – 10Sale Sharks
Sixways
Attendance: 8,477
26 February 2005
14:15
Bath15 – 17NEC Harlequins
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,500
26 February 2005
15:00
Northampton Saints26 – 11Leicester Tigers
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,084
27 February 2005
12:00
London Irish19 – 33London Wasps
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 10,018
27 February 2005
13:15
Newcastle Falcons27 – 27Gloucester
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,333

Week 18

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11 March 2005
19:30
Leicester Tigers15 – 6London Irish
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
12 March 2005
14:00
Bath18 – 10Worcester Warriors
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,425
12 March 2005
14:00
Gloucester18 – 26Northampton Saints
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,203
13 March 2005
14:00
NEC Harlequins39 – 23Newcastle Falcons
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 8,240
13 March 2005
15:00
London Wasps30 – 15Leeds Tykes
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 7,545
13 March 2005
15:00
Saracens32 – 19Sale Sharks
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,751

Week 19

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25 March 2005
19:45
Sale Sharks25 – 27London Wasps
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,641
26 March 2005
14:00
Worcester Warriors18 – 19Saracens
Sixways
Attendance: 8,498
26 March 2005
15:00
Northampton Saints22 – 20NEC Harlequins
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,064
26 March 2005
17:00
London Irish12 – 13Gloucester
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 17,111
27 March 2005
14:30
Leeds Tykes23 – 22Leicester Tigers
Headingley
Attendance: 6,723
27 March 2005
15:00
Newcastle Falcons5 – 9Bath
Kingston Park
Attendance: 8,834

Week 20

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9 April 2005
15:00
Bath30 – 12Northampton Saints
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,500
9 April 2005
15:00
Gloucester15 – 33Leeds Tykes
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,396
9 April 2005
15:00
Leicester Tigers45 – 15Sale Sharks
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
9 April 2005
15:00
NEC Harlequins20 – 25London Irish
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 8,500
10 April 2005
15:00
London Wasps45 – 24Saracens
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 10,000
10 April 2005
15:00
Newcastle Falcons16 – 21Worcester Warriors
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,151

Week 21

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15 April 2005
19:45
Northampton Saints23 – 22Newcastle Falcons
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,027
15 April 2005
19:45
Sale Sharks35 – 17Gloucester
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,456
17 April 2005
15:00
London Wasps32 – 17Worcester Warriors
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 8,941
17 April 2005
16:00
Saracens19 – 17Leicester Tigers
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 16,812
24 April 2005
15:00
London Irish19 – 21Bath
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 10,771
26 April 2005
19:45
Leeds Tykes21 – 10Harlequins
Headingley
Attendance: 8,161

Week 22

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30 April 2005
15:00
Bath6 – 10Leeds Tykes
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,500
30 April 2005
15:00
Gloucester13 – 14Saracens
Kingsholm
Attendance: 13,000
30 April 2005
15:00
Leicester Tigers45 – 10London Wasps
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
30 April 2005
15:00
NEC Harlequins22 – 23Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 8,500
30 April 2005
15:00
Newcastle Falcons23 – 16London Irish
Kingston Park
Attendance: 9,328
30 April 2005
15:00
Worcester Warriors21 – 19Northampton Saints
Sixways
Attendance: 8,493

Play-offs

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As for the 2003–04 season, the first placed team automatically qualified for the final, where they played the winner of the second vs third place semi-final. This was the last season in which that format of play-off was used.

Semi-final

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7 May 2005
15:15
London Wasps43 – 22Sale Sharks
Report
The Causeway Stadium, High Wycombe
Attendance: 5,824
Referee: Dave Pearson

Final

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14 May 2005
15:30
Leicester Tigers14–39London Wasps
Try: Bemand
Pens: Goode (3)
Report 1
Report 2
Try: Hoadley, van Gisbergen, Voyce
Cons: van Gisbergen (3)
Pens: van Gisbergen (5)
Drop Goals: King
Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 60,762
Referee: Chris White

Wildcard

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Semi finals

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6 May 2005
Saracens28 – 10Worcester Warriors
Vicarage Road, Watford
Attendance: 5,168
8 May 2005
Gloucester23 – 16Newcastle Falcons
Kingsholm, Gloucester
Attendance: 6,206

Final

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14 May 2005
Saracens24 – 16Gloucester Rugby
Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham
Attendance: 30,000

Leading 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 have not earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "London Calling - The Clash!". www.rugbynetwork.net. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  2. ^ "2004-05 Premiership Rugby top points scorers". ESPNScrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  3. ^ "2004-05 Premiership Rugby top try scorers". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.