The 2005–06 Guinness Premiership was the 19th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions, played between September 2005 and May 2006. The final was contested by the Sale Sharks and the Leicester Tigers at Twickenham. Sale Sharks won 45–20 to win the Premiership. Leeds Tykes were relegated, whilst Harlequins were promoted for the 2006-07 Guinness Premiership.

2005–06 Guinness Premiership
Countries England
ChampionsSale Sharks (1st title)
Runners-upLeicester Tigers
RelegatedLeeds Tykes
Matches played135
Attendance1,483,920
(average 10,992 per match)
Top point scorerEngland Charlie Hodgson (248 points)
Top try scorerEngland Tom Varndell (14 tries)

As per a tradition started in the previous year, two of the opening games of the season (round 1) were played at Twickenham, in the 2005 London Double Header.

Participating teams

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Locations of the 2005-06 Guinness Premiership teams
Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bath Recreation Ground 10,600 Bath, Somerset
Bristol Memorial Stadium 12,100 Bristol
Gloucester Kingsholm 12,500 Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Leeds Tykes Headingley Stadium[n 1] 22,250 Leeds, West Yorkshire
Leicester Tigers Welford Road 16,815 Leicester, Leicestershire
London Irish Madejski Stadium 24,161 Reading, Berkshire
London Wasps The Causeway Stadium[n 2] 10,000 High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Newcastle Falcons Kingston Park 10,200 Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Northampton Saints Franklin's Gardens 13,600 Northampton, Northamptonshire
Sale Edgeley Park 10,852 Stockport, Greater Manchester
Saracens Vicarage Road 22,000 Watford, Hertfordshire
Worcester Sixways 9,728 Worcester, Worcestershire
Notes
  1. ^ *Leeds Tykes would also play 1 home game on at Twickenham Stadium in London on 3 September 2005
  2. ^ *London Wasps would also play 1 home game on at Twickenham Stadium in London on 3 September 2005

Table

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Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Sale Sharks (C) 22 16 1 5 573 444 +129 52 42 6 2 74 Playoff place
2 Leicester Tigers (F) 22 14 3 5 518 415 +103 51 24 5 1 68
3 London Irish (SF) 22 14 0 8 493 454 +39 54 44 6 4 66
4 London Wasps (SF) 22 12 3 7 527 447 +80 53 42 7 3 64
5 Gloucester 22 11 1 10 483 385 +98 46 33 4 9 59 2006–07 Heineken Cup
6 Northampton Saints 22 10 1 11 464 488 −24 53 50 4 7 53
7 Newcastle Falcons 22 9 1 12 416 433 −17 42 44 3 6 47
8 Worcester Warriors 22 9 1 12 451 494 −43 40 56 3 6 47
9 Bath 22 9 1 12 441 494 −53 38 49 3 5 46
10 Saracens 22 8 1 13 433 483 −50 42 48 5 7 46
11 Bristol 22 8 1 13 393 445 −52 28 41 0 7 41
12 Leeds Tykes (R) 22 5 0 17 363 573 −210 36 62 1 7 28 Relegation place

Results

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Round 1

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2 September 2005
20:00
Sale Sharks26–25Newcastle Falcons
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,546
3 September 2005
14:00
London Wasps23–11Saracens
Twickenham
Attendance: 35,000
3 September 2005
15:00
Leicester Tigers32–0Northampton Saints
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
3 September 2005
16:20
Leeds Tykes11–27London Irish
Twickenham
Attendance: 35,000
4 September 2005
13:00
Bristol19–16Bath
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 11,760
4 September 2005
15:00
Worcester Warriors15–15Gloucester
Sixways
Attendance: 9,728

Round 2

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10 September 2005
14:15
Bath9–17Northampton Saints
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,060
10 September 2005
14:45
London Wasps29–29Leicester Tigers
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 8,459
10 September 2005
15:00
Gloucester21–18Sale Sharks
Kingsholm
Attendance: 9,374
11 September 2005
14:30
Newcastle Falcons14–16Bristol
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,661
11 September 2005
15:00
London Irish15–20Worcester Warriors
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,118
11 September 2005
15:00
Saracens34–16Leeds Tykes
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,190

Round 3

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16 September 2005
20:00
Sale Sharks29–3London Irish
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,246
17 September 2005
14:00
Worcester Warriors25–24Saracens
Sixways
Attendance: 9,140
17 September 2005
14:45
Northampton Saints9–16Newcastle Falcons
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,018
17 September 2005
15:00
Leicester Tigers40–26Bath
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
18 September 2005
14:30
Leeds Tykes23–47London Wasps
Headingley
Attendance: 4,544
18 September 2005
15:00
Bristol9–41Gloucester
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 11,558

Round 4

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24 September 2005
14:45
Gloucester28–24Northampton Saints
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,156
24 September 2005
15:00
London Irish24–22Bristol
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 6,957
25 September 2005
14:30
Leeds Tykes20–28Leicester Tigers
Headingley
Attendance: 7,143
25 September 2005
14:30
Newcastle Falcons16–27Bath
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,869
25 September 2005
15:00
London Wasps34–20Worcester Warriors
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 8,720
25 September 2005
15:00
Saracens32–40Sale Sharks
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,132

Round 5

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14 October 2005
19:45
Leicester Tigers16–16Newcastle Falcons
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
14 October 2005
20:00
Sale Sharks18–10London Wasps
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,916
14 October 2005
20:00
Worcester Warriors22–15Leeds Tykes
Sixways
Attendance: 9,626
15 October 2005
14:45
Bath18–16Gloucester
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
15 October 2005
15:00
Northampton Saints25–23London Irish
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,262
16 October 2005
15:00
Bristol11–23Saracens
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 7,068

Round 6

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4 November 2005
20:00
London Wasps21–16Bristol
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 7,901
4 November 2005
20:00
Worcester Warriors15–11Leicester Tigers
Sixways
Attendance: 9,776
5 November 2005
14:45
Leeds Tykes11–17Sale Sharks
Headingley
Attendance: 4,206
5 November 2005
15:00
Gloucester27–20Newcastle Falcons
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,500
5 November 2005
15:00
London Irish36–13Bath
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,458
5 November 2005
15:00
Saracens28–22Northampton Saints
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,524

Round 7

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11 November 2005
19:45
Newcastle Falcons20–23London Irish
Kingston Park
Attendance: 10,200
11 November 2005
20:00
Sale Sharks24–13Worcester Warriors
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,056
12 November 2005
12:30
Northampton Saints13–21London Wasps
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,585
12 November 2005
15:00
Leicester Tigers25–20Gloucester
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
13 November 2005
14:15
Bath12–12Saracens
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,348
13 November 2005
15:00
Bristol32–6Leeds Tykes
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 7,648

Round 8

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18 November 2005
20:00
Sale Sharks24–16Leicester Tigers
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,641
18 November 2005
20:00
Worcester Warriors24–15Bristol
Sixways
Attendance: 9,726
20 November 2005
14:30
Leeds Tykes28–25Northampton Saints
Headingley
Attendance: 4,564
20 November 2005
15:00
London Irish25–10Gloucester
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,027
20 November 2005
15:00
London Wasps28–20Bath
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 8,656
20 November 2005
15:00
Saracens27–18Newcastle Falcons
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,413

Round 9

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25 November 2005
19:45
Bath12–16Leeds Tykes
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,957
25 November 2005
19:45
Leicester Tigers35–3London Irish
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
26 November 2005
12:30
Gloucester19–8Saracens
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,516
26 November 2005
12:30
Northampton Saints21–22Worcester Warriors
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,481
27 November 2005
14:30
Newcastle Falcons17–15London Wasps
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,379
27 November 2005
15:00
Bristol22–14Sale Sharks
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 7,518

Round 10

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26 December 2005
14:00
Worcester Warriors18–36Bath
Sixways
Attendance: 9,726
26 December 2005
15:00
London Wasps32–25Gloucester
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 10,000
26 December 2005
15:00
Sale Sharks34–14Northampton Saints
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,641
27 December 2005
14:30
Leeds Tykes10–13Newcastle Falcons
Headingley
Attendance: 11,601
27 December 2005
15:00
Bristol15–3Leicester Tigers
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 11,916
27 December 2005
15:00
Saracens19–20London Irish
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 12,923

Round 11

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31 December 2005
14:45
London Irish19–35London Wasps
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 18,122
31 December 2005
15:00
Gloucester31–7Leeds Tykes
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,529
1 January 2006
14:30
Newcastle Falcons21–15Worcester Warriors
Kingston Park
Attendance: 8,864
1 January 2006
15:00
Northampton Saints29–22Bristol
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,485
2 January 2006
14:15
Bath9–21Sale Sharks
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
2 January 2006
15:00
Leicester Tigers34–27Saracens
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815

Round 12

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7 January 2006
14:45
Worcester Warriors11–15Northampton Saints
Sixways
Attendance: 9,726
8 January 2006
13:30
Saracens9–19Gloucester
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,493
8 January 2006
14:30
Leeds Tykes25–14Bath
Headingley
Attendance: 5,446
8 January 2006
15:00
London Irish25–28Leicester Tigers
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 11,096
8 January 2006
15:00
London Wasps21–6Newcastle Falcons
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 10,000
8 January 2006
15:00
Sale Sharks31–29Bristol
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,686

Round 13

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27 January 2006
19:45
Bristol23–26Worcester Warriors
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 9,058
28 January 2006
14:00
Bath28–16London Wasps
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
28 January 2006
15:00
Gloucester9–13London Irish
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,710
28 January 2006
15:00
Leicester Tigers27–27Sale Sharks
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
28 January 2006
15:00
Newcastle Falcons21–16Saracens
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,405
28 January 2006
15:00
Northampton Saints21–18Leeds Tykes
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,448

Round 14

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10 February 2006
19:45
Gloucester34–16Leicester Tigers
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,500
10 February 2006
20:00
Leeds Tykes26–16Bristol
Headingley
Attendance: 5,573
11 February 2006
14:00
Worcester Warriors33–48Sale Sharks
Sixways
Attendance: 9,726
12 February 2006
15:00
London Irish6–9Newcastle Falcons
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,822
12 February 2006
15:00
London Wasps19–19Northampton Saints
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 8,143
12 February 2006
15:00
Saracens29–34Bath
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,731

Round 15

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17 February 2006
19:45
Leicester Tigers28–22Worcester Warriors
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
17 February 2006
20:00
Sale Sharks35–24Leeds Tykes
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,224
18 February 2006
14:15
Bath28–33London Irish
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
18 February 2006
14:45
Northampton Saints58–17Saracens
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,523
19 February 2006
13:30
Bristol9–9London Wasps
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 9,028
19 February 2006
14:30
Newcastle Falcons9–13Gloucester
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,284

Round 16

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24 February 2006
19:45
Newcastle Falcons24–16Leicester Tigers
Kingston Park
Attendance: 10,200
24 February 2006
20:00
Leeds Tykes21–15Worcester Warriors
Headingley
Attendance: 3,718
25 February 2006
12:00
Gloucester15–18Bath
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,500
26 February 2006
13:00
London Irish30–3Northampton Saints
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,355
26 February 2006
15:00
London Wasps26–16Sale Sharks
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 10,000
26 February 2006
15:00
Saracens13–19Bristol
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,216

Round 17

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10 March 2006
19:45
Leicester Tigers26–23Leeds Tykes
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
10 March 2006
20:00
Sale Sharks9–15Saracens
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,307
10 March 2006
20:00
Worcester Warriors37–8London Wasps
Sixways
Attendance: 9,726
11 March 2006
14:15
Bath20–18Newcastle Falcons
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
11 March 2006
15:00
Northampton Saints21–20Gloucester
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,443
12 March 2006
13:00
Bristol20–21London Irish
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 7,258

Round 18

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25 March 2006
14:15
Bath12–19Leicester Tigers
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
25 March 2006
14:45
London Irish21–29Sale Sharks
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 19,884
25 March 2006
15:00
Gloucester15–20Bristol
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,517
26 March 2006
14:30
Newcastle Falcons13–32Northampton Saints
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,364
26 March 2006
15:00
London Wasps28–0Leeds Tykes
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 8,186
26 March 2006
15:00
Saracens29–15Worcester Warriors
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,011

Round 19

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7 April 2006
20:00
Leeds Tykes13–17Saracens
Headingley
Attendance: 4,899
8 April 2006
13:45
Sale Sharks18–15Gloucester
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,140
8 April 2006
14:00
Worcester Warriors10–12London Irish
Sixways
Attendance: 9,726
8 April 2006
15:00
Northampton Saints24–21Bath
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,454
9 April 2006
15:00
Bristol23–7Newcastle Falcons
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 9,237

Round 20

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14 April 2006
19:45
Northampton Saints19–24Leicester Tigers
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,493
15 April 2006
15:00
Gloucester27–16Worcester Warriors
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,500
15 April 2006
15:00
London Irish28–24Leeds Tykes
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 8,320
15 April 2006
17:15
Bath31–16Bristol
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
16 April 2006
14:30
Newcastle Falcons32–21Sale Sharks
Kingston Park
Attendance: 9,018
16 April 2006
15:00
Saracens13–12London Wasps
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,391

Rearranged fixture

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22 April 2006
14:30
Leicester Tigers20–19London Wasps
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815

Round 21

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28 April 2006
19:45
Saracens12–13Leicester Tigers
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,828
28 April 2006
20:00
Sale Sharks38–12Bath
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,641
29 April 2006
14:00
Worcester Warriors35–27Newcastle Falcons
Sixways
Attendance: 9,726
30 April 2006
14:30
Leeds Tykes7–31Gloucester
Headingley
Attendance: 4,452
30 April 2006
15:00
Bristol16–19Northampton Saints
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 9,862
30 April 2006
18:00
London Wasps37–56London Irish
The Causeway Stadium
Attendance: 10,000

Round 22

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6 May 2006
15:00
Bath25–22Worcester Warriors
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,400
6 May 2006
15:00
Gloucester32–37London Wasps
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,500
6 May 2006
15:00
Leicester Tigers32–3Bristol
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
6 May 2006
15:00
London Irish30–18Saracens
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 11,352
6 May 2006
15:00
Newcastle Falcons54–19Leeds Tykes
Kingston Park
Attendance: 8,084
6 May 2006
15:00
Northampton Saints34–36Sale Sharks
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,577

Play-offs

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Semi-finals

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14 May 2006
13:30
Sale Sharks22–12London Wasps
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,641
14 May 2006
16:00
Leicester Tigers40–8London Irish
Welford Road
Attendance: 14,069

Final

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27 May 2006
16:00
Sale Sharks45–20Leicester Tigers
Tries: Cueto 8' m
Lund 17' m
Oriol Ripol 40' c
Mayor 80' c
Con: Hodgson (1/3)
Courrent (1/1)
Pen: Hodgson (6) 3', 31', 45', 49', 64', 78'
DG: Hodgson 71'
Report 1
Report 2
Tries: Moody 10' c
Hamilton 70' c
Con: Goode (2/2)
Pen: Goode (2) 35', 43'
Twickenham Stadium
Attendance: 58,000
Referee: Dave Pearson

Sky Sports Dream Team 2005/06

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15 Matt Burke (Newcastle Falcons) 14 Tom Varndell (Leicester Tigers) 13 Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons) 12 Mike Catt (London Irish) 11 Tom Voyce (London Wasps) 10 Carlos Spencer (Northampton Saints) 9 Justin Marshall (Leeds Tykes) 1 Tony Windo (Worcester Warriors) 2 Mark Regan (Bristol) 3 Cobus Visagie (Saracens) 4 Danny Grewcock (Bath Rugby) 5 Ben Kay (Leicester Tigers) 6 Matt Salter (captain, Bristol) 7 Magnus Lund (Sale Sharks) 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón (London Irish)[1]

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

References

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  1. ^ McConnell, Jonathan (2006-05-24). "News : Top Catt: Mike Catt Voted GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP Player of the Season". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  2. ^ "2005-06 Premiership Rugby top points scorers". ESPNScrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  3. ^ "2005-06 Premiership Rugby top try scorers". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
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