2007–08 Premiership Rugby

The 2007–08 Guinness Premiership was the 21st season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions, played between September 2007 and May 2008. Round 1 included the London Double Header at Twickenham, between the four London teams.

2007–08 Guinness Premiership
Countries	England
Champions	London Wasps (6th title)
Runners-up	Leicester Tigers
Relegated	Leeds Carnegie
Matches played	135
Attendance	1,517,863 (average 11,243 per match)
Top point scorer	Andy Goode (207 points)
Top try scorer	Tom Varndell (14 tries)

Due to the 2007 Rugby World Cup the season started a week later than usual, as England were trying to defend their title. Leeds Tykes, which renamed themselves Leeds Carnegie shortly after the 2006–07 season, were promoted from National Division One 2006–07, taking the place of Northampton Saints who were relegated.

During the course of the season, London Wasps went from 10th in the league during October, to beat Leicester in the Guinness Premiership Final at Twickenham on 31 May 2008.

Teams

Leeds Carnegie, having won the 2006–07 National Division One, replaced Northampton Saints, who were relegated last season after finishing bottom of the table.

Bath

Bristol

Gloucester

Harlequins

Leeds

Leicester

L. Irish

Newcastle

Sale

Saracens

L.Wasps

Worcester

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2007–08 Guinness Premiership teams

Club	Stadium	Capacity	City/Area
Bath	Recreation Ground	10,600	Bath, Somerset
Bristol	Memorial Stadium	12,100	Bristol
Gloucester	Kingsholm	16,500	Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Harlequins	The Stoop	12,638	Twickenham, London
Leeds Carnegie	Headingley Stadium	22,250	Leeds, West Yorkshire
Leicester Tigers	Welford Road	17,500	Leicester, Leicestershire
London Irish	Madejski Stadium	24,161	Reading, Berkshire
London Wasps	Adams Park	10,000	High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Newcastle Falcons	Kingston Park	10,200	Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Sale	Edgeley Park	10,852	Stockport, Greater Manchester
Saracens	Vicarage Road	22,000	Watford, Hertfordshire
Worcester	Sixways	10,197	Worcester, Worcestershire

Notes

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Gloucester (SF)	22	15	0	7	551	377	+174	65	39	7	7	74	Play off place
2	London Wasps (C)	22	14	2	6	599	459	+140	67	49	7	3	70
3	Bath (SF)	22	15	0	7	526	387	+139	59	37	6	3	69
4	Leicester Tigers (F)	22	13	0	9	539	428	+111	58	40	6	6	64
5	Sale Sharks	22	14	0	8	481	374	+107	44	37	4	3	63
6	Harlequins	22	12	0	10	480	440	+40	53	49	7	8	63
7	London Irish	22	13	0	9	433	382	+51	44	37	2	5	59
8	Saracens	22	11	0	11	533	525	+8	58	58	3	5	52
9	Bristol	22	7	1	14	393	473	−80	40	52	3	5	37
10	Worcester Warriors	22	6	2	14	387	472	−85	48	47	1	7	36
11	Newcastle Falcons	22	7	0	15	333	542	−209	34	62	1	5	34
12	Leeds Carnegie (R)	22	2	1	19	336	732	−396	33	96	0	2	12	Relegation place

Source: www.guinnesspremiership.com
Rules for classification: If teams were level at any stage, tie-breakers applied in the following order:

1. Number of matches won
2. Difference between points scored and allowed
3. Total number of points scored
4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
   Notes:

Results

Round 1

15 September 2007 14:15

Bath	29–15	Worcester Warriors

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,010

15 September 2007 15:30

Harlequins	35–27	London Irish

Twickenham Attendance: 39,400

15 September 2007 18:00

London Wasps	19–29	Saracens

Twickenham Attendance: 39,400

16 September 2007 15:00

Bristol	13–26	Leicester Tigers

Memorial Stadium Attendance: 8,125

16 September 2007 15:00

Leeds Carnegie	24–49	Gloucester

Headingley Attendance: 10,674

16 September 2007 15:00

Newcastle Falcons	33–12	Sale Sharks

Kingston Park Attendance: 5,859

Round 2

22 September 2007 15:00

Leicester Tigers	26–16	Bath

Welford Road Attendance: 17,059

22 September 2007 17:00

Harlequins	39–15	Leeds Carnegie

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 7,459

22 September 2007 17:00

Worcester Warriors	24–24	London Wasps

Sixways Attendance: 7,105

23 September 2007 15:00

London Irish	19–0	Newcastle Falcons

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 6,800

23 September 2007 15:00

Sale Sharks	20–6	Bristol

Edgeley Park Attendance: 6,402

23 September 2007 15:00

Saracens	31–38	Gloucester

Vicarage Road Attendance: 6,976

Round 3

29 September 2007 14:15

Bath	21–19	Sale Sharks

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,105

29 September 2007 18:00

Gloucester	29–7	Worcester Warriors

Kingsholm Attendance: 15,781

29 September 2007 18:00

Newcastle Falcons	19–12	Harlequins

Kingston Park Attendance: 6,478

30 September 2007 15:00

Bristol	14–11	London Irish

Memorial Stadium Attendance: 6,751

30 September 2007 15:00

Leeds Carnegie	7–31	Saracens

Headingley Attendance: 9,620

30 September 2007 15:00

London Wasps	17–20	Leicester Tigers

Adams Park Attendance: 7,313

Round 4

5 October 2007 19:45

Sale Sharks	16–0	London Wasps

Edgeley Park Attendance: 7,368

5 October 2007 20:00

London Irish	20–22	Bath

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 8,092

5 October 2007 20:00

Newcastle Falcons	21–19	Leeds Carnegie

Kingston Park Attendance: 6,847

6 October 2007 16:00

Harlequins	24–18	Bristol

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 7,732

6 October 2007 17:00

Worcester Warriors	16–21	Saracens

Sixways Attendance: 8,863

6 October 2007 18:00

Leicester Tigers	17–30	Gloucester

Welford Road Attendance: 17,101

Round 5

12 October 2007 20:00

Leeds Carnegie	26–21	Worcester Warriors

Headingley Attendance: 4,516

13 October 2007 12:30

Bath	25–10	Harlequins

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,142

13 October 2007 15:00

Gloucester	31–12	Sale Sharks

Kingsholm Attendance: 14,075

14 October 2007 15:00

Bristol	23–16	Newcastle Falcons

Memorial Stadium Attendance: 6,829

14 October 2007 15:00

London Wasps	28–14	London Irish

Adams Park Attendance: 6,629

14 October 2007 15:00

Saracens	26–19	Leicester Tigers

Vicarage Road Attendance: 7,427

Round 6

19 October 2007 19:45

Sale Sharks	34–30	Saracens

Edgeley Park Attendance: 7,051

20 October 2007 15:00

Harlequins	26–25	London Wasps

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 10,115

20 October 2007 15:00

Leicester Tigers	28–20	Worcester Warriors

Welford Road Attendance: 16,219

21 October 2007 14:00

Newcastle Falcons	20–33	Bath

Kingston Park Attendance: 5,592

21 October 2007 15:00

Bristol	39–13	Leeds Carnegie

Memorial Stadium Attendance: 6,439

21 October 2007 16:00

London Irish	15–10	Gloucester

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 7,582

Round 7

23 November 2007 20:00

Worcester Warriors	15–34	Sale Sharks

Sixways Attendance: 10,197

24 November 2007 14:15

Bath	28–13	Bristol

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600

24 November 2007 14:45

Leeds Carnegie	6–29	Leicester Tigers

Headingley Attendance: 9,496

24 November 2007 15:00

Gloucester	27–25	Harlequins

Kingsholm Attendance: 13,506

25 November 2007 15:00

London Wasps	35–12	Newcastle Falcons

Adams Park Attendance: 9,502

25 November 2007 15:00

Saracens	24–20	London Irish

Vicarage Road Attendance: 9,020

Round 8

22 December 2007 14:15

Bath	41–10	Leeds Carnegie

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600

22 December 2007 14:45

Bristol	23–23	London Wasps

Memorial Stadium Attendance: 9,926

22 December 2007 15:00

Harlequins	20–27	Saracens

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 11,672

23 December 2007 14:45

Sale Sharks	20–14	Leicester Tigers

Edgeley Park Attendance: 10,872

23 December 2007 15:00

London Irish	23–16	Worcester Warriors

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 9,266

23 December 2007 15:00

Newcastle Falcons	13–20	Gloucester

Kingston Park Attendance: 9,612

Round 9

29 December 2007 14:45

Leicester Tigers	25–17	London Irish

Welford Road Attendance: 17,498

29 December 2007 14:45

London Wasps	25–10	Bath

Adams Park Attendance: 10,000

29 December 2007 15:00

Gloucester	27–0	Bristol

Kingsholm Attendance: 16,500

29 December 2007 15:00

Worcester Warriors	7–10	Harlequins

Sixways Attendance: 10,197

30 December 2007 15:00

Leeds Carnegie	20–34	Sale Sharks

Headingley Attendance: 11,116

30 December 2007 16:00

Saracens	19–22	Newcastle Falcons

Vicarage Road Attendance: 17,223

Round 10

4 January 2008 20:00

Bath	10–5	Gloucester

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600

5 January 2008 15:00

London Wasps	25–17	Leeds Carnegie

Adams Park Attendance: 7,667

6 January 2008 13:15

Harlequins	13–42	Leicester Tigers

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 12,605

6 January 2008 15:00

Bristol	18–3	Saracens

Memorial Stadium Attendance: 8,129

6 January 2008 15:00

London Irish	20–12	Sale Sharks

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 9,744

6 January 2008 15:00

Newcastle Falcons	15–12	Worcester Warriors

Kingston Park Attendance: 7,219

Round 11

25 January 2008 20:00

Sale Sharks	20–13	Harlequins

Edgeley Park Attendance: 10,216

26 January 2008 15:00

Gloucester	18–17	London Wasps

Kingsholm Attendance: 16,200

26 January 2008 15:00

Leicester Tigers	41–14	Newcastle Falcons

Welford Road Attendance: 17,498

26 January 2008 15:00

Worcester Warriors	25–5	Bristol

Sixways Attendance: 9,822

27 January 2008 13:30

Saracens	26–20	Bath

Vicarage Road Attendance: 9,952

27 January 2008 15:00

Leeds Carnegie	24–26	London Irish

Headingley Attendance: 4,886

Rearranged fixtures

9 February 2008 15:00

Gloucester	13–20	Leicester Tigers

Kingsholm Attendance: 12,597

10 February 2008 15:00

Saracens	19–6	Worcester Warriors

Vicarage Road Attendance: 6,739

Round 12

15 February 2008 19:45

Sale Sharks	29–3	Leeds Carnegie

Edgeley Park Attendance: 8,006

16 February 2008 14:45

Bath	34–42	London Wasps

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600

16 February 2008 15:00

Harlequins	36–15	Worcester Warriors

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 10,363

17 February 2008 13:45

London Irish	22–13	Leicester Tigers

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 10,559

17 February 2008 15:00

Bristol	29–26	Gloucester

Memorial Stadium Attendance: 11,418

17 February 2008 15:00

Newcastle Falcons	16–14	Saracens

Kingston Park Attendance: 8,266

Round 13

22 February 2008 20:00

Worcester Warriors	11–12	London Irish

Sixways Attendance: 10,197

23 February 2008 15:00

Gloucester	28–20	Newcastle Falcons

Kingsholm Attendance: 13,047

23 February 2008 15:00

Leicester Tigers	11–14	Sale Sharks

Welford Road Attendance: 17,498

23 February 2008 15:00

London Wasps	32–30	Bristol

Adams Park Attendance: 8,583

24 February 2008 15:00

Leeds Carnegie	15–34	Bath

Headingley Attendance: 4,859

24 February 2008 18:05

Saracens	6–15	Harlequins

Vicarage Road Attendance: 6,553

Round 14

29 February 2008 19:45

Sale Sharks	15–22	Worcester Warriors

Edgeley Park Attendance: 7,862

1 March 2008 13:30

London Irish	27–24	Saracens

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 8,298

1 March 2008 14:45

Harlequins	30–25	Gloucester

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 12,638

1 March 2008 15:00

Leicester Tigers	34–21	Leeds Carnegie

Welford Road Attendance: 17,002

2 March 2008 15:00

Bristol	9–19	Bath

Ashton Gate Attendance: 16,234

Round 15

8 March 2008 13:00

Bath	22–11	Newcastle Falcons

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600

8 March 2008 15:00

Worcester Warriors	23–19	Leicester Tigers

Sixways Attendance: 10,047

8 March 2008 17:30

Gloucester	34–14	London Irish

Kingsholm Attendance: 12,354

9 March 2008 15:00

Leeds Carnegie	13–30	Bristol

Headingley Attendance: 3,841

9 March 2008 15:00

London Wasps	29–25	Harlequins

Adams Park Attendance: 10,000

9 March 2008 15:00

Saracens	24–20	Sale Sharks

Vicarage Road Attendance: 8,712

Round 16

14 March 2008 19:45

Sale Sharks	22–16	Gloucester

Edgeley Park Attendance: 9,266

15 March 2008 15:00

Leicester Tigers	36–23	Saracens

Welford Road Attendance: 17,071

16 March 2008 13:00

Worcester Warriors	10–10	Leeds Carnegie

Sixways Attendance: 9,371

16 March 2008 15:00

Harlequins	22–16	Bath

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 11,196

16 March 2008 15:00

London Irish	16–22	London Wasps

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 23,709

16 March 2008 15:00

Newcastle Falcons	8–28	Bristol

Kingston Park Attendance: 6,088

Round 17

21 March 2008 19:00

Leeds Carnegie	16–15	Newcastle Falcons

Headingley Attendance: 8,917

22 March 2008 14:15

Bath	19–16	London Irish

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600

23 March 2008 15:00

Bristol	15–28	Harlequins

Memorial Stadium Attendance: 9,764

Round 18

28 March 2008 19:45

Sale Sharks	22–6	Bath

Edgeley Park Attendance: 9,068

29 March 2008 14:45

Leicester Tigers	19–24	London Wasps

Welford Road Attendance: 17,498

29 March 2008 15:00

Harlequins	15–9	Newcastle Falcons

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 12,638

29 March 2008 15:00

Worcester Warriors	17–14	Gloucester

Sixways Attendance: 10,197

30 March 2008 15:00

London Irish	28–8	Bristol

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 7,573

30 March 2008 15:00

Saracens	66–7	Leeds Carnegie

Vicarage Road Attendance: 5,896

Round 19

11 April 2008 19:30

Bristol	17–24	Sale Sharks

Memorial Stadium Attendance: 8,178

12 April 2008 12:35

Gloucester	39–15	Saracens

Kingsholm Attendance: 12,300

12 April 2008 15:00

London Wasps	49–12	Worcester Warriors

Adams Park Attendance: 8,138

13 April 2008 15:00

Leeds Carnegie	6–32	Harlequins

Headingley Attendance: 3,854

13 April 2008 15:00

Newcastle Falcons	8–13	London Irish

Kingston Park Attendance: 7,484

Rearranged fixtures

15 April 2008 19:30

London Wasps	29–19	Sale Sharks

Adams Park Attendance: 9,823

15 April 2008 20:00

Bath	26–12	Leicester Tigers

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600

Round 20

19 April 2008 14:45

London Irish	13–6	Harlequins

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 10,324

19 April 2008 15:00

Gloucester	39–16	Leeds Carnegie

Kingsholm Attendance: 11,753

19 April 2008 15:00

Leicester Tigers	32–14	Bristol

Welford Road Attendance: 17,324

19 April 2008 15:00

Worcester Warriors	20–23	Bath

Sixways Attendance: 10,049

20 April 2008 15:00

Saracens	29–40	London Wasps

Vicarage Road Attendance: 13,210

20 April 2008 15:30

Sale Sharks	53–10	Newcastle Falcons

Edgeley Park Attendance: 10,134

Round 21

3 May 2008 15:00

Bristol	21–22	Worcester Warriors

Memorial Stadium Attendance: 9,127

3 May 2008 18:00

Bath	66–21	Saracens

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,600

4 May 2008 15:00

Harlequins	16–23	Sale Sharks

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 12,638

4 May 2008 15:00

London Irish	43–20	Leeds Carnegie

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 7,502

4 May 2008 15:00

London Wasps	17–25	Gloucester

Adams Park Attendance: 10,000

4 May 2008 15:00

Newcastle Falcons	28–25	Leicester Tigers

Kingston Park Attendance: 9,184

Rearranged fixture

7 May 2008 20:00

Newcastle Falcons	13–32	London Wasps

Kingston Park Attendance: 10,200

Round 22

10 May 2008 15:00

Gloucester	8–6	Bath

Kingsholm Attendance: 16,500

10 May 2008 15:00

Leeds Carnegie	28–45	London Wasps

Headingley Attendance: 7,842

10 May 2008 15:00

Leicester Tigers	31–28	Harlequins

Welford Road Attendance: 17,498

10 May 2008 15:00

Sale Sharks	7–17	London Irish

Edgeley Park Attendance: 10,252

10 May 2008 15:00

Saracens	25–20	Bristol

Stadium:mk Attendance: 8,050

10 May 2008 15:00

Worcester Warriors	51–10	Newcastle Falcons

Sixways Attendance: 10,197

Play-offs

Semi-finals

18 May 2008 14:00

London Wasps	21–10	Bath

Adams Park Attendance: 10,000

18 May 2008 16:30

Gloucester	25–26	Leicester Tigers

Kingsholm Attendance: 16,500

Final

31 May 2008 15:00

London Wasps	26–16	Leicester Tigers
Try: Rees 12' c Lewsey 37' c Con: Van Gisbergen (2/2) Pen: Van Gisbergen 6', 24', 35', 72'	Report 1 Report 2	Try: Varndell 56' m Ellis 62' m Pen: Goode 9', 29'

Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 81,600 Referee: Wayne Barnes

Team details

London Wasps Leicester Tigers FB 15 Mark van Gisbergen RW 14 Paul Sackey OC 13 Fraser Waters IC 12 Dominic Waldouck  79' LW 11 Josh Lewsey FH 10 Riki Flutey SH 9 Eoin Reddan  79' N8 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (c)  67' OF 7 Tom Rees BF 6 James Haskell RL 5 Tom Palmer  79' LL 4 Simon Shaw TP 3 Phil Vickery  41' HK 2 Raphaël Ibañez  61' LP 1 Tim Payne  61' Replacements: HK 16 Joe Ward  61' PR 17 Pat Barnard  41' LK 18 Richard Birkett  79' FL 19 Joe Worsley  61' SH 20 Mark McMillan  79' FH 21 Jeremy Staunton  79' N8 22 John Hart  67' Coach: Ian McGeechan FB 15 Geordan Murphy RW 14 Tom Varndell OC 13 Dan Hipkiss  41' IC 12 Aaron Mauger  23'  26' LW 11 Alesana Tuilagi FH 10 Andy Goode SH 9 Harry Ellis  80' N8 8 Jordan Crane OF 7 Ben Herring  56' BF 6 Martin Corry (c) RL 5 Ben Kay LL 4 Marco Wentzel  54' TP 3 Julian White HK 2 Mefin Davies  46' LP 1 Boris Stankovich  56' Replacements: HK 16 Benjamin Kayser  46' PR 17 Marcos Ayerza  56' LK 18 Richard Blaze  54' FL 19 Tom Croft  56' SH 20 Christophe Laussucq  80' FH 21 Sam Vesty CE 22 Ayoola Erinle  23'  26'  41' Coach: Marcelo Loffreda

Top 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.

Most points

Source:

Rank	Name	Club	Points
1	Andy Goode	Leicester Tigers	207
2	Charlie Hodgson	Sale Sharks	201
3	Danny Cipriani	London Wasps	192
4	Glen Jackson	Saracens	179
5	Olly Barkley	Bath Rugby	178
6	Ryan Lamb	Gloucester Rugby	169
7	Alberto Di Bernardo	Leeds Carnegie	127
8	Shane Drahm	Worcester Warriors	118
9	Adrian Jarvis	Harlequins	115
10	Chris Malone	Harlequins	107

Most tries

Source:

Rank	Player	Club	Tries
1	Tom Varndell	Leicester Tigers	14
2	Matt Banahan	Bath Rugby	10
	James Simpson-Daniel	Gloucester Rugby
4	Miles Benjamin	Worcester Rugby	9
	Lesley Vainikolo	Gloucester Rugby
6	Ben Foden	Sale Sharks	8
	Tom Voyce	London Wasps
8	Tom Arscott	Bristol	7
	Tom Biggs	Leeds Carnegie
	Tom May	Newcastle Falcons
	Adam Powell	Saracens
	Paul Sackey	London Wasps
	Fraser Waters	London Wasps

External links

• Official site