2001–02 Premiership Rugby


The 2001-02 Zurich Premiership was the 15th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions.
Leeds Tykes were promoted to replace the relegated Rotherham.
Halfway through the season, with Leicester odds-on to win their fourth title in succession, it was decided that the winners of the playoffs would be crowned champions. After a public outcry at moving the goalposts halfway through the tournament, this was not followed through. Instead, they launched the Zurich Championship, a play off competition involving 8 teams below the champions, providing the winner with a 'wildcard' European qualification. Leicester did finish top of the league and were crowned champions; their fourth title in succession and their sixth overall. Gloucester won the eight team Zurich Championship play-offs in 2001–02.
Leeds Tykes finished bottom of the table but avoided relegation due to the inadequacies of Rotherham's ground.

Participating teams

TeamStadiumCapacityCity/Area
BathBath8,200Bath, Somerset
Bristol ShogunsMemorial Stadium12,100Bristol
GloucesterKingsholm11,000Gloucester, Gloucestershire
HarlequinsThe Stoop8,500Twickenham, London
Leeds TykesHeadingley Stadium22,250Leeds, West Yorkshire
Leicester TigersWelford Road16,250Leicester, Leicestershire
London IrishMadejski Stadium24,161Reading, Berkshire
London WaspsLoftus Road18,439Shepherd's Bush, London
Newcastle FalconsKingston Park10,000Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Northampton SaintsFranklin's Gardens11,700Northampton, Northamptonshire
SaleHeywood Road5,400Sale, Greater Manchester
SaracensVicarage Road22,000Watford, Hertfordshire

Table

Results

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15

Week 16

Week 17

Week 18

Week 19

Week 20

Week 21

Week 22

Week 23

Week 24

Playoff

Seeding

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Total Season Attendances

ClubHome
Games
TotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity
Bath1188,5318,0488,2007,65698%
Bristol Shoguns1263,7965,31610,0213,63244%
Gloucester12109,1459,09511,0005,77683%
Harlequins1173,5866,6909,0005,22078%
Leeds Tykes1145,5724,1437,1622,03419%
Leicester Tigers12173,99714,50016,2514,77189%
London Irish1283,1276,92712,8733,33629%
London Wasps1164,4755,8619,6213,50732%
Newcastle Falcons1160,2155,4747,4904,24855%
Northampton Saints11102,3009,30011,7007,87379%
Sale Sharks1358,1094,4705,6783,28382%
Saracens1192,2728,38813,2574,32538%