Rugby union competition in England
The 1995–96 National Division 1 (sponsored by Courage Brewery ) was the tenth season of the top tier of the English rugby union league system , the Courage Clubs Championship, currently known as Premiership Rugby , and was the first season that saw professional rugby openly introduced into the English game. It was also the tenth and final season of sponsorship by Courage.[ 1] Bath were the defending champions and London Irish and Northampton Saints the promoted teams.
Wasps finished as champions for the second time, six points clear of defending champions Bath .[ 2] West Hartlepool and Orrell were relegated to the 1997–98 Premiership 2 (formerly National Division 2) while Bristol and London Irish would remain in the division having won their respective playoff games.[ 3] [ 4] [ 5] [ 6]
Structure
Restructuring from the previous season increased the division from ten to twelve teams with each side playing one another twice, in a round robin system, home and away, to make a total of twenty-two matches for each team.
The reorganisation of the Courage Clubs Championship for the following season by the RFU meant there would be between two to four sides relegated into the new look Premiership 2 . Sides finishing 11th and 12th would be automatically relegated while sides finishing 9th and 10th would be involved in a promotion/relegation playoff against the 3rd and 4th ranked sides from the 1996–97 National Division 2 with 9th v 4th and 10th v 3rd.
Participating teams
Locations of the 1996–97 Courage League National Division One teams
1996-97 Greater London Courage League National Division One teams
Team
Stadium
Capacity
City/Area
Previous season
Bath
Recreation Ground
8,300 (1,000 seats)[ 7]
Bath , Somerset
Champions
Bristol
Memorial Stadium
8,500 (1,200 seats)[ 8]
Bristol , Avon
6th
Gloucester
Kingsholm
12,000
Gloucester , Gloucestershire
8th
Harlequins
The Stoop
9,000 (2,000 seats)[ 9]
Twickenham , London
3rd
Leicester
Welford Road
17,000[ a]
Leicester , Leicestershire
2nd
London Irish
The Avenue
3,600 (600 seats)[ 10]
Sunbury-on-Thames , Surrey
Promoted from National 2 (2nd)
Northampton Saints
Franklin's Gardens
8,400[ b]
Northampton , Northamptonshire
Promoted from National 2 (1st)
Orrell
Edge Hall Road
5,300 (300 seats)[ 13]
Orrell , Greater Manchester
7th
Sale
Heywood Road
4,000 (500 seats)[ 14]
Sale , Greater Manchester
5th
Saracens
Southbury Road [ c] 8,200[ d]
Enfield , London
9th
Wasps
Loftus Road [ e] 18,439
Shepherd's Bush , London
4th
West Hartlepool
Brierton Lane
7,000[ 16]
Hartlepool , County Durham
10th
Table
Source:
[ 1] Rules for classification: Points are awarded as follows:
two points for a win
one point for a draw
no points for a loss If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
difference between points for and against
total number of points for(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Results
The home team is listed in the left column.
Source:
[citation needed Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Round 1
Harlequins 75 – 19 Gloucester Report[ 17]
The Stoop J Pearson
London Irish 27 – 28 Bristol
Northampton Saints 46 – 20 West Hartlepool
Orrell 13 – 56 Bath Report[ 18]
Edge Hall Road S Piercy
Saracens 25 – 23 Leicester Report[ 19]
Southbury Road S Lander
[ 20] [ 21]
Round 2
Leicester 28 – 26 Bath Report[ 22]
Welford Road Ed Morrison
London Irish 34 – 21 Northampton Saints Report[ 23]
The Avenue S Lander
West Hartlepool 21 – 41 Harlequins
Loftus Road [ 24]
[ 20] [ 21]
Round 3
Bath 36 – 40 Wasps Report[ 25]
Recreation Ground J Pearson
Harlequins 66 – 7 London Irish Report[ 26]
The Stoop Brian Campsall
Northampton Saints 29 – 21 Bristol Report[ 27]
Franklin's Gardens J Wallis
Orrell 12 – 29 Leicester Report[ 28]
Edge Hall Road C White
Sale 58 – 18 West Hartlepool
Saracens 41 – 11 Gloucester
[ 20] [ 21]
Round 4
Bristol 24 – 35 Harlequins Report[ 29]
Memorial Stadium A Spreadbury
Gloucester 29 – 45 Bath Report[ 30]
Kingsholm Brian Campsall
Northampton Saints 41 – 7 Orrell
West Hartlepool 25 – 16 Saracens
[ 20] [ 21]
Round 5
Bath 46 – 10 West Hartlepool
Leicester 32 – 14 Gloucester
London Irish 23 – 37 Saracens
Northampton Saints 15 – 20 Harlequins
Orrell 27 – 44 Wasps Report[ 31]
Edge Hall Road T Spreadbury
[ 20] [ 21]
Round 6
Harlequins 89 – 18 Orrell Report[ 32]
The Stoop J Pearson
London Irish 31 – 56 Bath Report[ 33]
The Avenue I Rammage
Northampton Saints 30 – 12 Sale Report[ 34]
Franklin's Gardens Brian Campsall
West Hartlepool 19 – 30 Leicester Report[ 35]
Brierton Lane Ed Morrison
Gloucester 28 – 23 Wasps Report[ 36]
Kingsholm D Chapman
[ 20] [ 21]
Round 7
Bath 76 – 7 Bristol Report[ 37]
Recreation Ground Brian Campsall
Saracens 24 – 23 Northampton Saints Report[ 38]
Southbury Road G Warren
Leicester 46 – 13 London Irish
Wasps P – P West Hartlepool
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 February 1997. Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 November 1996. [ 20] [ 21]
Round 8
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 18 December 1996. Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 April 1997. Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 November 1996. Northampton Saints 9 – 6 Bath Report[ 39]
Franklin's Gardens Ed Morrison
West Hartlepool 14 – 23 Gloucester Report[ 40]
Brierton Lane N Cousins
[ 20] [ 21]
London Irish 20 – 22 Wasps Report[ 41]
The Avenue G Hughes
Game rescheduled from 9 November 1996. Game rescheduled from 31 October 1996. [ 20] [ 21]
Round 9
Bath 35 – 20 Harlequins Report[ 42]
Recreation Ground S Lander
Gloucester 29 – 19 London Irish
Orrell 22 – 15 West Hartlepool
Wasps 15 – 13 Bristol Rugby Report[ 43]
Loftus Road A Watson
Leicester 23 – 9 Northampton Saints Report[ 44]
Welford Road A Spreadbury
[ 20] [ 21]
Bristol 12 – 38 Leicester Report[ 45]
Memorial Stadium S Piercy
Game rescheduled from 9 November 1996. [ 20]
Round 10
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 18 February 1997. Harlequins 18 – 34 Leicester Report[ 46]
The Stoop Brian Campsall
London Irish 52 – 41 West Hartlepool
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 April 1997. Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 March 1997. Wasps 18 – 13 Northampton Saints Report[ 47]
Loftus Road A Rowden
[ 20] [ 21]
Round 11
Bath 35 – 33 Saracens Report[ 48]
Recreation Ground Brian Campsall
Gloucester P – P Northampton Saints
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 March 1997. Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 March 1997. Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 February 1997. West Hartlepool 19 – 8 Bristol Report[ 49]
Brierton Lane C Rees
Wasps 17 – 19 Harlequins Report[ 50]
Loftus Road Ed Morrison
[ 20] [ 21]
Round 12
Harlequins 22 – 6 Bath Report[ 51]
The Stoop S Piercey
Bristol 18 – 41 Wasps Report[ 52]
Memorial Stadium T Spreadbury
London Irish 20 – 21 Gloucester
Northampton Saints 22 – 19 Leicester Report[ 11]
Franklin's Gardens C White
West Hartlepool 24 – 8 Orrell
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 April 1997. [ 20] [ 21]
Round 13
Gloucester 37 – 10 West Hartlepool
Leicester 53 – 19 Bristol Report[ 53]
Welford Road J Pearson
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 26 March 1997. Bath 52 – 14 Northampton Saints Report[ 54]
Recreation Ground S Lander
Saracens 28 – 20 Harlequins Report[ 15]
Southbury Road [ f] A Spreadbury
[ 20] [ 21]
Round 14
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 February 1997. Harlequins 30 – 31 Sale Report[ 55]
The Stoop C White
London Irish P – P Leicester
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 April 1997. Northampton Saints 17 – 10 Saracens Report[ 56]
Franklin's Gardens G Hughes
West Hartlepool 23 – 48 Wasps
[ 20] [ 21]
Bristol 18 – 13 Gloucester Report[ 57]
Memorial Stadium D Chapman
Game rescheduled from 28 December 1996. [ 20] [ 21]
Bristol 13 – 18 Bath Report[ 58]
Memorial Stadium A Rowden
Game rescheduled from 8 February 1997. Orrell 32 – 27 London Irish
Game rescheduled from 4 March 1997. Wasps 36 – 12 West Hartlepool
Game rescheduled from 31 October 1996. [ 20]
Gloucester 19 – 6 Northampton Saints
Game rescheduled from 4 January 1997. Leicester 25 – 9 Sale Report[ 59]
Welford Road A Rowden
Game rescheduled from 4 January 1997. Game rescheduled from 28 December 1996. [ 20] [ 21]
Round 15
Bath 46 – 3 London Irish Report[ 60]
Recreation Ground G Hughes
Leicester 48 – 3 West Hartlepool Report[ 61]
Welford Road D Chapman
Orrell 20 – 56 Harlequins Report[ 62]
Edge Hall Road A Rowden
Sale 31 – 15 Northampton Saints Report[ 63]
Heywood Road Ed Morrison
Saracens 33 – 15 Bristol Report[ 64]
Southbury Road T Rossall
[ 20] [ 21]
Round 16
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 April 1997. Harlequins 48 – 10 West Hartlepool
Harlequins were originally due to play Northampton at home and West Hartlepool were due to play Bath away but the fixtures were switched, leaving Bath and Northampton without games on the 22 March. Harlequins would play Northampton on 30 April 1997 while Bath would play West Hartlepool on 27 March 1997. Saracens P – P London Irish
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 30 April 1997. Byes: Bath, Northampton Saints[ 20] [ 21]
Wasps 31 – 18 London Irish Report[ 65]
Game rescheduled from 18 January 1997. West Hartlepool 16 – 24 Bath Report[ 66]
Brierton Lane Brian Campsall
Game rescheduled from 22 March 1997 when West Hartlepool's game with Bath was swapped for an away game against Harlequins.
Round 17
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 30 April 1997. Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 April 1997. Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 April 1997. Orrell 14 – 50 Northampton Saints
Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 April 1997. Saracens 51 – 8 West Hartlepool
[ 20] [ 21]
Leicester 18 – 12 Wasps Report[ 67]
Welford Road Brian Campsall
Game rescheduled from 29 March 1997. Heywood Road J Pearson
Game rescheduled from 28 December 1996. [ 20]
Round 18
Bristol 20 – 11 Northampton Saints
Gloucester 9 – 6 Saracens Report[ 69]
Kingsholm A Rowden
Leicester 36 – 14 Orrell Report[ 70]
Welford Road S Piercy
London Irish 20 – 19 Harlequins
West Hartlepool 22 – 43 Sale
Wasps 25 – 25 Bath Report[ 71]
Loftus Road C White
[ 20] [ 21]
Gloucester 32 – 30 Leicester Report[ 72]
Kingsholm G Hughes
Game rescheduled from 22 March 1997. Harlequins 27 – 0 Saracens Report[ 73]
The Stoop S Piercey
Game rescheduled from 9 November 1996. [ 20] [ 21]
Round 19
Bath 47 – 9 Leicester Report[ 74]
Recreation Ground Ed Morrison
Northampton Saints 31 – 21 London Irish
Sale 52 – 12 Gloucester Report[ 75]
Heywood Road Brian Campsall
Saracens 15 – 28 Wasps Report[ 76]
Southbury Road S Lander
Byes: Harlequins, West Hartlepool[ g] [ 20] [ 21]
Game rescheduled from 29 March 1997. Game rescheduled from 11 January 1997. London Irish 25 – 18 Leicester
Game rescheduled from 22 February 1997. [ 20]
Round 20
Bath 40 – 14 Orrell Report[ 77]
Recreation Ground A Rowden
Orrell were relegated.[ 4] Bristol 26 – 38 London Irish
Gloucester 11 – 27 Harlequins Report[ 78]
Kingsholm J Pearson
Leicester 22 – 18 Saracens Report[ 79]
Welford Road C White
West Hartlepool 17 – 57 Northampton Saints
Wasps 36 – 10 Sale Report[ 80]
Loftus Road Ed Morrison
[ 20] [ 21]
Game rescheduled from 29 March 1997. [ 20]
Round 21
Recreation Ground C White
Leicester 12 – 13 Harlequins Report[ 82]
Welford Road S Lander
Northampton Saints 15 – 26 Wasps Report[ 2]
Franklin's Gardens G Hughes
West Hartlepool 18 - 33 London Irish
West Hartlepool are relegated.[ 4] [ 20] [ 21]
Game rescheduled from 29 March 1997. Harlequins 36 – 16 Northampton Saints
Game rescheduled from 22 March 1997 when Harlequins game with Northampton was swapped to Harlequins versus West Hartlepool. Saracens 45 – 0 London Irish
Game rescheduled from 22 March 1997. [ 20] [ 21]
Round 22
Harlequins 22 – 42 Wasps Report[ 83]
The Stoop C White
London Irish 27 – 48 Orrell
Northampton Saints 25 – 27 Gloucester Report[ 84]
Franklin's Gardens C Reeks
Sale 20 – 20 Leicester Report[ 85]
Heywood Road Ed Morrison
Bristol 20 – 17 West Hartlepool
[ 20] [ 21]
For the first time play-offs took place between the third and fourth placed teams in Division Two and the ninth and tenth placed teams in Division One. The play-offs followed a 4th v 9th, 3rd v 10th system. The matches were played over two legs, with the second-tier team playing at home in the first leg.[ 1]
First leg
Second leg
Bristol 19 – 12 Bedford Report[ 5]
Bristol won 39–23 on aggregate.
London Irish 28 – 7 Coventry Report[ 6]
London Irish won 42–23 on aggregate.
Note
^ Welford Road capacity up from 16,000 to 17,000 for the 1996–97 season.
^ Franklin's Gardens capacity up from 6,000 to 8,400 for the 1996–97 with a capacity crowd achieved versus Leicester on 11th January 1997.[ 11] [ 12]
^ For the 1996–97 season Saracens would groundshare with football team Enfield at Southbury Road having previously been based at Bramley Road.
^ Southbury Road capacity originally listed as 5,000 but Saracens achieved a crowd of 8,200 versus Harlequins on 19 January 1997. The biggest crowd in the club's history up to this point.[ 15]
^ For the 1996–97 season Wasps would groundshare with football team Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road , having previously been based at Repton Avenue in Sudbury .
^ The crowd of 8,200 for Saracens v Harlequins on 19 January 1997 was noted as being the biggest crowd in Saracen's home club history up to this point.[ 15]
^ The Harlequins versus West Hartlepool fixture was rescheduled to be played on 22 March 1997 due to the original game of West Hartlepool versus Bath being switched to 29 March.
See also
References
^ a b c Mick Cleary and John Griffiths, ed. (1997). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1997–98 . London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7732-X . ^ a b c "Rugby: Team Dallaglio take the title" . The Independent. 26 April 1997.^ "League Tables" . London Irish. Retrieved 2011-10-18 .{{cite web }}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link )^ a b c "Rugby union: Newcastle up in style" . The Independent. 26 April 1997.^ a b "Rugby Union: Burke's boot calms Bristol" . The Independent. 11 May 1997.^ a b "Rugby Union: Exiles preserve their status" . The Independent. 11 May 1997.^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Bath F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 40. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Bristol F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 43. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Harlequins F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 50. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "London Irish R.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 98. ^ a b "Grayson's deftness tames the Tigers" . The Independent. 13 January 1997.^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Northampton F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 64. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Orrell R.U.F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 70. ^ Tony Williams and Bill Mitchell, ed. (1990). "Sale F.C. (Ground Details)". Courage Official Rugby Union Club Directory 1990–91 (3rd ed.). Windsor: Burlington Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 118. ^ a b c "Rugby Union: Lynagh frees Saracens' spirit and flair" . The Independent. 20 January 1997.^ "West Hartlepool" . Rugby Journal. Retrieved 8 January 2025 .^ "Quins show fierce bite" . The Independent. 31 August 1996.^ "Orrell drowned in rusty Bath" . The Independent. 31 August 1996.^ "Tigers awake too late" . The Independent. 31 August 1996.^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af "Fixtures / Results (August 31, 1996 to May 11, 1996)" . Rugby Archives. Retrieved 26 April 2025 .^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Gloucester v Pontypridd Friday 23 August 1996 Kingsholm" (PDF) . Gloucester F.C. RFU. Retrieved 26 April 2025 .^ "Tigers' sting in the tail" . The Independent. 7 September 1996.^ "Humphreys in command" . The Independent. 7 September 1996.^ "Rugby Union: Wasps well pleased with their slick new abode" . The Independent. 13 September 1996.^ "Rugby Union: Wasps ruin Rec record" . The Independent. 14 September 1996.^ "Rugby Union: Connolly takes bow" . The Independent. 14 September 1996.^ "Rugby Union: Saints and winners" . The Independent. 14 September 1996.^ "Rugby Union: Botica fails to settle Orrell" . The Independent. 14 September 1996.^ "Wood clears Quins' way" . The Independent. 21 September 1996.^ "Bath flatter to deceive" . The Independent. 21 September 1996.^ "Orrell outgunned" . The Independent. 28 September 1996.^ "Rugby Union: Quins bask in superiority" . The Independent. 6 October 1996.^ "Rugby Union: Guscott's brilliance shines through political muddle" . The Independent. 6 October 1996.^ "Rugby Union: Grayson's boot steers Saints to safety" . The Independent. 5 October 1996.^ "Rugby Union: Gallant West expose Leicester's back problems" . The Independent. 6 October 1996.^ "Rugby Union: Gloucester back to fiery best" . The Independent. 6 October 1996.^ "Robinson inspires record rout" . The Independent. 30 October 1996.^ "Ebongalame flies in for Sarries" . The Independent. 30 October 1996.^ "RUGBY UNION: Saints waiting patiently for Elvis" . The Independent. 11 November 1996.^ "RUGBY UNION: Mapletoft is guiding light" . The Independent. 11 November 1996.^ "Rugby Union: Wasps survive the Irish bluster" . The Independent. 17 November 1996.^ "Rugby Union: Guscott resurrects spirit of Bath" . The Independent. 9 December 1996.^ "Rugby Union: Wasps leave it to King" . The Independent. 9 December 1996.^ "Rugby Union: Stransky given taste of Tigers' rugged qualities" . The Independent. 9 December 1996.^ "Liley lads take the Tigers to the top" . The Independent. 19 December 1996.^ "Rugby Union: Tigers thrive on teamwork" . The Independent. 30 December 1996.^ "Wasps rely on Rees" . The Independent. 29 December 1996.^ "Rugby Union: Pienaar unable to spring Saracens" . The Independent. 6 January 1997.^ "Rugby Union: It is finally becoming tough to go West" . The Independent. 6 January 1997.^ "Rugby Union: Pearly Queens outrank Kings of London" . The Independent. 6 January 1997.^ "Lacroix targets timid Bath" . The Independent. 12 January 1997.^ "Wasps wing it" . The Independent. 12 January 1997.^ "Stransky roars again" . The Independent. 19 January 1997.^ "Rugby Union: Lyle's classy effort brings Saints to their knees" . The Independent. 20 January 1997.^ "Rugby Union: Steel of Sale" . The Independent. 9 February 1997.^ "Rugby Union: Saints' Euro vision" . The Independent. 9 February 1997.^ "Six from Burke halts Bristol's losing run of seven" . The Independent. 19 February 1997.^ "Rugby Union: Guscott proves prince of tries" . The Independent. 23 February 1997.^ "Rugby Union: Stransky subdues Sale" . The Independent. 5 March 1997.^ "Bath batter brave Irish: Rugby Union" . The Independent. 9 March 1997.^ "Tigers a class apart: Rugby Union" . The Independent. 9 March 1997.^ "Chapman cheers Quins: Rugby Union" . The Independent. 9 March 1997.^ "Mannix makes telling break: Rugby" . The Independent. 9 March 1997.^ "Weakened Saracens too strong for Bristol: Rugby" . The Independent. 10 March 1997.^ "Rugby Union: Wasps fight for points" . The Independent. 27 March 1997.^ "Rugby: Bath break West spirit" . The Independent. 28 March 1997.^ "Stransky's boot sees off Wasps: Rugby Union" . The Independent. 2 April 1997.^ "Sale steal a march on Bath: Rugby Union" . The Independent. 2 April 1997.^ "Mapletoft drops in late" . The Independent. 5 April 1997.^ "Tigers tease Orrell" . The Independent. 5 April 1997.^ "Rugby Union: Bath on way back" . The Independent. 6 April 1997.^ "Rugby Union: Theatrical feast ended by Greening's late try" . The Independent. 8 April 1997.^ "Rugby Union: Quins accept Saracens' charity" . The Independent. 9 April 1997.^ "Tigers on their knees" . The Independent. 12 April 1997.^ "Rugby Union: Mannix inspires Sale's would-be tourists" . The Independent. 13 April 1997.^ "Wasps fly free of the pack" . The Independent. 12 April 1997.^ "Rugby Union: Peters preserves the hope" . The Independent. 19 April 1997.^ "Rugby Union: Lacroix puts Europe on the agenda" . The Independent. 19 April 1997.^ "Rugby Union: Tigers revert to type" . The Independent. 19 April 1997.^ "Rugby Union: Wasps' thoroughly modern winning ways" . The Independent. 20 April 1997.^ "Rugby union: Bath power to record" . The Independent. 26 April 1997.^ "Rugby union: Lacroix's class edges Quins home" . The Independent. 26 April 1997.^ "Rugby union: Lacroix's class edges Quins home" . The Independent. 3 May 1997.^ "Rugby Union: Tigers savage the Euro sceptics" . The Independent. 3 May 1997.^ "Rugby Union: Hill the driving force" . The Independent. 3 May 1997.^ "Bedford make life difficult for Bristol" . The Independent. 7 May 1997.^ "Rugby Union: Harris keeps the Irish stewing" . The Independent. 7 May 1997.
External links
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