The 2006–07 Guinness Premiership was the 20th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions, played between September 2006 and May 2007. It was announced during the 2005-06 season that the 2006-07 competition would end two weeks early due to the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, as England would be defending their title.[1] At the end of the previous season, Harlequins gained promotion to this season, while the Leeds Tykes were relegated. The Champions of this season were Leicester Tigers, beating Gloucester RFC 44–16 on 12 May in the Final at Twickenham, while the Northampton Saints were relegated. Leeds returned in 2007–08, under their new name of Leeds Carnegie, after being promoted.

2006–07 Guinness Premiership
Countries England
ChampionsLeicester Tigers (7th title)
Runners-upGloucester
RelegatedNorthampton Saints
Matches played135
Attendance1,598,734
(average 11,842 per match)

From the start of the season, all half-time intervals were increased from the traditional 10 minutes to 15 minutes. The move has been explained as allowing clubs to capitalise on growing capacities and maximise refreshment income.[2]

Two of the opening games of the season were played at Twickenham, in the 2006 London Double Header.[1]

Participating teams

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Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bath Recreation Ground 10,600 Bath, Somerset
Bristol Memorial Stadium[n 1] 12,100 Bristol
Gloucester Kingsholm[n 2] 12,500 Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Harlequins The Stoop 12,638 Twickenham, London
Leicester Tigers Welford Road 16,815 Leicester, Leicestershire
London Irish Madejski Stadium[n 3] 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
Northampton Saints Franklin's Gardens 13,600 Northampton, Northamptonshire
Sale Edgeley Park 10,852 Stockport, Greater Manchester
Saracens Vicarage Road[n 4] 22,000 Watford, Hertfordshire
Worcester Sixways 10,197 Worcester, Worcestershire
Notes
  1. ^ *Bristol would also play 2 home games at Ashton Gate in Bristol on 27 December 2006 and 24 April 2007
  2. ^ *Gloucester would also play 1 home game at Ashton Gate in Bristol on 28 April 2007
  3. ^ *London Irish would also play 1 home game at Twickenham Stadium in London on 2 September 2006
  4. ^ *Saracens would also play 1 home game at Twickenham Stadium in London on 2 September 2006

Table

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Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T TB LB Pts
1 Gloucester (F) 22 15 2 5 531 404 +127 41 3 4 71
2 Leicester Tigers (C) 22 14 1 7 569 456 +113 37 9 5 71[a]
3 Bristol (SF) 22 14 1 7 398 394 +4 37 3 3 64
4 Saracens (SF) 22 12 2 8 539 399 +140 40 7 4 63
5 London Wasps 22 12 1 9 504 431 +73 41 5 6 61
6 London Irish 22 12 0 10 398 407 −9 42 3 2 53
7 Harlequins 22 10 0 12 503 438 +65 46 5 6 51
8 Bath 22 8 2 12 428 492 −64 50 2 7 45
9 Newcastle Falcons 22 9 0 13 435 528 −93 55 2 6 44
10 Sale Sharks 22 8 1 13 414 500 −86 44 2 6 42
11 Worcester Warriors 22 6 1 15 346 459 −113 50 0 9 35
12 Northampton Saints (R) 22 6 1 15 342 499 −157 52 1 6 33
Source: www.guinnesspremiership.com and BBC Sport: Updated 2007-04-28 --- Current English Leagues
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, they are ranked by: 1. number of wins 2. league points 3. match points difference 4. match points for 5. head-to-head record.
Notes:
  1. ^ Leicester were docked one point for fielding an ineligible player

Results

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Round 1

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2 September 2006
14:00
London Irish20 – 19NEC Harlequins
Twickenham
Attendance: 51,960
2 September 2006
15:00
Gloucester24 – 19Bath
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,500
2 September 2006
15:00
Worcester Warriors11 – 41Bristol
Sixways
Attendance: 9,620
2 September 2006
16:20
Saracens19 – 21London Wasps
Twickenham
Attendance: 51,960
3 September 2006
13:45
Northampton Saints25 – 23Newcastle Falcons
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,520
3 September 2006
16:00
Leicester Tigers35 – 23Sale Sharks
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815

Round 2

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8 September 2006
19:45
London Wasps23 – 17London Irish
Adams Park
Attendance: 7,203
8 September 2006
20:00
Newcastle Falcons20 – 19Worcester Warriors
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,654
9 September 2006
14:00
Sale Sharks32 – 20Northampton Saints
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,418
9 September 2006
14:15
Bath43 – 25Leicester Tigers
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
9 September 2006
15:00
NEC Harlequins21 – 31Gloucester
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 9,497
10 September 2006
15:00
Bristol13 – 13Saracens
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 9,100

Round 3

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15 September 2006
20:00
Worcester Warriors13 – 25Sale Sharks
Sixways
Attendance: 9,432
16 September 2006
13:30
Northampton Saints33 – 18Bath
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,186
16 September 2006
14:45
London Irish11 – 23Bristol
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,650
16 September 2006
15:00
Leicester Tigers27 – 27Gloucester
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
17 September 2006
15:00
London Wasps42 – 23NEC Harlequins
Adams Park
Attendance: 7,340
17 September 2006
15:00
Saracens44 – 20Newcastle Falcons
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,213

Round 4

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22 September 2006
19:45
Sale Sharks34 – 26Saracens
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,537
22 September 2006
20:00
Newcastle Falcons21 – 26London Irish
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,060
23 September 2006
14:15
Bath17 – 11Worcester Warriors
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,140
23 September 2006
15:00
Gloucester28 – 7Northampton Saints
Kingsholm
Attendance: 11,159
23 September 2006
18:15
NEC Harlequins15 – 21Leicester Tigers
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 10,164
24 September 2006
15:00
Bristol26 – 21London Wasps
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 11,200

Round 5

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13 October 2006
20:00
Worcester Warriors24 – 33Gloucester
Sixways
Attendance: 10,197
14 October 2006
15:00
Northampton Saints10 – 15Leicester Tigers
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,564
15 October 2006
14:00
London Wasps35 – 15Newcastle Falcons
Adams Park
Attendance: 7,440
15 October 2006
15:00
Bristol33 – 20NEC Harlequins
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 10,136
15 October 2006
15:00
London Irish14 – 31Sale Sharks
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,102
15 October 2006
15:00
Saracens55 – 23Bath
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,214

Round 6

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3 November 2006
19:45
Sale Sharks18 – 12London Wasps
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,417
3 November 2006
20:00
Newcastle Falcons26 – 21Bristol
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,140
4 November 2006
14:15
Bath17 – 21London Irish
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
4 November 2006
15:00
Leicester Tigers40 – 21Worcester Warriors
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,766
4 November 2006
15:00
NEC Harlequins34 – 19Northampton Saints
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 11,354
4 November 2006
17:45
Gloucester21 – 12Saracens
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,052

Round 7

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10 November 2006
19:45
Bristol15 – 9Sale Sharks
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 10,753
10 November 2006
19:45
Newcastle Falcons3 – 14NEC Harlequins
Kingston Park
Attendance: 10,004
10 November 2006
20:00
London Irish11 – 22Gloucester
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,880
11 November 2006
15:00
Worcester Warriors18 – 23Northampton Saints
Sixways
Attendance: 9,240
12 November 2006
15:00
London Wasps47 – 18Bath
Adams Park
Attendance: 7,309
12 November 2006
15:00
Saracens22 – 16Leicester Tigers
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,895

Round 8

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17 November 2006
19:45
NEC Harlequins20 – 6Worcester Warriors
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 9,833
17 November 2006
19:45
Sale Sharks18 – 26Newcastle Falcons
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,340
18 November 2006
13:00
Northampton Saints13 – 35Saracens
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,356
18 November 2006
14:45
Leicester Tigers26 – 18London Irish
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
18 November 2006
15:00
Gloucester27 – 21London Wasps
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,500
18 November 2006
17:30
Bath12 – 19Bristol
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600

Round 9

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24 November 2006
19:45
Bristol14 – 12Gloucester
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 11,916
24 November 2006
19:45
Sale Sharks17 – 12NEC Harlequins
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 8,616
25 November 2006
12:30
Bath20 – 14Newcastle Falcons
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
26 November 2006
14:00
Saracens17 – 20Worcester Warriors
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,027
26 November 2006
15:00
London Irish40 – 5Northampton Saints
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,400
26 November 2006
15:00
London Wasps13 – 19Leicester Tigers
Adams Park
Attendance: 9,500

Round 10

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22 December 2006
19:45
Bath18 – 16Sale Sharks
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,300
22 December 2006
19:45
Leicester Tigers43 – 15Bristol
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
22 December 2006
19:45
NEC Harlequins16 – 20Saracens
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 10,103
22 December 2006
20:00
Northampton Saints8 – 6London Wasps
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,484
22 December 2006
20:00
Worcester Warriors14 – 16London Irish
Sixways
Attendance: 9,382

Round 11

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26 December 2006
15:00
London Irish26 – 25Leicester Tigers
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 13,380
26 December 2006
15:00
London Wasps33 – 12Gloucester
Adams Park
Attendance: 10,000
26 December 2006
15:00
Newcastle Falcons40 – 25Sale Sharks
Kingston Park
Attendance: 8,574
27 December 2006
17:15
Bristol16 – 6Bath
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 21,203
27 December 2006
19:45
Saracens38 – 15Northampton Saints
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 12,082
27 December 2006
20:00
Worcester Warriors20 – 27NEC Harlequins
Sixways
Attendance: 10,797

Round 12

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1 January 2007
14:45
Leicester Tigers28 – 15Saracens
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
1 January 2007
15:00
Bath30 – 19London Wasps
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
1 January 2007
15:00
Gloucester15 – 3London Irish
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,500
1 January 2007
15:00
NEC Harlequins42 – 15Newcastle Falcons
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 10,837
1 January 2007
15:00
Northampton Saints9 – 10Worcester Warriors
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,423
1 January 2007
15:00
Sale Sharks6 – 10Bristol
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,422

Round 13

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6 January 2007
15:00
NEC Harlequins9 – 3Bath
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 10,920
6 January 2007
17:45
Sale Sharks20 – 19Gloucester
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 8,377
7 January 2007
15:00
London Wasps19 – 14Worcester Warriors
Adams Park
Attendance: 7,224
7 January 2007
15:00
Newcastle Falcons31 – 29Leicester Tigers
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,565

Round 14

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26 January 2007
20:00
Worcester Warriors3 – 3London Wasps
Sixways
Attendance: 9,110
27 January 2007
14:15
Bath31 – 23NEC Harlequins
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
27 January 2007
15:00
Gloucester44 – 24Sale Sharks
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,058
27 January 2007
15:00
Leicester Tigers39 – 5Newcastle Falcons
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
27 January 2007
17:45
Northampton Saints8 – 14Bristol
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,876
28 January 2007
13:30
Saracens19 – 8London Irish
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,492

Round 15

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17 February 2007
14:45
Worcester Warriors6 – 13Leicester Tigers
Sixways
Attendance: 9,623
17 February 2007
15:00
London Irish15 – 7Bath
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 11,480
17 February 2007
15:00
Northampton Saints15 – 28NEC Harlequins
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,466
18 February 2007
13:30
London Wasps26 – 18Sale Sharks
Adams Park
Attendance: 8,599
18 February 2007
15:00
Bristol22 – 21Newcastle Falcons
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 11,601
18 February 2007
15:00
Saracens24 – 22Gloucester
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,452

Round 16

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23 February 2007
19:45
Sale Sharks9 – 14London Irish
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,275
23 February 2007
20:00
Newcastle Falcons37 – 11London Wasps
Kingston Park
Attendance: 9,665
24 February 2007
13:00
Leicester Tigers9 – 10Northampton Saints
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
24 February 2007
14:15
Bath20 – 20Saracens
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
24 February 2007
15:00
Gloucester33 – 19Worcester Warriors
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,500
24 February 2007
15:00
NEC Harlequins15 – 8Bristol
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 11,316

Round 17

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3 March 2007
15:00
London Irish38 – 12Newcastle Falcons
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 10,003
3 March 2007
15:00
Northampton Saints5 – 7Gloucester
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,529
3 March 2007
15:00
Worcester Warriors21 – 15Bath
Sixways
Attendance: 9,344
3 March 2007
17:15
Leicester Tigers27 – 22NEC Harlequins
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
4 March 2007
15:00
London Wasps28 – 0Bristol
Adams Park
Attendance: 8,393
4 March 2007
15:00
Saracens22 – 9Sale Sharks
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 8,333

Round 18

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9 March 2007
19:45
Sale Sharks12 – 18Worcester Warriors
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 8,376
9 March 2007
20:00
Newcastle Falcons20 – 14Saracens
Kingston Park
Attendance: 6,368
10 March 2007
14:15
Bath22 – 17Northampton Saints
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
10 March 2007
15:00
Bristol7 – 12London Irish
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 8,593
10 March 2007
15:00
NEC Harlequins16 – 23London Wasps
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 12,700
11 March 2007
13:00
Gloucester28 – 24Leicester Tigers
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,000

Round 19

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16 March 2007
20:00
Worcester Warriors23 – 21Newcastle Falcons
Sixways
Attendance: 9,827
17 March 2007
14:45
Leicester Tigers29 – 25Bath
Welford Road
Attendance: 16,815
17 March 2007
15:00
Gloucester34 – 25NEC Harlequins
Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,391
17 March 2007
15:00
Northampton Saints18 – 18Sale Sharks
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,265
18 March 2007
14:00
London Irish16 – 13London Wasps
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 22,648
18 March 2007
15:00
Saracens36 – 5Bristol
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 7,737

Rearranged fixtures

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23 March 2007
20:00
London Irish7 – 22Saracens
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 8,738
24 March 2007
16:30
Gloucester24 – 18Newcastle Falcons
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,500
25 March 2007
15:00
Bristol31 – 19Northampton Saints
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 9,553

Round 20

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6 April 2007
19:45
Sale Sharks25 – 26Leicester Tigers
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,037
7 April 2007
14:15
Bath21 – 21Gloucester
Recreation Ground
Attendance: 10,600
7 April 2007
14:45
Bristol22 – 17Worcester Warriors
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 8,516
7 April 2007
15:00
NEC Harlequins34 – 17London Irish
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 12,600
8 April 2007
15:00
London Wasps27 – 26Saracens
Adams Park
Attendance: 10,000
8 April 2007
15:00
Newcastle Falcons16 – 7Northampton Saints
Kingston Park
Attendance: 10,200

Round 21

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13 April 2007
19:45
Sale Sharks25 – 23Bath
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,641
13 April 2007
20:00
Newcastle Falcons19 – 12Gloucester
Kingston Park
Attendance: 7,016
15 April 2007
12:15
London Wasps35 – 29Northampton Saints
Adams Park
Attendance: 8,053
15 April 2007
15:00
London Irish26 – 16Worcester Warriors
Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 10,862
15 April 2007
15:00
Saracens33 – 19NEC Harlequins
Vicarage Road
Attendance: 12,553
24 April 2007
19:45
Bristol30 – 13Leicester Tigers
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 12,495

Round 22

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28 April 2007
15:05
Gloucester35 – 13Bristol
Ashton Gate
Attendance: 15,852
28 April 2007
15:05
Leicester Tigers40 – 26London Wasps
Welford Road
Attendance: 17,418
28 April 2007
15:05
NEC Harlequins49 – 0Sale Sharks
Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 12,680
28 April 2007
15:05
Newcastle Falcons12 – 20Bath
Kingston Park
Attendance: 9,118
28 April 2007
15:05
Northampton Saints27 – 22London Irish
Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,538
28 April 2007
15:05
Worcester Warriors22 – 7Saracens
Sixways
Attendance: 10,197

Play-offs

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Semi-finals

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5 May 2007
13:00
Gloucester50 – 9Saracens
Kingsholm
Attendance: 9,300
5 May 2007
17:30
Leicester Tigers26 – 14Bristol
Welford Road
Attendance: 10,675

Final

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12 May 2007
14:30
Gloucester16–44Leicester Tigers
Tries: Lamb c
Conv: Walker 1/1
Pens:Walker 3
Report 1
Report 2
Tries: F.Murphy, 2 Tuilagi, Corry, Goode, Jennings, Moody
Conv: Goode 3/7
Pens: Goode
Twickenham
Attendance: 59,400
Referee: Dave Pearson

Individual statistics

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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. ^ a b McConnell, Jonathan (2006-05-26). ""Derby Day" to Kick Off the 2006-07 Guinness Premiership Season". GuinnessPremiership.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2008. Retrieved 2007-05-31.
  2. ^ BBC Sport — Rugby Union (2006-04-18). "Premiership to extend half-time". BBC.co.uk. Retrieved 2007-05-31.
  3. ^ "2006-07 Premiership Rugby top points scorers". ESPNScrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  4. ^ "2006-07 Premiership Rugby top try scorers". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
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