2004–05 English Premiership (rugby union)

2004–2005 Zurich Premiership
Countries	England
Champions	London Wasps (5th title)
Runners-up	Leicester Tigers
Relegated	Harlequins
Matches played	137
Attendance	1,481,355 (average 10,813 per match)
Top point scorer	Jason Strange (244)
Top try scorer	Tom Varndell (10)
← 2003–04 2005–06 →

The 2004–05 Zurich Premiership was the 18th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions.

Harlequins were relegated, to be replaced by Bristol.

Participating teams

Bath

Gloucester

Harlequins

Leeds

Leicester

L Irish

Newcastle

Northampton

Sale

Saracens

L Wasps

Worcester

Locations of the 2004-05 Zurich Premiership teams

Team	Stadium	Capacity	City/Area
Bath	Bath	10,500	Bath, Somerset
Gloucester	Kingsholm	13,000	Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Harlequins	The Stoop	8,500	Twickenham, London
Leeds Tykes	Headingley Stadium	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	10,000	High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Newcastle Falcons	Kingston Park	10,200	Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Northampton Saints	Franklin's Gardens	12,100	Northampton, Northamptonshire
Sale	Edgeley Park	10,641	Stockport, Greater Manchester
Saracens	Vicarage Road	22,000	Watford, Hertfordshire
Worcester	Sixways	8,477	Worcester, Worcestershire

Notes

Table

	Club	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points For	Points Against	Points Difference	Tries For	Tries Against	Try Bonus	Losing Bonus	Points
1	Leicester Tigers (F)	22	15	3	4	665	323	+342	75	27	9	3	78
2	London Wasps (C)	22	15	1	6	561	442	+119	59	40	6	5	73
3	Sale Sharks (SF)	22	13	0	9	513	442	+71	51	43	4	4	60
4	Bath	22	12	2	8	407	366	+41	33	35	1	5	58
5	Saracens	22	12	2	8	384	428	-44	39	43	3	2	57
6	Gloucester	22	10	1	11	407	487	-80	43	43	3	2	47
7	Newcastle Falcons	22	9	2	11	475	596	-121	43	64	3	4	47
8	Leeds Tykes	22	9	0	13	380	431	-51	34	40	1	6	43
9	Worcester Warriors	22	9	0	13	365	493	-128	36	53	1	5	42
10	London Irish	22	8	0	14	378	421	-43	28	35	1	7	40
11	Northampton Saints	22	8	0	14	410	473	-63	31	44	2	6	40
12	Harlequins (R)	22	6	1	15	416	459	-43	41	46	3	9	38
Source:Guinness Premiership Green background denotes qualification for the playoffs. These teams and those highlighted in blue qualified for the 2005–06 Heineken Cup.

Results

Week 1

4 September 2004 14:00

London Irish	18 – 12	Harlequins

Twickenham Attendance: 51,000

4 September 2004 15:00

Northampton Saints	29 – 14	Bath

Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 12,027

4 September 2004 16:15

Saracens	13 – 11	London Wasps

Twickenham Attendance: 51,000

5 September 2004 13:30

Sale Sharks	26 – 19	Leicester Tigers

Edgeley Park Attendance: 6,952

5 September 2004 14:30

Leeds Tykes	16 – 21	Gloucester

Headingley Attendance: 4,079

5 September 2004 15:30

Worcester Warriors	9 – 30	Newcastle Falcons

Sixways Attendance: 8,300

Week 2

11 September 2004 14:15

Bath	18 – 33	Newcastle Falcons

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,400

11 September 2004 14:45

London Wasps	30 – 33	Sale Sharks

The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 7,011

11 September 2004 15:00

Gloucester	23 – 16	London Irish

Kingsholm Attendance: 11,265

11 September 2004 15:00

Leicester Tigers	42 – 20	Leeds Tykes

Welford Road Attendance: 16,533

11 September 2004 15:00

NEC Harlequins	13 – 45	Northampton Saints

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 7,823

12 September 2004 15:00

Saracens	16 – 10	Worcester Warriors

Vicarage Road Attendance: 5,620

Week 3

17 September 2004 19:45

Sale Sharks	25 – 15	Saracens

Edgeley Park Attendance: 7,014

18 September 2004 14:00

Worcester Warriors	22 – 26	Bath

Sixways Attendance: 6,348

18 September 2004 14:45

Northampton Saints	12 – 18	Gloucester

Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 12,093

19 September 2004 15:00

London Irish	22 – 39	Leicester Tigers

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 9,472

19 September 2004 15:00

Newcastle Falcons	22 – 21	NEC Harlequins

Kingston Park Attendance: 8,706

19 September 2004 19:30

Leeds Tykes	9 – 13	London Wasps

Headingley Attendance: 3,526

Week 4

24 September 2004 19:45

Sale Sharks	57 – 3	Worcester Warriors

Edgeley Park Attendance: 6,647

25 September 2004 15:00

Gloucester	31 – 17	Newcastle Falcons

Kingsholm Attendance: 13,000

25 September 2004 15:00

Leicester Tigers	32 – 13	Northampton Saints

Welford Road Attendance: 16,815

25 September 2004 15:05

NEC Harlequins	10 – 18	Bath

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 8,844

26 September 2004 15:00

London Wasps	35 – 26	London Irish

The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 7,957

26 September 2004 15:00

Saracens	23 – 29	Leeds Tykes

Vicarage Road Attendance: 5,325

Week 5

2 October 2004 14:00

Worcester Warriors	33 – 7	NEC Harlequins

Sixways Attendance: 7,235

2 October 2004 14:15

Bath	29 – 14	Gloucester

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,400

2 October 2004 14:45

Newcastle Falcons	15 – 44	Leicester Tigers

Kingston Park Attendance: 8,609

2 October 2004 15:00

Northampton Saints	9 – 10	London Wasps

Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 12,036

3 October 2004 14:30

Leeds Tykes	11 – 14	Sale Sharks

Headingley Attendance: 4,592

3 October 2004 15:00

London Irish	20 – 3	Saracens

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 7,047

Week 6

8 October 2004 19:45

Sale Sharks	16 – 17	London Irish

Edgeley Park Attendance: 8,206

9 October 2004 14:45

Leicester Tigers	16 – 16	Bath

Welford Road Attendance: 16,815

9 October 2004 15:00

Gloucester	29 – 23	NEC Harlequins

Kingsholm Attendance: 11,471

10 October 2004 15:00

Leeds Tykes	24 – 19	Worcester Warriors

Headingley Attendance: 5,207

10 October 2004 15:00

London Wasps	43 – 29	Newcastle Falcons

The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 10,000

10 October 2004 15:00

Saracens	23 – 12	Northampton Saints

Vicarage Road Attendance: 7,712

Week 7

16 October 2004 14:00

Worcester Warriors	13 – 18	Gloucester

Sixways Attendance: 8,401

16 October 2004 14:45

Bath	16 – 19	London Wasps

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,400

16 October 2004 15:00

London Irish	12 – 16	Leeds Tykes

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 6,410

16 October 2004 15:00

NEC Harlequins	9 – 15	Leicester Tigers

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 9,954

16 October 2004 15:00

Northampton Saints	6 – 23	Sale Sharks

Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 11,365

17 October 2004 15:00

Newcastle Falcons	20 – 20	Saracens

Kingston Park Attendance: 7,762

Week 8

5 November 2004 19:45

Sale Sharks	39 – 25	Newcastle Falcons

Edgeley Park Attendance: 10,641

5 November 2004 20:00

Leeds Tykes	26 – 21	Northampton Saints

Headingley Attendance: 3,247

5 November 2004 20:00

London Wasps	19 – 16	NEC Harlequins

The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 8,283

6 November 2004 14:45

Leicester Tigers	28 – 13	Gloucester

Welford Road Attendance: 16,815

6 November 2004 15:00

Saracens	30 – 37	Bath

Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 3,595

7 November 2004 15:00

London Irish	25 – 15	Worcester Warriors

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 7,232

Week 9

12 November 2004 19:45

Gloucester	17 – 27	London Wasps

Kingsholm Attendance: 13,000

12 November 2004 19:45

NEC Harlequins	40 – 10	Saracens

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 8,050

13 November 2004 12:30

Bath	27 – 13	Sale Sharks

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,500

13 November 2004 12:30

Northampton Saints	20 – 21	London Irish

Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 11,749

13 November 2004 12:30

Worcester Warriors	11 – 38	Leicester Tigers

Sixways Attendance: 8,477

14 November 2004 14:30

Newcastle Falcons	29 – 16	Leeds Tykes

Kingston Park Attendance: 6,020

Week 10

19 November 2004 19:45

Leeds Tykes	28 – 30	Bath

Headingley Attendance: 4,096

19 November 2004 19:45

Sale Sharks	13 – 19	NEC Harlequins

Edgeley Park Attendance: 6,186

20 November 2004 12:30

Northampton Saints	6 – 17	Worcester Warriors

Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 11,208

21 November 2004 15:00

London Irish	21 – 15	Newcastle Falcons

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 9,560

21 November 2004 15:00

London Wasps	17 – 17	Leicester Tigers

The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 10,000

21 November 2004 15:00

Saracens	14 – 9	Gloucester

Vicarage Road Attendance: 6,860

Week 11

26 November 2004 19:30

Gloucester	24 – 14	Sale Sharks

Kingsholm Attendance: 12,365

26 November 2004 20:00

Worcester Warriors	27 – 24	London Wasps

Sixways Attendance: 8,477

27 November 2004 14:45

Leicester Tigers	21 – 9	Saracens

Welford Road Attendance: 16,815

28 November 2004 14:15

Bath	27 – 15	London Irish

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,500

28 November 2004 14:30

Newcastle Falcons	27 – 16	Northampton Saints

Kingston Park Attendance: 6,871

28 November 2004 15:00

NEC Harlequins	31 – 17	Leeds Tykes

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 6,447

Week 12

26 December 2004 15:00

Saracens	8 – 8	NEC Harlequins

Vicarage Road Attendance: 9,285

27 December 2004 14:30

Leeds Tykes	11 – 15	Newcastle Falcons

Headingley Attendance: 14,293

27 December 2004 15:00

Leicester Tigers	50 – 7	Worcester Warriors

Welford Road Attendance: 16,815

27 December 2004 15:00

London Irish	21 – 22	Northampton Saints

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 17,364

27 December 2004 15:00

London Wasps	33 – 20	Gloucester

The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 10,000

27 December 2004 15:00

Sale Sharks	19 – 10	Bath

Edgeley Park Attendance: 10,641

Week 13

1 January 2005 14:00

Worcester Warriors	16 – 6	London Irish

Sixways Attendance: 8,477

1 January 2005 14:15

Bath	6 – 13	Saracens

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,500

1 January 2005 15:00

Northampton Saints	18 – 9	Leeds Tykes

Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 12,001

2 January 2005 14:30

Newcastle Falcons	30 – 29	Sale Sharks

Kingston Park Attendance: 10,200

2 January 2005 15:00

NEC Harlequins	15 – 27	London Wasps

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 9,999

2 January 2005 17:00

Gloucester	13 – 28	Leicester Tigers

Kingsholm Attendance: 13,000

Week 14

28 January 2005 19:45

Saracens	32 – 13	Newcastle Falcons

Vicarage Road Attendance: 5,870

28 January 2005 20:00

Leeds Tykes	16 – 5	London Irish

Headingley Attendance: 4,252

29 January 2005 14:45

Sale Sharks	37 – 24	Northampton Saints

Edgeley Park Attendance: 7,887

29 January 2005 15:00

Gloucester	28 – 16	Worcester Warriors

Kingsholm Attendance: 13,000

29 January 2005 15:00

Leicester Tigers	32 – 17	NEC Harlequins

Welford Road Attendance: 16,815

29 January 2005 17:35

London Wasps	9 – 12	Bath

The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 10,000

Week 15

4 February 2005 20:00

Worcester Warriors	22 – 15	Leeds Tykes

Sixways Attendance: 8,441

5 February 2005 14:00

NEC Harlequins	38 – 9	Gloucester

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 8,782

5 February 2005 15:00

Northampton Saints	20 – 21	Saracens

Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 12,020

5 February 2005 19:45

Bath	6 – 6	Leicester Tigers

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,500

6 February 2005 14:30

Newcastle Falcons	29 – 28	London Wasps

Kingston Park Attendance: 7,659

6 February 2005 15:00

London Irish	6 – 9	Sale Sharks

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 8,125

Week 16

18 February 2005 19:45

Sale Sharks	19 – 10	Leeds Tykes

Edgeley Park Attendance: 7,556

19 February 2005 14:00

NEC Harlequins	9 – 15	Worcester Warriors

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 8,166

19 February 2005 15:00

Gloucester	17 – 16	Bath

Kingsholm Attendance: 13,000

19 February 2005 15:00

Leicester Tigers	83 – 10	Newcastle Falcons

Welford Road Attendance: 16,815

20 February 2005 15:00

London Wasps	39 – 9	Northampton Saints

The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 9,507

20 February 2005 15:00

Saracens	12 – 30	London Irish

Vicarage Road Attendance: 6,254

Week 17

25 February 2005 20:00

Leeds Tykes	5 – 14	Saracens

Headingley Attendance: 3,132

25 February 2005 20:00

Worcester Warriors	23 – 10	Sale Sharks

Sixways Attendance: 8,477

26 February 2005 14:15

Bath	15 – 17	NEC Harlequins

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,500

26 February 2005 15:00

Northampton Saints	26 – 11	Leicester Tigers

Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 12,084

27 February 2005 12:00

London Irish	19 – 33	London Wasps

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 10,018

27 February 2005 13:15

Newcastle Falcons	27 – 27	Gloucester

Kingston Park Attendance: 6,333

Week 18

11 March 2005 19:30

Leicester Tigers	15 – 6	London Irish

Welford Road Attendance: 16,815

12 March 2005 14:00

Bath	18 – 10	Worcester Warriors

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,425

12 March 2005 14:00

Gloucester	18 – 26	Northampton Saints

Kingsholm Attendance: 12,203

13 March 2005 14:00

NEC Harlequins	39 – 23	Newcastle Falcons

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 8,240

13 March 2005 15:00

London Wasps	30 – 15	Leeds Tykes

The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 7,545

13 March 2005 15:00

Saracens	32 – 19	Sale Sharks

Vicarage Road Attendance: 5,751

Week 19

25 March 2005 19:45

Sale Sharks	25 – 27	London Wasps

Edgeley Park Attendance: 10,641

26 March 2005 14:00

Worcester Warriors	18 – 19	Saracens

Sixways Attendance: 8,498

26 March 2005 15:00

Northampton Saints	22 – 20	NEC Harlequins

Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 12,064

26 March 2005 17:00

London Irish	12 – 13	Gloucester

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 17,111

27 March 2005 14:30

Leeds Tykes	23 – 22	Leicester Tigers

Headingley Attendance: 6,723

27 March 2005 15:00

Newcastle Falcons	5 – 9	Bath

Kingston Park Attendance: 8,834

Week 20

9 April 2005 15:00

Bath	30 – 12	Northampton Saints

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,500

9 April 2005 15:00

Gloucester	15 – 33	Leeds Tykes

Kingsholm Attendance: 11,396

9 April 2005 15:00

Leicester Tigers	45 – 15	Sale Sharks

Welford Road Attendance: 16,815

9 April 2005 15:00

NEC Harlequins	20 – 25	London Irish

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 8,500

10 April 2005 15:00

London Wasps	45 – 24	Saracens

The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 10,000

10 April 2005 15:00

Newcastle Falcons	16 – 21	Worcester Warriors

Kingston Park Attendance: 7,151

Week 21

15 April 2005 19:45

Northampton Saints	23 – 22	Newcastle Falcons

Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 12,027

15 April 2005 19:45

Sale Sharks	35 – 17	Gloucester

Edgeley Park Attendance: 9,456

17 April 2005 15:00

London Wasps	32 – 17	Worcester Warriors

The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 8,941

17 April 2005 16:00

Saracens	19 – 17	Leicester Tigers

Vicarage Road Attendance: 16,812

24 April 2005 15:00

London Irish	19 – 21	Bath

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 10,771

Week 22

26 April 2005 19:45

Leeds Tykes	21 – 10	NEC Harlequins

Headingley Attendance: 8,161

30 April 2005 15:00

Bath	6 – 10	Leeds Tykes

Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,500

30 April 2005 15:00

Gloucester	13 – 14	Saracens

Kingsholm Attendance: 13,000

30 April 2005 15:00

Leicester Tigers	45 – 10	London Wasps

Welford Road Attendance: 16,815

30 April 2005 15:00

NEC Harlequins	22 – 23	Sale Sharks

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 8,500

30 April 2005 15:00

Newcastle Falcons	23 – 16	London Irish

Kingston Park Attendance: 9,328

30 April 2005 15:00

Worcester Warriors	21 – 19	Northampton Saints

Sixways Attendance: 8,493

Play-offs

As for the 2003–04 season, the first placed team automatically qualified for the final where they played the winner of the second vs third place semi-final. This was the last season in which this format of play-off was used.

Semi-final

7 May 2005 15:15

London Wasps	43 – 22	Sale Sharks
	Report

The Causeway Stadium, High Wycombe Attendance: 5,824 Referee: Dave Pearson

Final

14 May 2005 15:30

Leicester Tigers	14 – 39	London Wasps
	Report

Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 66,000 Referee: Chris White

Zurich Wildcard

Semi finals

6 May 2005

Saracens	28 – 10	Worcester Warriors

Vicarage Road, Watford Attendance: 5,168

8 May 2005

Gloucester	23 – 16	Newcastle Falcons

Kingsholm, Gloucester Attendance: 6,206

Final

14 May 2005

Saracens	24 – 16	Gloucester Rugby

Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham Attendance: 30,000

Total Season Attendances

Club	Home Games	Total	Average	Highest	Lowest	% Capacity
Bath	11	115,125	10,466	10,500	10,400	100%
Gloucester	12	142,906	11,909	13,000	6,206	92%
Harlequins	11	93,305	8,482	9,999	6,447	85%
Leeds Tykes	11	61,308	5,573	14,293	3,132	25%
Leicester Tigers	11	184,683	16,789	16,815	16,533	100%
London Irish	11	154,110	14,010	51,000	6,410	44%
London Wasps	12	105,068	8,756	10,000	5,824	88%
Newcastle Falcons	11	87,473	7,952	10,200	6,020	78%
Northampton Saints	11	130,674	11,879	12,093	11,208	98%
Sale Sharks	11	91,827	8,348	10,641	6,186	78%
Saracens	12	129,252	10,771	51,000	3,595	36%
Worcester Warriors	11	89,624	8,148	8,498	6,348	96%

See also

• 2004–05 Powergen Cup