2004–05 Premiership Rugby

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

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	Andy Goode (268)
Top try scorer	Tom Voyce (12)
← 2003–04 2005–06 →

For the first time, two of the opening games of the season were played at Twickenham, in the 2004 London Double Header, between the four "London" teams: Harlequins, London Irish, London Wasps and Saracens.^[1]

At the end of the season, Harlequins were relegated, to be replaced by Bristol for 2005–06.

Participating teams

Bath

Gloucester

Harlequins

Leeds Tykes

Leicester Tigers

London Irish

Newcastle Falcons

Northampton Saints

Sale Sharks

Saracens

London Wasps

Worcester Warriors

Locations of the 2004-05 Zurich Premiership teams

Team	Stadium	Capacity	City/Area
Bath	Recreation Ground	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[n 1]	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[n 2]	22,000	Watford, Hertfordshire
Worcester	Sixways	8,477	Worcester, Worcestershire

Notes

1. • London Irish would also play 1 home game at Twickenham Stadium in London on 4 September 2004
2. • Saracens would also play 1 home game at Twickenham Stadium in London on 4 September 2004 and 1 home game at Franklin's Gardens in Northampton on 6 November 2004

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Leicester Tigers (F)	22	15	3	4	665	323	+342	75	27	9	3	78	Playoff place
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	2005–06 Heineken Cup
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	2005–06 Heineken Cup
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	Relegation place

Source: Guinness Premiership^{[permanent dead link‍]}

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

26 April 2005 19:45

Leeds Tykes	21 – 10	Harlequins

Headingley Attendance: 8,161

Week 22

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 that 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
Try: Bemand Pens: Goode (3)	Report 1 Report 2	Try: Hoadley, van Gisbergen, Voyce Cons: van Gisbergen (3) Pens: van Gisbergen (5) Drop Goals: King

Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 60,762 Referee: Chris White

Team details

Leicester Tigers London Wasps FB 15 Sam Vesty RW 14 Geordan Murphy OC 13 Ollie Smith IC 12 Daryl Gibson LW 11 Leon Lloyd FH 10 Andy Goode SH 9 Harry Ellis N8 8 Martin Corry OF 7 Neil Back BF 6 Louis Deacon RL 5 Ben Kay LL 4 Martin Johnson (c) TP 3 Julian White HK 2 George Chuter LP 1 Darren Morris Replacements: HK 16 James Buckland PR 17 Graham Rowntree FL 18 Lewis Moody FL 19 Will Johnson SH 20 Scott Bemand WG 21 Austin Healey WG 22 Alesana Tuilagi Coach: John Wells FB 15 Mark van Gisbergen RW 14 Paul Sackey OC 13 Ayoola Erinle IC 12 Josh Lewsey LW 11 Tom Voyce FH 10 Alex King SH 9 Matt Dawson N8 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (c) OF 7 Joe Worsley BF 6 John Hart RL 5 Richard Birkett LL 4 Simon Shaw TP 3 Will Green HK 2 Phil Greening LP 1 Tim Payne Replacements: HK 16 Trevor Leota PR 17 Craig Dowd LK 18 Mark Lock FL 19 Martin Purdy SH 20 Warren Fury FH 21 James Brooks FB 22 Rob Hoadley Coach: Warren Gatland

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

Leading 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 have not earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.

Most points Source:[2] Rank Player Club Points 1 Andy Goode Leicester Tigers 268 2 Mark van Gisbergen Wasps 225 3 Charlie Hodgson Sale Sharks 200 4 Jeremy Staunton Harlequins 186 5 Shane Drahm Northampton Saints 180 6 Gordon Ross Leeds Tykes 161 7 Jonny Wilkinson Newcastle Falcons 150 8 Barry Everitt London Irish 145 9 Henry Paul Gloucester 136 10 Chris Malone Bath 133

Most tries Source:[3] Rank Player Club Tries 1 Tom Voyce Wasps 12 2 Mark Cueto Sale Sharks 11 Ayoola Erinle Wasps 4 Steve Hanley Sale Sharks 9 5 Neil Back Leicester Tigers 7 Scott Staniforth London Irish Michael Stephenson Newcastle Falcons 8 8 players 6

See also

• 2004–05 Powergen Cup

References

1. "London Calling - The Clash!". www.rugbynetwork.net. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
2. "2004-05 Premiership Rugby top points scorers". ESPNScrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
3. "2004-05 Premiership Rugby top try scorers". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 1 September 2020.