The 2019–20 Premiership Rugby Cup was the 48th season of England's national rugby union cup competition and the second under the new Premiership Rugby Cup format following the disbanding of the Anglo-Welsh Cup at the end of the 2017–18 season due to the withdrawal of the Welsh Pro14 regions.[1] Although there were no stipulations on player selection, the cup was seen by many clubs as a development competition, and games took place during the 2019 Rugby World Cup and during the Six Nations.

Quick Facts Tournament details, Countries ...
2019–20 Premiership Rugby Cup
Tournament details
CountriesEngland
Tournament format(s)Round-robin and knockout
Date20 September 2019 – 21 September 2020
Tournament statistics
Teams12
Matches played26
Attendance229,032 (8,809 per match)
Highest attendance16,160
Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints
12 October 2019
Lowest attendance2,558
London Irish v Sale Sharks
12 October 2019
Tries scored195 (7.5 per match)
Top point scorer(s)England Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
40 points
Top try scorer(s)England Rotimi Segun (Saracens)
5 tries
Final
VenueAJ Bell Stadium
ChampionsSale Sharks (1st title)
Runners-upHarlequins
 2018–19 (Previous)
(Next) 2021–22 
Close

Northampton Saints entered the competition as reigning champions, becoming the first winners of the Premiership Cup when they defeated Saracens 23 – 9 in the final at Franklin's Gardens during the 2019–20 season.[2][3]

Competition format

The competition consisted of the twelve Premiership Rugby teams arranged in three pools of four clubs each, with each team playing three games against teams in their pool, as well as a 'derby' game against a team in another pool. The top team in each pool, plus the best overall runner up, progressed to the semi-finals, with the highest ranked teams having home advantage. The winners of the semi-finals then met in the final delayed from March to September 2020, held at the home ground of the highest ranked remaining team.[4]

Teams and locations

    Pool stage

    The pool stage began on 20 September 2019 and ran for four consecutive weeks. Fixtures were announced by Premiership Rugby on 17 July 2019.[6]

    Pool 1

    More information Club, Played ...
    Pool 1
    Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Tries For Tries Against Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
    1Sale Sharks440012677491893019
    2Saracens43011491133618152014
    3Wasps42021231121117143112
    4Northampton Saints4103109151-421523318
    • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
    1. Number of matches won
    2. Difference between points for and against
    3. Total number of points for
    4. Total number of tries scored
    Green background means the club qualified for the semi-finals as pool winner.
    Blue background means the club qualified for the semi-finals as the best pool runner up. Updated: 12 October 2019
    Note that each team played 4 games; 3 pool games plus a derby game against a team in another pool.
    Source: "Premiership Rugby Cup 2019-20". Premiership Rugby.
    Close

    Round 1

    21 September 2019
    13:00
    (1 BP) Wasps28 – 50Saracens (1 BP)
    Try: Brookes 20' c
    Reider 37' c
    Flament 45' c
    Sirker 73' c
    Con: Umaga (4/4) 21', 39', 46', 74'
    ReportTry: Vunipola 2' c
    Segun (2) 7' m, 64' m
    Obatoyinbo 33' c
    Watson 70' c
    Tompkins 77' c
    Con: Whiteley (2/4) 3', 34'
    Willemse (2/2) 70', 78'
    Pen: Whiteley (4) 21', 41', 49', 61'
    Ricoh Arena
    Attendance: 6,341
    Referee: Jack Makepeace
    21 September 2019
    15:00
    (1 BP) Sale Sharks39 – 18Northampton Saints
    Try: Hammersley (2) 5' m, 66' m
    Penalty Try 27'
    Van Rensburg 41' m
    Ashton (2) 52' c, 63' c
    Con: R. Du Preez (2/5) 53', 64'
    Pen: R. Du Preez 11'
    ReportTry: Harrison 36' m
    Coles 73' c
    Con: Grayson (0/1)
    Matthews (1/1) 74'
    Pen: Grayson (2) 18', 61'
    AJ Bell Stadium
    Attendance: 5,744
    Referee: Andrew Jackson

    [7]


    Round 2

    28 September 2019
    15:00
    (2 BP) Northampton Saints32 – 36Wasps (1 BP)
    Try: Fish 12' m
    Naiyaravoro 16' m
    Eadie 43' c
    Penalty Try 64'
    Dingwall 70'
    Con: Grayson (1/4) 44'
    Pen: Grayson 22'
    ReportTry: Umaga 8' c
    Cardall 40' m
    Vailanu 41' m
    Carr 56' m
    Willis 68' c
    Penalty Try 74'
    Con: Umaga (1/4) 9'
    Miller (1/1) 69'
    Franklin's Gardens
    Attendance: 12,000
    Referee: Michael Hudson
    28 September 2019
    15:00
    Saracens17 – 36Sale Sharks (1 BP)
    Try: Whiteley 9' c
    Lewington 56' c
    Con: Whiteley (2/2) 10', 57'
    Pen: Whiteley 22'
    ReportTry: J. Du Preez 16' m
    Cooper-Woolley (2) 26' m, 78' c
    McGuigan 69' c
    Con: Curtis (2/4) 69', 78'
    Pen: Curtis 40'+1
    Allianz Park
    Attendance: 5,398
    Referee: Christophe Ridley

    [8]


    Round 3

    5 October 2019
    15:00
    Sale Sharks24 – 20Wasps (1 BP)
    Try: Van der Merwe 1' c
    Solomona 58' c, 70' c
    Con: R. Du Preez (3/3) 3', 59', 72'
    Pen: R. Du Preez 19'
    ReportTry: Wolstenholme 11' c
    Willis 30' c
    Con: Umaga (2/2) 12', 32'
    Pen: Umaga (2) 8', 39'
    AJ Bell Stadium
    Attendance: 6,809
    Referee: Adam Leal
    6 October 2019
    15:00
    (1 BP) Northampton Saints28 – 54Saracens (1 BP)
    Try: Symons (2) 14' c, 35' c
    Taylor 23' c
    Ribbans 49' c
    Con: Grayson (4/4) 14', 24', 36', 50'
    ReportTry: Gallagher 7' m
    Segun 29' m
    Tompkins (3) 32' c, 60' c, 75' c
    Spencer 51' c
    Vunipola 64' c
    Con: Whiteley (1/3) 34'
    Vunipola (4/4) 53', 62', 65', 76'
    Pen: Whiteley (3) 17', 40'+3, 41'
    Franklin's Gardens
    Attendance: 11,631
    Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

    [9]

    Pool 2

    More information Club, Played ...
    Pool 2
    Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Tries For Tries Against Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
    1Harlequins4301106891714121114
    2Bristol Bears420295110-151216109
    3London Irish4103116121-51616228
    4Gloucester4004101135-341619325
    • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
    1. Number of matches won
    2. Difference between points for and against
    3. Total number of points for
    4. Total number of tries scored
    Green background means the club qualified for the semi-finals as pool winner.
    Blue background means the club qualified for the semi-finals as the best pool runner up. Updated: 12 October 2019
    Note that each team played 4 games; 3 pool games plus a derby game against a team in another pool.
    Source: "Premiership Rugby Cup 2019-20". Premiership Rugby.
    Close

    Round 1

    20 September 2019
    19:45
    Harlequins24 – 12Bristol Bears
    Try: Morris (2) 13' c, 35' c
    Mulchrone 77' c
    Con: Herron (3/3) 14', 36', 78'
    Pen: Herron 3'
    ReportTry: Pincus 39' m
    Protheroe 79' c
    Con: Eden (1/2) 79'
    Twickenham Stoop
    Attendance: 9,051
    Referee: Ian Tempest
    21 September 2019
    15:00
    (1 BP) Gloucester29 – 49London Irish (1 BP)
    Try: Evans (2) 20' m, 42' c
    Hinkley 35' c
    Rees-Zammit 76' c
    Con: Evans (2/3) 36', 43'
    Barton (1/1) 76'
    Pen: Evans 4'
    ReportTry: McMillan (2) 25' m, 31' c
    Nott 27' c
    Steele (3) 46' c, 60' m, 79' m
    Gilsenan 65' c
    Con: Myler (3/4) 28', 33', 48'
    Jackson (1/3) 66'
    Pen: Myler 11'
    Jackson 57'
    Kingsholm
    Attendance: 11,287
    Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe

    [7]


    Round 2

    27 September 2019
    19:45
    Bristol Bears20 – 17Gloucester (1 BP)
    Try: Thacker (2) 4' c, 44' c
    Con: Sheedy (2/2) 5', 45'
    Pen: Sheedy (2) 12', 21'
    ReportTry: Simpson 31' m
    Banahan 59' m
    Grobler 77' c
    Con: Evans (1/3) 77'
    Ashton Gate
    Attendance: 7,274
    Referee: Tom Foley
    28 September 2019
    15:00
    (1 BP) London Irish18 – 21Harlequins
    Try: Hepetema 15' c
    Fainga'a 28' m
    Con: Jackson (1/2) 16'
    Pen: Jackson (2) 35', 60'
    ReportTry: Lang 1' m
    Ibitoye 54' m
    Dombrandt 67' m
    Con: Herron (0/3)
    Pen: Herron (2) 21', 78'
    Madejski Stadium
    Attendance: 3,249
    Referee: Greg MacDonald

    [8]


    Round 3

    5 October 2019
    15:00
    (1 BP) Harlequins40 – 31Gloucester (1 BP)
    Try: Brown 2' c
    Landajo 16' c
    Baldwin 24' c
    Morris 31' c
    Tapuai 38' c
    Bothma 79' m
    Con: Smith (5/5) 4' , 17' , 26' , 33' , 39'
    Lang (0/1)
    ReportTry: Simpson 12' m
    Twelvetrees 19' c
    Hinkley 35' c
    Seabrook 47' m
    Grobler 56' c
    Con: Twelvetrees (3/5) 20', 36', 57'
    Twickenham Stoop
    Attendance: 12,496
    Referee: Fergus Kirby
    6 October 2019
    15:00
    (1 BP) Bristol Bears44 – 27London Irish (1 BP)
    Try: Thacker 26' c
    Hughes 28' c
    Uren 42' c
    Protheroe (2) 73' c, 76' c
    Con: Eden (5/5) 27', 29', 42', 74', 78'
    Pen: Eden (3) 12', 50', 69'
    ReportTry: Englefield 20' m
    Loader (2) 55' c, 64' c
    Cooke 80'+1 m
    Con: Myler (2/4) 56', 65'
    Pen: Myler 1'
    Ashton Gate
    Attendance: 4,865
    Referee: Michael Hudson

    [9]

    Pool 3

    More information Club, Played ...
    Pool 3
    Club Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Tries For Tries Against Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
    1Exeter Chiefs4301111793215123015
    2Leicester Tigers420290102-1212142010
    3Bath42028398-1512142010
    4Worcester Warriors4103110132-221516206
    • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
    1. Number of matches won
    2. Difference between points for and against
    3. Total number of points for
    4. Total number of tries scored
    Green background means the club qualified for the semi-finals as pool winner.
    Blue background means the club qualified for the semi-finals as the best pool runner up. Updated: 12 October 2019
    Note that each team played 4 games; 3 pool games plus a derby game against a team in another pool.
    Source: "Premiership Rugby Cup 2019-20". Premiership Rugby.
    Close

    Round 1

    21 September 2019
    15:00
    (1 BP) Worcester Warriors57 – 23Leicester Tigers
    Try: Humphreys 11' c
    Miller 20' c
    Montgomery 32' c
    Hearle 39' c
    Beck 45' m
    Mudariki 59' c
    Penalty Try 74'
    Shillcock 76' c
    Con: Lance (4/5) 12', 21', 33', 40'+1
    Van Breda (2/2) 61', 77'
    Pen: Lance 6'
    ReportTry: Forsyth 15' c
    McPhillips 80' c
    Con: Hardwick (2/2) 16', 80'
    Pen: Hardwick (3) 2', 10', 43'
    Sixways
    Attendance: 6,037
    Referee: Christophe Ridley
    21 September 2019
    15:00
    (1 BP) Exeter Chiefs28 – 14Bath
    Try: Wyatt 20' c
    Hendrickson 30' c
    Woodburn 37' c
    Karea 73' c
    Con: Steenson (4/4) 20', 30', 37', 73'
    ReportTry: Davis 48' c
    Cook 64' c
    Con: A Davies (2/2) 48, 62
    Sandy Park
    Attendance: 9,722
    Referee: Adam Leal

    [7]


    Round 2

    27 September 2019
    19:45
    (1 BP) Leicester Tigers27 – 7Exeter Chiefs
    Try: Thompson 2' m
    Olowofela 15' m
    Holmes 25' c
    Eastmond 73' c
    Con: Reid (1/3) 26'
    Hardwick (1/1) 74'
    Pen: Reid 47'
    ReportTry: Vermeulen 8' c
    Con: Skinner (1/1) 9'
    Welford Road
    Attendance: 13,633
    Referee: Jack Makepeace
    28 September 2019
    15:00
    (1 BP) Bath36 – 28Worcester Warriors (1 BP)
    Try: Chudley 8' c
    Davis 16' c
    Stooke 28' c
    Penalty Try 67'
    Brew 77' m
    Con: Priestland (3/3) 8', 17', 29'
    Burns (0/1)
    Pen: Priestland 5'
    ReportTry: Mama 36' c
    Lawrence 61' c
    Hill 79' c
    Hougaard 80'+2 c
    Con: Weir (2/2) 38', 61'
    Shillcock (2/2) 79', 80'+3
    Recreation Ground
    Attendance: 12,666
    Referee: Simon Harding

    [8]


    Round 3

    4 October 2019
    19:45
    Worcester Warriors19 – 34Exeter Chiefs (1 BP)
    Try: Howe (3) 2' m, 27' c, 46' c
    Con: Lance (2/3) (28) (47)
    ReportTry: Woodburn 16' c
    Vermeulen 62' c
    Lonsdale 76' c
    Kvesic 80'+1 c
    Con: Simmonds (4/4) 18', 64', 77', 80'+3
    Pen: Simmonds (2) 44', 58'
    Sixways
    Attendance: 6,743
    Referee: JP Doyle
    5 October 2019
    15:00
    Bath7 – 18Leicester Tigers
    Try: Davis 44' c
    Con: Priestland (1/1) 45'
    ReportTry: Reffell 17' m
    White 26' c
    Con: Hardwick (1/2) 27'
    Pen: Hardwick 13'
    Drop: Hardwick 79'
    Recreation Ground
    Attendance: 13,190
    Referee: Andrew Jackson

    [9]

    Round 4 (derby games)

    After three pool games, each team played a 'derby' game against a team in another pool, with results counting towards the final standings in each pool.

    11 October 2019
    19:45
    (2 BP) Gloucester (P2)24 – 26Bath (P3) (1 BP)
    Try: Rees-Zammit 4' c
    Kriel 12' m
    Chapman 17' c
    Morris (20)
    Con: Evans (2/4) 5', 18'
    ReportTry: Batty 33' c
    Stuart 40' m
    Burns 53' c
    Walker 62' c
    Con: A Davies (1/2) 34'
    Burns (2/2) 53', 63'
    Kingsholm
    Attendance: 13,197
    Referee: Ian Tempest
    12 October 2019
    15:00
    (1 BP) Exeter Chiefs (P3)42 – 19Bristol Bears (P2)
    Try: Hill 1' c
    Maunder 10' c
    Simmonds 18' c
    Williams 31' c
    Dennis 59' c
    Street 76' c
    Con: Simmonds (5/5) 2', 11', 19', 31', 60'
    Steenson (1/1) 78'
    ReportTry: Bates 5'
    Pincus (2) 22', 65'
    Con: Madigan (2/3) 24', 66'
    Sandy Park
    Attendance: 9,706
    Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
    12 October 2019
    15:00
    (1 BP) Leicester Tigers (P3)22 – 33Northampton Saints (P1) (1 BP)
    Try: Holmes (2) 18' m, 27' m
    Spencer 47' m
    Reid 50' c
    Con: Reid (1/4) 51'
    ReportTry: Ribbans (2) 8' c, 32' c
    Collins 62' c
    Dingwall 65' c
    Con: Grayson (4/4) 8', 33', 62', 66'
    Pen: Grayson 74'
    Welford Road
    Attendance: 16,160
    Referee: Christophe Ridley
    12 October 2019
    15:00
    (1 BP) London Irish (P2)22 – 27Sale Sharks (P1) (1 BP)
    Try: Fainga'a 7' c
    Hoskins 43' c
    Loader 55' m
    Con: Jackson (2/3) 8', 44'
    Pen: Jackson 38'
    ReportTry: Hammersley 18' m
    Ashton (2) 32' c, 62' c
    Van der Merwe 73' m
    Con: R. Du Preez (2/4) 33', 63'
    Pen: R. Du Preez 40'
    Madejski Stadium
    Attendance: 2,558
    Referee: Simon Harding
    12 October 2019
    15:00
    Saracens (P1)28 – 21Harlequins (P2) (1 BP)
    Try: Segun 6' m
    Spencer (2) 14' c, 33' c
    Con: Spencer (2/3) 15', 34'
    Pen: Spencer (3) 22', 64', 71'
    ReportTry: Brown 29' c
    Ibitoye 75' m
    Con: Smith (1/2) 30'
    Pen: Smith (3) 3', 40', 53'
    Allianz Park
    Attendance: 5,761
    Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
    12 October 2019
    15:00
    (1 BP) Wasps (P1)39 – 6Worcester Warriors (P3)
    Try: Cruse 1' m
    Watson (3) 45' c, 62' c, 66' c
    Bassett 77' c
    Con: Searle (1/2) 46'
    Sopoaga (3/3) 64', 67', 78'
    Pen: Searle (2) 40', 43'
    ReportPen: Weir (2) 17', 48'
    Ricoh Arena
    Attendance: 6,104
    Referee: Thomas Foley

    [10]

    Knock-out stage

    The four qualifiers were seeded according to performance in the pool stage. The top 2 seeds hosted the semi-finals against the lower seeds, in a 1 v 4, 2v 3 format. Note, if two teams qualified from the same pool, they could still be drawn together in the semi-finals. Semi-finals were held over a two-week period in early February followed by the final originally scheduled for mid-March but postponed to September due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Teams are ranked by:

    1 – competition points (4 for a win, 2 for a draw)
    2 – where competition points are equal, greatest number of wins
    3 – where the number of wins are equal, aggregate points difference
    4 – where the aggregate points difference are equal, greatest number of points scored
    5 – where the greatest number of points are equal, greatest number of tries scored

    [11]

    More information Rank, Pool leaders ...
    Rank Pool leaders Pts Wins Diff PF TF
    1Sale Sharks1944912618
    2Exeter Chiefs1533211115
    3Harlequins1431710614
    Rank Pool runners–up Pts Wins Diff PF TF
    4Saracens1433614918
    5Leicester Tigers102-129012
    6Bristol Bears92-159512
    Close
     
    Semi-finalsFinal
     
          
     
    2 February 2020 — Sandy Park
     
     
    Exeter Chiefs22
     
    21 September 2020 — AJ Bell Stadium
     
    Harlequins49
     
    Sale Sharks27
     
    7 February 2020 — AJ Bell Stadium
     
    Harlequins19
     
    Sale Sharks28
     
     
    Saracens7
     

    Semi-finals

    2 February 2020
    13:00
    Exeter Chiefs22 49Harlequins
    Try: Skinner 34' m
    Price (2) 46' c, 79 m
    Short 69' m
    Con: Skinner (1/2) 47'
    ReportTry: Dombrandt (2) 21' m, 59' c
    Ibitoye (2) 30' c, 63' m
    Young 51' c
    Chisholm 66' c
    Smith 71' m
    Con: Smith (4/7) 31', 52', 61', 66'
    Pen: Smith (2) 13', 39'
    Sandy Park
    Attendance: 9,418
    Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
    7 February 2020
    19:45
    Sale Sharks28 7Saracens
    Try: Solomona 1' c
    Cliff 14' c
    Curry 17' c
    Van der Merwe 64' c
    Con: R. Du Preez (4/4) 2', 15', 19', 65'
    ReportTry: Segun 58' c
    Con: Whiteley (1/1) 59'
    AJ Bell Stadium
    Attendance: 7,992
    Referee: Hamish Smales

    [12]

    Final

    21 September 2020[c]
    19:45
    Sale Sharks27–19Harlequins
    AJ Bell Stadium
    Attendance: 0[d]
    FB 15 England Simon Hammersly
    RW 14 England Denny Solomona
    OC 13 England Sam James
    IC 12 South Africa Rohan Janse van Rensburg
    LW 11 England Marland Yarde
    FH 10 South Africa Rob du Preez
    SH 9 England Will Cliff
    N8 8 South Africa Dan du Preez
    OF 7 England Ben Curry
    BF 6 South Africa Jono Ross (c)
    RL 5 South Africa Jean-Luc du Preez
    LL 4 South Africa Cobus Wiese
    TP 3 England Jake Cooper-Woolley
    HK 2 England Curtis Langdon
    LP 1 South Africa Coenie Oosthuizen
    Substitutions:
    HK 16 South Africa Akker van der Merwe
    PR 17 Russia Valery Morozov
    PR 18 Wales WillGriff John
    LK 19 England James Phillips
    FL 20 England Tom Curry
    SH 21 South Africa Faf de Klerk
    FH 22 United States AJ MacGinty
    CE 23 England Manu Tuilagi
    Coach:
    England Steve Diamond
    FB 15 England Mike Brown
    RW 14 England Nathan Earle
    OC 13 England Joe Marchant
    IC 12 England Luke Northmore
    LW 11 England Aaron Morris
    FH 10 England Marcus Smith
    SH 9 England Danny Care
    N8 8 England James Chisholm
    OF 7 England Will Evans
    BF 6 England Chris Robshaw (c)
    RL 5 South Africa Stephan Lewies
    LL 4 England Dino Lamb
    TP 3 South Africa Simon Kerrod
    HK 2 Wales Scott Baldwin
    LP 1 Argentina Santiago García Botta
    Substitutions:
    HK 16 Samoa Elia Elia
    PR 17 Wales Marc Thomas
    PR 18 South Africa Wilco Louw
    LK 19 Scotland Glen Young
    FL 20 England Alex Dombrandt
    SH 21 Argentina Martin Landajo
    CE 22 South Africa Andre Esterhuizen
    CE 23 Scotland James Lang
    Coach:
    Australia Billy Millard

    Attendances

    More information Club, Home matches ...
    Club Home
    matches
    Total Average Highest Lowest % Capacity
    Bath225,85612,92813,19012,66689%
    Bristol Bears212,1396,0707,2744,86522%
    Exeter Chiefs328,8469,6159,7229,41873%
    Gloucester224,48412,24213,19711,28776%
    Harlequins221,54710,77412,4969,05173%
    Leicester Tigers229,79314,89716,16013,63358%
    London Irish25,8072,9043,2492,55812%
    Northampton Saints223,63111,81612,00011,63177%
    Sale Sharks320,5456,8487,9925,74457%
    Saracens211,1595,5805,7615,39866%
    Wasps212,4456,2236,3416,10419%
    Worcester Warriors212,7806,3906,7436,03756%
    Close

    Individual statistics

    • Points scorers includes tries as well as conversions, penalties and drop goals. Appearance figures also include coming on as substitutes (unused substitutes not included).

    Season records

    See also

    Notes

    1. Sandy Park's capacity increased from 12,921 to 13,593 from December 2019 onward.[5]
    2. Allianz Park will have a reduced capacity this season due to redevelopment works.
    3. Originally scheduled for 15 March 2020 but postponed due to a Harlequins staff member testing positive for COVID-19.[13]
    4. Match played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    References

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