1996–97 Courage League National Division One

1996–97 Courage League National 1
Countries England
ChampionsWasps (2nd title)
Runners-upBath
RelegatedWest Hartlepool
Orrell
Matches played132
Official website
www.premiershiprugby.com

The 1996–97 Courage League National Division One was the tenth season of the first tier of the English league system, currently known as the Gallagher Premiership. Due to restructuring at the end of the previous season, the league had been increased from 10 to 12 teams. Bath were the defending champions and London Irish and Northampton Saints the promoted teams. It was the tenth and final season of sponsorship by Courage.[1]

Each team played each other twice, in a round robin system. The reorganisation of the Courage National League One to Allied Dunbar Premiership One for the 1997–98 season meant that there would be between 2 and 4 sides relegated from the division into the new look Allied Dunbar Premiership Two. 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 1995–96 Courage League National Division Two with 9th v 4th and 10th v 3rd.

Wasps finished as champions for the second time, six points clear of defending champions Bath.[2] Bottom two clubs West Hartlepool and Orrell were relegated to the 1997–98 Allied Dunbar Premiership Two while Bristol and London Irish would remain in the division having won their respective playoff games.[3][4][5][6]

Participating teams

Locations of the 1996–97 Courage League National Division One teams
Team Stadium Capacity City/Area Previous season
Bath Recreation Ground 8,200 Bath, Somerset Champions
Bristol Memorial Stadium 12,100 Bristol, Avon 6th
Gloucester Kingsholm 12,000 Gloucester, Gloucestershire 8th
Harlequins The Stoop 8,500 Twickenham, London 3rd
Leicester Tigers Welford Road 17,000[a] Leicester, Leicestershire 2nd
London Irish The Avenue 6,600 Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey Promoted from Courage Division 2 (2nd)
Northampton Saints Franklin's Gardens 10,000 Northampton, Northamptonshire Promoted from Courage Division 2 (1st)
Orrell Edge Hall Road 5,500 Orrell, Greater Manchester 7th
Sale Heywood Road 5,400 Sale, Greater Manchester 5th
Saracens Southbury Road[b] 8,200[c] Enfield, London 9th
Wasps Loftus Road[d] 18,439 Shepherd's Bush, London 4th
West Hartlepool Brierton Lane 7,000[8] Hartlepool, County Durham 10th

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Wasps (C) 22 18 1 3 685 406 +279 37 Champions
1997–98 Heineken Cup
2 Bath 22 15 1 6 863 411 +452 31 Qualified for
1997–98 Heineken Cup
3 Harlequins 22 15 0 7 745 416 +329 30
4 Leicester Tigers 22 14 1 7 600 395 +205 29
5 Sale 22 13 2 7 603 525 +78 28
6 Saracens 22 12 1 9 568 449 +119 25
7 Gloucester 22 11 1 10 476 589 −113 23
8 Northampton Saints 22 10 0 12 515 477 +38 20
9 Bristol 22 8 1 13 432 625 −193 17 Relegation playoff
10 London Irish 22 6 0 16 502 747 −245 12
11 West Hartlepool (R) 22 3 0 19 382 795 −413 6 Relegated to
1997–98 Allied Dunbar Premiership Two
12 Orrell (R) 22 3 0 19 350 886 −536 6
Source: [1]
Rules for classification: Points are awarded as follows:
  1. two points for a win
  2. one point for a draw
  3. no points for a loss

If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:

  1. difference between points for and against
  2. total number of points for
    (C) Champions; (R) Relegated

Results

The home team is listed in the left column.

Home \ Away BAT BRI GLO HAR LEI LOI NOR ORR SAL SAR WAS WHA
Bath 76–7 71–21 35–20 47–9 46–3 52–14 40–14 84–7 35–33 36–40 46–10
Bristol 13–18 18–13 24–35 12–38 26–38 20–11 38–10 34–24 11–21 18–41 20–17
Gloucester 29–45 20–20 11–27 32–30 29–19 19–6 30–0 12–16 9–6 28–23 37–10
Harlequins 22–6 29–6 75–19 18–34 66–7 36–16 89–18 30–31 27–0 22–42 48–10
Leicester Tigers 28–25 53–19 32–14 12–13 46–13 23–9 36–14 25–9 22–18 18–12 48–3
London Irish 31–56 27–28 20–21 20–19 25–18 34–21 27–48 19–25 23–37 20–22 52–41
Northampton Saints 9–6 29–21 25–27 15–20 22–19 31–21 41–7 30–12 17–10 15–26 46–20
Orrell 13–56 27–28 3–49 20–56 12–29 32–27 14–50 8–40 22–44 27–44 22–15
Sale Sharks 11–5 31–33 52–12 24–13 20–20 41–25 31–15 37–11 33–23 31–33 58–18
Saracens 36–29 33–15 41–11 28–20 25–23 45–0 24–23 24–15 17–17 15–28 51–8
Wasps 25–25 15–13 36–10 17–19 14–7 31–18 18–13 62–5 36–10 36–21 36–12
West Hartlepool 16–24 19–8 14–23 21–41 19–30 18–33 17–57 24–8 22–43 25–16 23–48
Source:
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Fixtures & Results

Round 1

31 August 1996
Harlequins75 – 19Gloucester
Report[9]
The Stoop
Referee: J Pearson
31 August 1996
London Irish27 – 28Bristol
The Avenue
31 August 1996
Northampton Saints46 – 20West Hartlepool
Franklin's Gardens
31 August 1996
Orrell13 – 56Bath
Report[10]
Edge Hall Road
Referee: S Piercy
31 August 1996
Sale31 – 33Wasps
Heywood Road
31 August 1996
Saracens25 – 23Leicester Tigers
Report[11]
Southbury Road
Referee: S Lander

[12][13]

Round 2

7 September 1996
Bristol38 – 10Orrell
Memorial Stadium
7 September 1996
Gloucester12 – 16Sale
Kingsholm
7 September 1996
Leicester Tigers28 – 26Bath
Report[14]
Welford Road
Attendance: 14,000
Referee: Ed Morrison
7 September 1996
London Irish34 – 21Northampton Saints
Report[15]
The Avenue
Referee: S Lander
7 September 1996
West Hartlepool21 – 41Harlequins
Brierton Lane
8 September 1996
Wasps36 – 21Saracens
Loftus Road
Attendance: 8,000[16]

[12][13]

Round 3

14 September 1996
Bath36 – 40Wasps
Report[17]
Recreation Ground
Referee: J Pearson
14 September 1996
Harlequins66 – 7London Irish
Report[18]
The Stoop
Referee: Brian Campsall
14 September 1996
Northampton Saints29 – 21Bristol
Report[19]
Franklin's Gardens
Referee: J Wallis
14 September 1996
Orrell12 – 29Leicester Tigers
Report[20]
Edge Hall Road
Referee: C White
14 September 1996
Sale58 – 18West Hartlepool
Heywood Road
14 September 1996
Saracens41 – 11Gloucester
Southbury Road

[12][13]

Round 4

21 September 1996
Bristol24 – 35Harlequins
Report[21]
Memorial Stadium
Referee: A Spreadbury
21 September 1996
Gloucester29 – 45Bath
Report[22]
Kingsholm
Referee: Brian Campsall
21 September 1996
London Irish19 – 25Sale
The Avenue
21 September 1996
Northampton Saints41 – 7Orrell
Franklin's Gardens
21 September 1996
West Hartlepool25 – 16Saracens
Brierton Lane
22 September 1996
Wasps14 – 7Leicester Tigers
Loftus Road

[12][13]

Round 5

28 September 1996
Bath46 – 10West Hartlepool
Recreation Ground
28 September 1996
Leicester Tigers32 – 14Gloucester
Welford Road
28 September 1996
London Irish23 – 37Saracens
The Avenue
28 September 1996
Northampton Saints15 – 20Harlequins
Franklin's Gardens
28 September 1996
Orrell27 – 44Wasps
Report[23]
Edge Hall Road
Referee: T Spreadbury
28 September 1996
Sale31 – 33Bristol
Heywood Road

[12][13]

Round 6

5 October 1996
Bristol11 – 21Saracens
Memorial Stadium
5 October 1996
Harlequins89 – 18Orrell
Report[24]
The Stoop
Attendance: 4,650
Referee: J Pearson
5 October 1996
London Irish31 – 56Bath
Report[25]
The Avenue
Referee: I Rammage
5 October 1996
Northampton Saints30 – 12Sale
Report[26]
Franklin's Gardens
Referee: Brian Campsall
5 October 1996
West Hartlepool19 – 30Leicester Tigers
Report[27]
Brierton Lane
Referee: Ed Morrison
6 October 1996
Gloucester28 – 23Wasps
Report[28]
Kingsholm
Referee: D Chapman

[12][13]

Round 7

29 October 1996
Bath76 – 7Bristol
Report[29]
Recreation Ground
Referee: Brian Campsall
29 October 1996
Saracens24 – 23Northampton Saints
Report[30]
Southbury Road
Referee: G Warren
30 October 1996
Leicester Tigers46 – 13London Irish
Welford Road
30 October 1996
Sale24 – 13Harlequins
Heywood Road
31 October 1996
WaspsP – PWest Hartlepool
Loftus Road
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 February 1997.
31 October 1996
OrrellP – PGloucester
Edge Hall Road
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 November 1996.

[12][13]

Round 8

9 November 1996
BristolP – PLeicester Tigers
Memorial Stadium
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 18 December 1996.
9 November 1996
HarlequinsP – PSaracens
The Stoop
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 April 1997.
9 November 1996
London IrishP – PWasps
The Avenue
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 November 1996.
9 November 1996
Northampton Saints9 – 6Bath
Report[31]
Franklin's Gardens
Referee: Ed Morrison
9 November 1996
Sale37 – 11Orrell
Heywood Road
9 November 1996
West Hartlepool14 – 23Gloucester
Report[32]
Brierton Lane
Attendance: 1,853
Referee: N Cousins

[12][13]

Rounds 7 & 8 (Rescheduled games)

16 November 1996
London Irish20 – 22Wasps
Report[33]
The Avenue
Referee: G Hughes
  • Game rescheduled from 9 November 1996.
16 November 1996
Orrell3 – 49Gloucester
Edge Hall Road
  • Game rescheduled from 31 October 1996.

[12][13]

Round 9

7 December 1996
Bath35 – 20Harlequins
Report[34]
Recreation Ground
Referee: S Lander
7 December 1996
Gloucester29 – 19London Irish
Kingsholm
7 December 1996
Orrell22 – 15West Hartlepool
Edge Hall Road
7 December 1996
Wasps15 – 13Bristol Rugby
Report[35]
Loftus Road
Referee: A Watson
8 December 1996
Leicester Tigers23 – 9Northampton Saints
Report[36]
Welford Road
Attendance: 11,839
Referee: A Spreadbury
8 December 1996
Saracens17 – 17Sale
Southbury Road

[12][13]

Round 8 (Rescheduled game)

18 December 1996
Bristol12 – 38Leicester Tigers
Report[37]
Memorial Stadium
Referee: S Piercy
  • Game rescheduled from 9 November 1996.

[12]

Round 10

28 December 1996
BristolP – PGloucester
Memorial Stadium
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 18 February 1997.
28 December 1996
Harlequins18 – 34Leicester Tigers
Report[38]
The Stoop
Referee: Brian Campsall
28 December 1996
London Irish52 – 41West Hartlepool
The Avenue
28 December 1996
SaleP – PBath
Heywood Road
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 April 1997.
28 December 1996
SaracensP – POrrell
Southbury Road
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 March 1997.
28 December 1996
Wasps18 – 13Northampton Saints
Report[39]
Loftus Road
Referee: A Rowden

[12][13]

Round 11

4 January 1997
Bath35 – 33Saracens
Report[40]
Recreation Ground
Referee: Brian Campsall
4 January 1997
GloucesterP – PNorthampton Saints
Kingsholm
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 March 1997.
4 January 1997
Leicester TigersP – PSale
Welford Road
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 4 March 1997.
4 January 1997
OrrellP – PLondon Irish
Edge Hall Road
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 February 1997.
4 January 1997
West Hartlepool19 – 8Bristol
Report[41]
Brierton Lane
Referee: C Rees
5 January 1997
Wasps17 – 19Harlequins
Report[42]
Loftus Road
Referee: Ed Morrison

[12][13]

Round 12

11 January 1997
Harlequins22 – 6Bath
Report[43]
The Stoop
Referee: S Piercey
11 January 1997
Bristol18 – 41Wasps
Report[44]
Memorial Stadium
Referee: T Spreadbury
11 January 1997
London Irish20 – 21Gloucester
The Avenue
11 January 1997
Northampton Saints22 – 19Leicester Tigers
Report[45]
Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 8,400
Referee: C White
11 January 1997
West Hartlepool24 – 8Orrell
Brierton Lane
11 January 1997
SaleP – PSaracens
Heywood Road
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 April 1997.

[12][13]

Round 13

18 January 1997
Gloucester37 – 10West Hartlepool
Kingsholm
18 January 1997
Leicester Tigers53 – 19Bristol
Report[46]
Welford Road
Attendance: 9,122
Referee: J Pearson
18 January 1997
Orrell8 – 40Sale
Edge Hall Road
18 January 1997
WaspsP – PLondon Irish
Loftus Road
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 26 March 1997.
19 January 1997
Bath52 – 14Northampton Saints
Report[47]
Recreation Ground
Referee: S Lander
19 January 1997
Saracens28 – 20Harlequins
Report[7]
Southbury Road
Attendance: 8,200[e]
Referee: A Spreadbury

[12][13]

Round 14

8 February 1997
BristolP – PBath
Memorial Stadium
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 22 February 1997.
8 February 1997
Gloucester30 – 0Orrell
Kingsholm
8 February 1997
Harlequins30 – 31Sale
Report[48]
The Stoop
Referee: C White
8 February 1997
London IrishP – PLeicester Tigers
The Avenue
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 16 April 1997.
8 February 1997
Northampton Saints17 – 10Saracens
Report[49]
Franklin's Gardens
Referee: G Hughes
8 February 1997
West Hartlepool23 – 48Wasps
Brierton Lane

[12][13]

Round 10 (rescheduled game)

18 February 1997
Bristol18 – 13Gloucester
Report[50]
Memorial Stadium
Referee: D Chapman
  • Game rescheduled from 28 December 1996.

[12][13]

Rounds 7, 11 & 14 (rescheduled games)

22 February 1997
Bristol13 – 18Bath
Report[51]
Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: A Rowden
  • Game rescheduled from 8 February 1997.
22 February 1997
Orrell32 – 27London Irish
Edge Hall Road
  • Game rescheduled from 4 March 1997.
23 February 1997
Wasps36 – 12West Hartlepool
Loftus Road
  • Game rescheduled from 31 October 1996.

[12]

Rounds 10 & 11 (rescheduled games)

4 March 1997
Gloucester19 – 6Northampton Saints
Kingsholm
  • Game rescheduled from 4 January 1997.
4 March 1997
Leicester Tigers25 – 9Sale
Report[52]
Welford Road
Referee: A Rowden
  • Game rescheduled from 4 January 1997.
4 March 1997
Saracens24 – 15Orrell
Southbury Road
  • Game rescheduled from 28 December 1996.

[12][13]

Round 15

8 March 1997
Bath46 – 3London Irish
Report[53]
Recreation Ground
Referee: G Hughes
8 March 1997
Leicester Tigers48 – 3West Hartlepool
Report[54]
Welford Road
Referee: D Chapman
8 March 1997
Orrell20 – 56Harlequins
Report[55]
Edge Hall Road
Referee: A Rowden
9 March 1997
Sale31 – 15Northampton Saints
Report[56]
Heywood Road
Referee: Ed Morrison
9 March 1997
Saracens33 – 15Bristol
Report[57]
Southbury Road
Referee: T Rossall
9 March 1997
Wasps36 – 10Gloucester
Loftus Road

[12][13]

Round 16

22 March 1997
Bristol34 – 24Sale
Memorial Stadium
22 March 1997
GloucesterP – PLeicester Tigers
Kingsholm
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 8 April 1997.
22 March 1997
Harlequins48 – 10West Hartlepool
The Stoop
  • 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.
22 March 1997
SaracensP – PLondon Irish
Southbury Road
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 30 April 1997.
22 March 1997
Wasps62 – 5Orrell
Loftus Road
  • Byes: Bath, Northampton Saints

[12][13]

Rounds 13 & 16 (rescheduled games)

26 March 1997
Wasps31 – 18London Irish
Report[58]
Loftus Road
  • Game rescheduled from 18 January 1997.
27 March 1997
West Hartlepool16 – 24Bath
Report[59]
Brierton Lane
Referee: 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

29 March 1997
BathP – PGloucester
Recreation Ground
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 30 April 1997.
29 March 1997
HarlequinsP – PBristol
The Stoop
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 15 April 1997.
29 March 1997
Leicester TigersP – PWasps
Welford Road
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 2 April 1997.
29 March 1997
Orrell14 – 50Northampton Saints
Edge Hall Road
29 March 1997
SaleP – PLondon Irish
Heywood Road
  • Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 April 1997.
30 March 1997
Saracens51 – 8West Hartlepool
Southbury Road

[12][13]

Rounds 10 & 17 (rescheduled games)

2 April 1997
Leicester Tigers18 – 12Wasps
Report[60]
Welford Road
Attendance: 17,000
Referee: Brian Campsall
  • Game rescheduled from 29 March 1997.
2 April 1997
Sale11 – 5Bath
Report[61]
Heywood Road
Referee: J Pearson
  • Game rescheduled from 28 December 1996.

[12]

Round 18

5 April 1997
Bristol20 – 11Northampton Saints
Memorial Stadium
5 April 1997
Gloucester9 – 6Saracens
Report[62]
Kingsholm
Referee: A Rowden
5 April 1997
Leicester Tigers36 – 14Orrell
Report[63]
Welford Road
Referee: S Piercy
5 April 1997
London Irish20 – 19Harlequins
The Avenue
5 April 1997
West Hartlepool22 – 43Sale
Brierton Lane
6 April 1997
Wasps25 – 25Bath
Report[64]
Loftus Road
Attendance: 11,000
Referee: C White

[12][13]

Rounds 8 & 16 (rescheduled games)

8 April 1997
Gloucester32 – 30Leicester Tigers
Report[65]
Kingsholm
Referee: G Hughes
  • Game rescheduled from 22 March 1997.
9 April 1997
Harlequins27 – 0Saracens
Report[66]
The Stoop
Referee: S Piercey
  • Game rescheduled from 9 November 1996.

[12][13]

Round 19

12 April 1997
Bath47 – 9Leicester Tigers
Report[67]
Recreation Ground
Referee: Ed Morrison
12 April 1997
Northampton Saints31 – 21London Irish
Franklin's Gardens
12 April 1997
Orrell27 – 28Bristol
Edge Hall Road
12 April 1997
Sale52 – 12Gloucester
Report[68]
Heywood Road
Referee: Brian Campsall
12 April 1997
Saracens15 – 28Wasps
Report[69]
Southbury Road
Referee: S Lander
  • Byes: Harlequins, West Hartlepool[f]

[12][13]

Rounds 12, 14 & 17 (rescheduled games)

15 April 1997
Harlequins29 – 6Bristol
The Stoop
  • Game rescheduled from 29 March 1997.
15 April 1997
Sale33 – 23Saracens
Heywood Road
  • Game rescheduled from 11 January 1997.
16 April 1997
London Irish25 – 18Leicester Tigers
The Avenue
  • Game rescheduled from 22 February 1997.

[12]

Round 20

19 April 1997
Bath40 – 14Orrell
Report[70]
Recreation Ground
Referee: A Rowden
  • Orrell were relegated.[4]
19 April 1997
Bristol26 – 38London Irish
Memorial Stadium
19 April 1997
Gloucester11 – 27Harlequins
Report[71]
Kingsholm
Referee: J Pearson
19 April 1997
Leicester Tigers22 – 18Saracens
Report[72]
Welford Road
Referee: C White
19 April 1997
West Hartlepool17 – 57Northampton Saints
Brierton Lane
20 April 1997
Wasps36 – 10Sale
Report[73]
Loftus Road
Referee: Ed Morrison

[12][13]

Round 17 (rescheduled game)

23 April 1997
Sale41 – 25London Irish
Heywood Road
  • Game rescheduled from 29 March 1997.

[12]

Round 21

26 April 1997
Bath84 – 7Sale
Report[74]
Recreation Ground
Referee: C White
26 April 1997
Gloucester20 – 20Bristol
Kingsholm
26 April 1997
Leicester Tigers12 – 13Harlequins
Report[75]
Welford Road
Referee: S Lander
26 April 1997
Northampton Saints15 – 26Wasps
Report[2]
Franklin's Gardens
Referee: G Hughes
  • Wasps are champions.[2]
26 April 1997
Orrell22 – 44Saracens
Edge Hall Road
26 April 1997
West Hartlepool18 - 33London Irish
Brierton Lane
  • West Hartlepool are relegated.[4]

[12][13]

Rounds 16 & 17 (rescheduled games)

30 April 1997
Bath71 – 21Gloucester
Recreation Ground
  • Game rescheduled from 29 March 1997.
30 April 1997
Harlequins36 – 16Northampton Saints
The Stoop
  • Game rescheduled from 22 March 1997 when Harlequins game with Northampton was swapped to Harlequins versus West Hartlepool.
30 April 1997
Saracens45 – 0London Irish
Southbury Road
  • Game rescheduled from 22 March 1997.

[12][13]

Round 22

3 May 1997
Harlequins22 – 42Wasps
Report[76]
The Stoop
Referee: C White
3 May 1997
London Irish27 – 48Orrell
The Avenue
3 May 1997
Northampton Saints25 – 27Gloucester
Report[77]
Franklin's Gardens
Referee: C Reeks
3 May 1997
Sale20 – 20Leicester Tigers
Report[78]
Heywood Road
Referee: Ed Morrison
3 May 1997
Saracens36 – 29Bath
Southbury Road
4 May 1997
Bristol20 – 17West Hartlepool
Memorial Stadium

[12][13]

Relegation/Promotion playoffs

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

7 May 1997
Bedford11 – 20Bristol
Report[79]
Goldington Road
Referee: J Pearson
7 May 1997
Coventry16 – 14London Irish
Report[80]
Coundon Road
Referee: G Hughes

Second leg

11 May 1997
Bristol19 – 12Bedford
Report[5]
Memorial Ground
Referee: S Lander

Bristol won 39–23 on aggregate.

11 May 1997
London Irish28 – 7Coventry
Report[6]
The Avenue
Referee: Ed Morrison

London Irish won 42–23 on aggregate.

Note

  1. ^ Welford Road capacity up from 16,000 to 17,000 for the 1996–97 season.
  2. ^ For the 1996–97 season Saracens would groundshare with football team Enfield at Southbury Road having previously been based at Bramley Road.
  3. ^ 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 is the club's history up to this point.[7]
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.[7]
  6. ^ 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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b c "Rugby: Team Dallaglio take the title". The Independent. 26 April 1997.
  3. ^ "League Tables". London Irish. Archived from the original on 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  4. ^ a b c "Rugby union: Newcastle up in style". The Independent. 26 April 1997.
  5. ^ a b "Rugby Union: Burke's boot calms Bristol". The Independent. 11 May 1997.
  6. ^ a b "Rugby Union: Exiles preserve their status". The Independent. 11 May 1997.
  7. ^ a b c "Rugby Union: Lynagh frees Saracens' spirit and flair". The Independent. 20 January 1997.
  8. ^ "West Hartlepool". Rugby Archives. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  9. ^ "Quins show fierce bite". The Independent. 31 August 1996.
  10. ^ "Orrell drowned in rusty Bath". The Independent. 31 August 1996.
  11. ^ "Tigers awake too late". The Independent. 31 August 1996.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "Tigers' sting in the tail". The Independent. 7 September 1996.
  15. ^ "Humphreys in command". The Independent. 7 September 1996.
  16. ^ "Rugby Union: Wasps well pleased with their slick new abode". The Independent. 13 September 1996.
  17. ^ "Rugby Union: Wasps ruin Rec record". The Independent. 14 September 1996.
  18. ^ "Rugby Union: Connolly takes bow". The Independent. 14 September 1996.
  19. ^ "Rugby Union: Saints and winners". The Independent. 14 September 1996.
  20. ^ "Rugby Union: Botica fails to settle Orrell". The Independent. 14 September 1996.
  21. ^ "Wood clears Quins' way". The Independent. 21 September 1996.
  22. ^ "Bath flatter to deceive". The Independent. 21 September 1996.
  23. ^ "Orrell outgunned". The Independent. 28 September 1996.
  24. ^ "Rugby Union: Quins bask in superiority". The Independent. 6 October 1996.
  25. ^ "Rugby Union: Guscott's brilliance shines through political muddle". The Independent. 6 October 1996.
  26. ^ "Rugby Union: Grayson's boot steers Saints to safety". The Independent. 5 October 1996.
  27. ^ "Rugby Union: Gallant West expose Leicester's back problems". The Independent. 6 October 1996.
  28. ^ "Rugby Union: Gloucester back to fiery best". The Independent. 6 October 1996.
  29. ^ "Robinson inspires record rout". The Independent. 30 October 1996.
  30. ^ "Ebongalame flies in for Sarries". The Independent. 30 October 1996.
  31. ^ "RUGBY UNION: Saints waiting patiently for Elvis". The Independent. 11 November 1996.
  32. ^ "RUGBY UNION: Mapletoft is guiding light". The Independent. 11 November 1996.
  33. ^ "Rugby Union: Wasps survive the Irish bluster". The Independent. 17 November 1996.
  34. ^ "Rugby Union: Guscott resurrects spirit of Bath". The Independent. 9 December 1996.
  35. ^ "Rugby Union: Wasps leave it to King". The Independent. 9 December 1996.
  36. ^ "Rugby Union: Stransky given taste of Tigers' rugged qualities". The Independent. 9 December 1996.
  37. ^ "Liley lads take the Tigers to the top". The Independent. 19 December 1996.
  38. ^ "Rugby Union: Tigers thrive on teamwork". The Independent. 30 December 1996.
  39. ^ "Wasps rely on Rees". The Independent. 29 December 1996.
  40. ^ "Rugby Union: Pienaar unable to spring Saracens". The Independent. 6 January 1997.
  41. ^ "Rugby Union: It is finally becoming tough to go West". The Independent. 6 January 1997.
  42. ^ "Rugby Union: Pearly Queens outrank Kings of London". The Independent. 6 January 1997.
  43. ^ "Lacroix targets timid Bath". The Independent. 12 January 1997.
  44. ^ "Wasps wing it". The Independent. 12 January 1997.
  45. ^ "Grayson's deftness tames the Tigers". The Independent. 13 January 1997.
  46. ^ "Stransky roars again". The Independent. 19 January 1997.
  47. ^ "Rugby Union: Lyle's classy effort brings Saints to their knees". The Independent. 20 January 1997.
  48. ^ "Rugby Union: Steel of Sale". The Independent. 9 February 1997.
  49. ^ "Rugby Union: Saints' Euro vision". The Independent. 9 February 1997.
  50. ^ "Six from Burke halts Bristol's losing run of seven". The Independent. 19 February 1997.
  51. ^ "Rugby Union: Guscott proves prince of tries". The Independent. 23 February 1997.
  52. ^ "Rugby Union: Stransky subdues Sale". The Independent. 5 March 1997.
  53. ^ "Bath batter brave Irish: Rugby Union". The Independent. 9 March 1997.
  54. ^ "Tigers a class apart: Rugby Union". The Independent. 9 March 1997.
  55. ^ "Chapman cheers Quins: Rugby Union". The Independent. 9 March 1997.
  56. ^ "Mannix makes telling break: Rugby". The Independent. 9 March 1997.
  57. ^ "Weakened Saracens too strong for Bristol: Rugby". The Independent. 10 March 1997.
  58. ^ "Rugby Union: Wasps fight for points". The Independent. 27 March 1997.
  59. ^ "Rugby: Bath break West spirit". The Independent. 28 March 1997.
  60. ^ "Stransky's boot sees off Wasps: Rugby Union". The Independent. 2 April 1997.
  61. ^ "Sale steal a march on Bath: Rugby Union". The Independent. 2 April 1997.
  62. ^ "Mapletoft drops in late". The Independent. 5 April 1997.
  63. ^ "Tigers tease Orrell". The Independent. 5 April 1997.
  64. ^ "Rugby Union: Bath on way back". The Independent. 6 April 1997.
  65. ^ "Rugby Union: Theatrical feast ended by Greening's late try". The Independent. 8 April 1997.
  66. ^ "Rugby Union: Quins accept Saracens' charity". The Independent. 9 April 1997.
  67. ^ "Tigers on their knees". The Independent. 12 April 1997.
  68. ^ "Rugby Union: Mannix inspires Sale's would-be tourists". The Independent. 13 April 1997.
  69. ^ "Wasps fly free of the pack". The Independent. 12 April 1997.
  70. ^ "Rugby Union: Peters preserves the hope". The Independent. 19 April 1997.
  71. ^ "Rugby Union: Lacroix puts Europe on the agenda". The Independent. 19 April 1997.
  72. ^ "Rugby Union: Tigers revert to type". The Independent. 19 April 1997.
  73. ^ "Rugby Union: Wasps' thoroughly modern winning ways". The Independent. 20 April 1997.
  74. ^ "Rugby union: Bath power to record". The Independent. 26 April 1997.
  75. ^ "Rugby union: Lacroix's class edges Quins home". The Independent. 26 April 1997.
  76. ^ "Rugby union: Lacroix's class edges Quins home". The Independent. 3 May 1997.
  77. ^ "Rugby Union: Tigers savage the Euro sceptics". The Independent. 3 May 1997.
  78. ^ "Rugby Union: Hill the driving force". The Independent. 3 May 1997.
  79. ^ "Bedford make life difficult for Bristol". The Independent. 7 May 1997.
  80. ^ "Rugby Union: Harris keeps the Irish stewing". The Independent. 7 May 1997.
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