2023–24 Premiership Rugby
| 2023–24 Premiership Rugby | |
|---|---|
| Countries |  England |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Date | 13 October 2023 – 8 June 2024 |
| Relegated | London Irish |
| Matches played | 35 |
| Tries scored | 220 (average 6.3 per match) |
| Top point scorer | Henry Slade (Exeter) – 62 points[1] |
| Top try scorer | Alex Lewington (Saracens) – 5 tries Arron Reed (Sale Sharks) – 5 tries[1] |
| Official website | |
| www | |
The 2023–24 Premiership Rugby is the 37th season of the top flight of English domestic rugby union competition and the sixth to be sponsored by Gallagher.[2] The competition is being broadcast by TNT Sports for the eleventh and final year of their current broadcast deal,[3] with six league season games and the final also simulcast free-to-air by ITV.[4] Highlights of each weekend's games are to be shown on ITV, with extended highlights on TNT Sports.[5]
The reigning champions entering the season are Saracens, who claimed their 6th league title after winning the 2023 final.[6] No team was promoted from the 2022–23 RFU Championship, as the champions were not able to satisfy the eligibility criteria required to enter the league.[7]
Rule changes[edit]
The 2023–24 season is set to be the final year under the current Premiership competition structure, before a planned 're-launch' taking place ahead of the 2024–25 season.[8] As a result, the moratorium on relegation to the RFU Championship will cease and be replaced by a play-off between the team placed last in the Premiership and the team placed first in the Championship. Promotion from the Championship is therefore also set to be reinstated, subject to the winning club successfully fulfilling the RFU minimum standards criteria.[9]
This season is also the last year of the league's temporary salary cap reduction, implemented to keep the participating clubs financially solvent following the COVID-19 pandemic, with further regulatory changes set to be made for the 2024–25 season.[10]
Teams[edit]
The competition will feature 10 of the 13 teams which began the 2022–23 season. Two of the other three – Wasps and Worcester Warriors – were previously confirmed to be excluded from competing in the 2023–24 season, after both clubs were expelled from the league, upon entering into administration in 2022.[11] The final team – London Irish – had originally been due to compete, but the club was also expelled in summer 2023, prior to the start of the season, because of insufficient funds to continue operating.[12] As a result, the 2023–24 season is the first time the top flight of English rugby has featured just 10 teams since the 1995–96 season.[13]
For the second consecutive year, the top team in the Championship was ineligible for promotion to the Premiership, after 2022–23 Championship winners Jersey Reds failed to meet the minimum standards criteria to join the competition.[14]
London Irish administration[edit]
On 15 May 2023, London Irish were warned by the RFU that they faced suspension from the Premiership ahead of the beginning of the 2023–24 season, unless they met a deadline of 30 May to complete a takeover by new ownership, due to concerns about the club's finances.[15] On 31 May, the RFU granted the club a one-week extension, on the condition that evidence of funding for the 2023–24 season, from either the existing benefactor or the prospective new owners, was provided by 6 June.[16] On 2 June, HMRC issued a winding-up petition against the club, in response to unpaid tax.[17] On 6 June, after failing to provide proof of funds for the upcoming season, London Irish were officially suspended from the Premiership.[18] The following day, the club filed for administration, resulting in automatic relegation under RFU regulations.[19]
Stadiums and locations[edit]
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Player movements[edit]
Table[edit]
| |||||||||||||||||
| Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Tries for | Tries against | Try bonus | Losing bonus | Points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sale Sharks | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 146 | 129 | + 17 | 21 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 27 | ||||
| 2 | Saracens | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 209 | 163 | + 46 | 30 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 24 | ||||
| 3 | Exeter Chiefs | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 215 | 124 | + 91 | 32 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 23 | ||||
| 4 | Bath | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 175 | 148 | + 27 | 22 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 22 | ||||
| 5 | Harlequins | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 185 | 175 | + 10 | 25 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 21 | ||||
| 6 | Northampton Saints | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 169 | 163 | + 6 | 21 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 21 | ||||
| 7 | Leicester Tigers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 162 | 171 | – 9 | 17 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 15 | ||||
| 8 | Bristol Bears | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 162 | 179 | – 17 | 20 | 25 | 2 | 2 | 12 | ||||
| 9 | Gloucester | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 131 | 198 | – 67 | 16 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 11 | ||||
| 10 | Newcastle Falcons | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 114 | 218 | – 104 | 17 | 32 | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||||
|
Green background (rows 1 to 4) indicate teams that qualify for the play-offs, which also earn a space in the 2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup. | |||||||||||||||||
|
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) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled. | |||||||||||||||||
Round-by-round progression[edit]
The grid below shows each team's progression throughout the season, indicating their points total (and league table position) at the end of every round:
| Team Progression | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | R16 | R17 | R18 |
| Sale Sharks | 4 (5th) |
8 (4th) |
8 (6th) |
13 (3rd) |
18 (2nd) |
23 (1st) |
27 (1st) |
|||||||||||
| Saracens | 0 (10th) |
0 (10th) |
4 (9th) |
9 (7th) |
14 (6th) |
19 (4th) |
24 (2nd) |
|||||||||||
| Exeter Chiefs | 5 (1st) |
5 (5th) |
10 (2nd) |
15 (1st) |
15 (5th) |
19 (3rd) |
23 (3rd) |
|||||||||||
| Bath | 5 (2nd) |
10 (1st) |
11 (1st) |
12 (4th) |
17 (3rd) |
21 (2nd) |
22 (4th) |
|||||||||||
| Harlequins | 1 (6th) |
5 (6th) |
9 (4th) |
14 (2nd) |
19 (1st) |
19 (5th) |
21 (5th) |
|||||||||||
| Northampton Saints | 1 (7th) |
3 (7th) |
7 (7th) |
11 (5th) |
16 (4th) |
16 (6th) |
21 (6th) |
|||||||||||
| Leicester Tigers | 0 (9th) |
1 (9th) |
5 (8th) |
5 (9th) |
6 (9th) |
10 (9th) |
15 (7th) |
|||||||||||
| Bristol Bears | 4 (4th) |
9 (2nd) |
10 (3rd) |
10 (6th) |
10 (7th) |
11 (7th) |
12 (8th) |
|||||||||||
| Gloucester | 5 (3rd) |
9 (3rd) |
9 (5th) |
9 (8th) |
9 (8th) |
11 (8th) |
11 (9th) |
|||||||||||
| Newcastle Falcons | 0 (8th) |
1 (8th) |
2 (10th) |
2 (10th) |
2 (10th) |
3 (10th) |
4 (10th) |
| Key | ||
| Win | Draw | Loss |
Regular season[edit]
The regular season fixtures were announced on 18 July 2023.[29] They are due to play out over the course of 18 rounds, with each round consisting of five matches.[30]
The league began on 13 October 2023, with the full season schedule staggered to start and finish one month later than the 2022–23 season, in order to reduce fixture overlap with the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which reaches the knockout stages on the same weekend as the Premiership's opening round.[31] A revamped version of the Premiership Rugby Cup, involving teams from the RFU Championship, was also announced to take place before the beginning of the Premiership season.[32] The Premiership season will pause for eight weeks between the ends of January 2023 and March 2023, to avoid any fixture clashes with the 2024 Six Nations Championship.[33]
Highlights of the season include:
- Derby Weekend – All five fixtures scheduled for Round 6, on the weekend of 17–19 November 2023, are derby matches between local rivals – the Northern Derby (Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons), the West Country Derbies (Bath v Bristol Bears and Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester), the East Midlands Derby (Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints), and the London Derby (Harlequins v Saracens).[34]
- Slater Cup – Leicester Tigers and Gloucester will contest the Slater Cup at Kingsholm on 25 November 2023, and at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in March 2023, in honour of Ed Slater.[35]
- Big Game 15 – Harlequins will host Gloucester in this season's edition of The Big Game at Twickenham Stadium on 30 December 2023.[36]
- The Showdown 4 – Saracens will host Harlequins in this season's edition of The Showdown at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 23 March 2024.[37]
- Big Summer Kick-Off 3 – Harlequins will host Northampton Saints in this season's edition of the Big Summer Kick-Off at Twickenham Stadium in April 2024.
All fixtures are subject to change.[38]
Results[edit]
Round 1[edit]
| 13 October 2023 19:45 |
| Bristol Bears | 25–14 | Leicester Tigers |
| Try: Ibitoye (2) 2' m, 23' c Thacker 21' c Con: MacGinty (2/3) 22', 24' Pen: Williams (2/3) 38', 43' | Report | Try: Kelly 51' c Liebenberg 72' c Con: C. Atkinson (1/1) 52' Shillcock (1/1) 73' |
| Ashton Gate Attendance: 15,674 Referee: Ian Tempest |
| 14 October 2023 13:30 |
| (1 BP) Exeter Chiefs | 65–10 | Saracens |
| Try: Feyi-Waboso 1' m Fisilau 8' c Roots 12' m Hendrickson 16' m Slade 22' c Hodge (3) 28' c, 25' m, 55' c Tuima 59' Vintcent 72' m Armstrong 74' c Con: Slade (4/9) 9', 23', 30', 56' Skinner (1/2) 75' | Report | Try: Hartley 45' m Maitland 65' m |
| Sandy Park Attendance: 9,371 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
| 14 October 2023 14:00 |
| (1 BP) Bath | 34–26 | Newcastle Falcons |
| Try: Barbeary 11' m Spencer (3) 21' m, 39' c, 46' m Redpath 30' c Muir 69' m Con: Spencer (2/5) 31', 40' | Report | Try: Orlando 26' c Stevenson 50' m Blamire 78' m Con: Connon (1/3) 27' Pen: Connon (3/3) 1', 8', 16' |
| Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,680 Referee: Dan Jones |
| 14 October 2023 14:00 |
| (1 BP) Gloucester | 29–28 | Harlequins (1 BP) |
| Try: Clark 19' c McGuigan 23' c Ludlow 58' c Ford-Robinson 80+2' m Con: Barton (3/4) 20', 24', 59' Pen: Barton (1/1) 27' | Report | Try: Dombrandt 1' c W. Evans 25' m Northmore 31' c Con: Edwards (2/3) 2', 32' Pen: J. Evans (3/4) 62', 65', 72' |
| Kingsholm Attendance: 10,458 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
| 15 October 2023 13:30 |
| Sale Sharks | 20–15 | Northampton Saints (1 BP) |
| Try: Roebuck 5' c O'Flaherty 11' m Caine 37' m Con: R. du Preez (1/3) 5' Pen: R. du Preez (1/1) 35' | Report | Try: Freeman 2' c Ramm 68' Con: F. Smith (1/2) 3' Pen: F. Smith (1/2) 26' |
| Salford Community Stadium Attendance: 3,842 Referee: Adam Leal |
Round 2[edit]
| 20 October 2023 18:00 |
| (1 BP) Newcastle Falcons | 14–18 | Gloucester |
| Try: Penalty try 67' Radwan 72' c Con: Connon (1/1) 73' | Report | Try: McGuigan 16' c Morris 21' m Con: Barton (1/2) 18' Pen: Barton (2/2) 8', 54' |
| Kingston Park Attendance: 3,821 Referee: Jack Makepeace |
| 21 October 2023 15:00 |
| (2 BP) Northampton Saints | 27–33 | Bristol Bears (1 BP) |
| Try: Seabrook (2) 2' c, 13' c T. Pearson 22' m Freeman 40' m Con: F. Smith (2/4) 3', 14' Pen: F. Smith (1/1) 73' | Report | Try: Bradbury (2) 10' m, 40+1' c Lahiff 50' c Thacker 59' m Con: Sheedy (2/4) 40+2', 51' Pen: Sheedy (3/3) 16', 37', 53' |
| cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 13,795 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
| 21 October 2023 15:00 |
| Saracens | 16–25 | Bath (1 BP) |
| Try: Christie 1' c Con: Lozowski (1/1) 2' Pen: Lozowski (3/4) 18', 36', 51' | Report | Try: De Glanville 3' m Reid 7' c McConnochie 21' m Du Toit 55' m Con: Russell (1/4) 8' Pen: Russell (1/1) 33' |
| StoneX Stadium Attendance: 7,061 Referee: Hamish Smales |
| 21 October 2023 15:05 |
| (1 BP) Leicester Tigers | 17–24 | Sale Sharks |
| Try: Brown 7' m Liebenberg 34' c Hassell-Collins 59' m Con: Shillcock (1/3) 35' | Report | Try: Roebuck 9' c D. du Preez 31' c R. du Preez 69' c Con: R. du Preez (3/3) 10, 32', 70' Pen: R. du Preez (1/2) 45' |
| Mattioli Woods Welford Road Attendance: 17,719 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
| 22 October 2023 15:00 |
| Harlequins | 22–14 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Try: Kenningham 8' c Lynagh 17' c Joseph 34' m Con: J. Evans (2/3) 10', 17' Pen: Edwards (1/1) 80+1' | Report | Try: Painter 4' c Frost 70' c Con: Slade (2/2) 5', 71' |
| Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 11,000 Referee: Andrew Jackson |
Round 3[edit]
| 27 October 2023 19:45 |
| Gloucester | 3–24 | Saracens |
| Pen: Barton (1/1) 5' | Report | Try: Willis (2) 24' c, 49' c Lewington 28' c Con: Lozowski (3/3) 26', 29', 50' Pen: Lozowski (1/2) 65' |
| Kingsholm Attendance: 10,541 Referee: Adam Leal |
| 28 October 2023 14:30 |
| (1 BP) Bristol Bears | 21–23 | Harlequins |
| Try: Vakatawa 34' m Thacker 48' c Con: Sheedy (1/2) 49' Pen: Sheedy (3/3) 24', 28', 62' | Report | Try: Hammond (2) 20' c, 44' c Con: J. Evans (2/2) 21', 45' Pen: J. Evans (3/3) 7', 15', 78' |
| Ashton Gate Attendance: 15,869 Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
| 28 October 2023 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Exeter Chiefs | 43–0 | Sale Sharks |
| Try: Fisilau 1' c Frost 17' c Iosefa-Scott 36' m Feyi-Waboso 38' c Armstrong 70' c Penalty try 78' Con: Slade (4/5) 3', 18', 40', 71' Pen: Slade (1/1) 8' | Report |
| Sandy Park Attendance: 8,424 Referee: Joe James |
| 28 October 2023 15:05 |
| (1 BP) Bath | 24–25 | Leicester Tigers |
| Try: Muir 14' m Du Toit 54' c Con: Russell (1/2) 55' Pen: Russell (4/4) 37', 48', 71', 78' | Report | Try: Clare 66' c Con: Shillcock (1/1) 67' Pen: Shillcock (6/7) 3', 23', 34', 46', 75', 80+1' |
| Recreation Ground Attendance: 12,982 Referee: Jack Makepeace |
| 29 October 2023 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Newcastle Falcons | 14–16 | Northampton Saints |
| Try: Stephens 75' m Pen: Connon (3/4) 10', 26', 59' | Report | Try: Langdon 54' c Con: F. Smith (1/1) 54' Pen: F. Smith (3/3) 15', 38', 63' |
| Kingston Park Attendance: 5,124 Referee: Hamish Smales |
Round 4[edit]
| 3 November 2023 19:45 |
| (1 BP) Sale Sharks | 24–10 | Gloucester |
| Try: Reed (2) 15' m, 33' c B. Curry 51' m Creevy 69' c Con: Ford (2/4) 35', 70' | Report | Try: Thomas 76' c Con: Barton (1/1) 76' Pen: Barton (1/2) 12' |
| Salford Community Stadium Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
| 4 November 2023 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Harlequins | 40–12 | Newcastle Falcons |
| Try: Riley 15' c Lamb 25' c David 36' c Dombrandt 48' c Lynagh 52' m T. Green 74' c Con: J. Evans (4/5) 17', 25', 37', 49' M. Smith (1/1) 75' | Report | Try: Penalty try 64' Blamire 78' m |
| Twickenham Stoop Referee: Jack Makepeace |
| 4 November 2023 15:00 |
| Northampton Saints | 24–18 | Bath (1 BP) |
| Try: T. Pearson 16' c Coles 32' c Hendy 42' c Con: F. Smith (3/3) 17', 33', 43' Pen: F. Smith (1/1) 1' | Report | Try: Du Toit 26' c De Glanville 38' m Con: O. Bailey (1/2) 26' Pen: O. Bailey (1/1) 6' Spencer (1/1) 69' |
| cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens Referee: Adam Leal |
| 4 November 2023 15:05 |
| (1 BP) Saracens | 32–17 | Leicester Tigers |
| Try: Itoje 15' c Christie 26' c B. Vunipola 42' c George 53' m Con: Farrell (3/4) 16', 27', 43' Pen: Farrell (2/2) 63', 72' | Report | Try: Whiteley 55' c Shillcock 68' c Con: C. Atkinson (1/1) 56' c Shillcock (1/1) 69' Pen: Shillcock (1/1) 8' |
| StoneX Stadium Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
| 5 November 2023 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Exeter Chiefs | 29–20 | Bristol Bears |
| Try: Tuima 2' c Painter 25' c Wyatt 41' c Iosefa-Scott 67' m Con: Slade (3/4) 3', 26', 42' Pen: Slade (1/1) 75' | Report | Try: Lane (3) 9' m, 18' m, 45' c Con: Sheedy (1/3) 46' Pen: Sheedy (1/2) 6' |
| Sandy Park Referee: Hamish Smales |
Round 5[edit]
| 10 November 2023 19:45 |
| Gloucester | 27–45 | Bath (1 BP) |
| Try: C. Harris 18' c S. Carreras 27' c Alemanno 68' c Con: Barton (2/2) 20', 69' S. Carreras (1/1) 28' Pen: Barton (2/2) 7', 36' | Report | Try: Lawrence (2) 23' c, 80' c Muir 49' c Du Toit 53' c Obano 60' c Penalty try 64' Con: Russell (5/5) 24', 51', 54', 61', 80+2' Pen: Russell (1/2) 10' |
| Kingsholm Referee: Matthew Carley |
| 11 November 2023 13:30 |
| Bristol Bears | 13–27 | Sale Sharks (1 BP) |
| Try: Caulfield 9' c Con: Sheedy (1/1) 10' Pen: Sheedy (2/3) 42', 53' | Report | Try: Reed 23' m S. James 45' c R. du Preez 49' m Carpenter 58' c Con: Ford (2/4) 46', 59' Drop: Ford (1/1) 28' |
| Ashton Gate Referee: Karl Dickson |
| 11 November 2023 15:05 |
| (1 BP) Leicester Tigers | 25–29 | Harlequins (1 BP) |
| Try: Liebenberg 19' m Steward (2) 32' c, 46' c Con: Pollard (2/3) 33', 47' Pen: Pollard (2/2) 7', 65' | Report | Try: Dombrandt 3' m Lamb (2) 15' c, 69' m T. Green 40' m W. Porter 52' c Con: M. Smith (2/5) 17', 53' |
| Mattioli Woods Welford Road Referee: Ian Tempest |
| 12 November 2023 15:00 |
| Newcastle Falcons | 12–50 | Saracens (1 BP) |
| Try: De Chaves 4' c Byrne 51' m Con: Connon (1/2) 5' | Report | Try: Dan (2) 12' c, 39' c Daly 25' c Lewington 33' c Willis 56' m González 71' c Man. Vunipola 80' c Con: Lozowski (4/5) 13', 26', 34', 40' Goode (2/2) 72', 80+1' Pen: Lozowski (1/1) 43' |
| Kingston Park Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe |
| 12 November 2023 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Northampton Saints | 34–19 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Try: Freeman 2' c Langdon 20' c Mitchell 52' c Dingwall 71' c Con: F. Smith (4/4) 3', 22', 53', 72' Pen: F. Smith (2/3) 17', 51' | Report | Try: Vermeulen 32' m Sio 63' c Roots 77' c Con: Slade (2/3) 64', 78' |
| cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
Round 6[edit]
| 17 November 2023 19:45 |
| Bath | 20–19 | Bristol Bears (1 BP) |
| Try: Lawrence 15' c Spencer 17' c Con: Russell (2/2) 16', 18' Pen: Russell (2/3) 10', 69' | Report | Try: Bradbury 5' c Lane 50' c Malins 54' m Con: Sheedy (2/3) 6', 51' |
| Recreation Ground Referee: Christophe Ridley |
| 17 November 2023 19:45 |
| (1 BP) Sale Sharks | 40–22 | Newcastle Falcons (1 BP) |
| Try: Reed (2) 10' m, 36' c B. Curry 28' c R. du Preez 31' c S. James 76' c Roebuck 79' c Con: R. du Preez (5/6) 29', 32', 38', 77', 80+1' | Report | Try: Brown 2' m Chick 21' m Byrne 50' m Stephens 53' c Con: J. Thomas (1/4) 54' |
| Salford Community Stadium Referee: Adam Leal |
| 18 November 2023 15:05 |
| Leicester Tigers | 26–17 | Northampton Saints |
| Try: Van Wyk 56' c Liebenberg 72' c Con: Pollard (2/2) 57', 73' Pen: Pollard (4/5) 2', 23', 25', 47' | Report | Try: Furbank 59' c S. Matavesi 80+3' c Con: Furbank (2/2) 60', 80+4' Pen: F. Smith (1/1) 18' |
| Mattioli Woods Welford Road Referee: Karl Dickson |
| 18 November 2023 17:30 |
| Harlequins | 10–38 | Saracens (1 BP) |
| Try: Esterhuizen 73' c Con: M. Smith (1/1) 74' Pen: M. Smith (1/2) 16' | Report | Try: González 19' c Hartley 29' m George 33' c Christie 42' m Parton 60' c Lewington 69' c Con: Farrell (4/6) 20', 34', 61', 71' |
| Twickenham Stoop Referee: Matthew Carley |
| 19 November 2023 15:00 |
| Exeter Chiefs | 25–24 | Gloucester (2 BP) |
| Try: Tuima 9' c Jenkins 33' m Townsend 76' c Con: Slade (2/3) 10', 77' Pen: Slade (2/2) 61', 80' | Report | Try: Clement 29' c Thorley 56' m Rees-Zammit 66' c S. Atkinson 71' m Con: Barton (2/4) 30', 67' |
| Sandy Park Referee: Ian Tempest |
Round 7[edit]
| 24 November 2023 19:45 |
| (1 BP) Northampton Saints | 36–33 | Harlequins (2 BP) |
| Try: Sleightholme (2) 8' c, 72' m Ludlam 31' c Mitchell 40' c Coles 61' c Con: Furbank (4/5) 9', 32', 40+1', 62' Pen: Furbank (1/1) 41' | Report | Try: Murley 4' m Walker 27' c Hammond 45' c W. Evans 68' c Jibulu 79' c Con: M. Smith (4/5) 28', 46', 69', 80' |
| cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens Referee: Sara Cox |
| 24 November 2023 19:45 |
| Sale Sharks | 11–9 | Bath (1 BP) |
| Try: J. Hill 24' m Pen: Ford (2/2) 48', 73' | Report | Pen: Russell (3/3) 4', 21', 38' |
| Salford Community Stadium Referee: Karl Dickson |
| 25 November 2023 14:30 |
| Gloucester | 20–38 | Leicester Tigers (1 BP) |
| Try: McGuigan 49' c Ford-Robinson 66' c Con: Barton (2/2) 50', 67' Pen: Barton (2/5) 16', 28' | Report | Try: Hassell-Collins (2) 38' m, 60' c Montoya 54' c Kata 80+2' c Con: Pollard (3/4) 55', 61', 80+3' Pen: Pollard (4/4) 2', 31', 35', 71' |
| Kingsholm Referee: Tom Foley |
| 25 November 2023 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Saracens | 39–31 | Bristol Bears (1 BP) |
| Try: Farrell 7' m Lewington (2) 11' m, 44' c B. Vunipola 27' m George (2) 53' c, 77' m Willis 68' m Con: Farrell (2/7) 45', 55' | Report | Try: Batley 19' c Genge 34' c Oghre 39' c Marmion 70' c Con: Sheedy (4/4) 20', 35', 40', 71' Pen: Sheedy (1/1) 49' |
| StoneX Stadium Referee: Luke Pearce |
| 26 November 2023 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Newcastle Falcons | 14–20 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Try: Blamire 5' c Moroni 7' c Con: Johnson (2/2) 6', 9' | Report | Try: Feyi-Waboso 1' m Slade 62' m Iosefa-Scott 68' c Con: Slade (1/3) 69' Pen: Slade (1/2) 38' |
| Kingston Park Referee: Christophe Ridley |
Round 8[edit]
Round 9[edit]
Round 10[edit]
Round 11[edit]
Round 12[edit]
Round 13[edit]
Round 14[edit]
Round 15[edit]
Round 16[edit]
Round 17[edit]
Round 18[edit]
Play-offs[edit]
As in previous seasons, the top four teams in the Premiership table, following the conclusion of the regular season, will contest the play-off semi-finals in a 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd format, with the higher ranking team having home advantage.[39] The two winners of the semi-finals then meet in the Premiership Final at Twickenham on 8 June 2024.[31]
| Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| 1 | 1st in League Table | ||||||||
| 4 | 4th in League Table | ||||||||
| 1 | Winner of Semi-Final 1 | ||||||||
| 2 | Winner of Semi-Final 2 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2nd in League Table | ||||||||
| 3 | 3rd in League Table | ||||||||
Semi-finals[edit]
| 1 June 2024 |
| 1st in League Table | v | 4th in League Table |
| 1 June 2024 |
| 2nd in League Table | v | 3rd in League Table |
Final[edit]
Promotion/relegation play-off[edit]
Subject to meeting the eligible criteria for promotion, the team which places 1st in the 2023–24 RFU Championship will contest a play-off against the team which finishes bottom of the Premiership table, with the winner competing in the following year's Premiership season. If the Championship winner is ineligible for promotion, no play-off will take place.
On 29 June 2023, it was announced that the promotion/relegation play-off would take place across two legs, with each team playing one of the matches at their home ground, during the weekends of 31 May–2 June and 7–9 June 2024.[40]
Leading scorers[edit]
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 yet earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.
Most points[edit]
|
Most tries[edit]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Disipline[edit]
Citing/bans[edit]
- Note: The cited player's club is listed in bold.[41]
| Player | Match | Citing date | Law breached | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonny May
|
Gloucester vs Bath | 10 November 2023 | 9.11 – Reckless or dangerous play (Citing) |
3-match ban [c] | [43] |
 Niall Armstrong
|
Northampton Saints vs Exeter Chiefs | 12 November 2023 | 9.11 – Reckless or dangerous play (Red card) |
3-match ban [c] | [44] |
Season attendances[edit]
By club[edit]
![[icon]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2023) |
- Attendances do not include the final at Twickenham.
| Club | Home Games |
Total | Average | Highest | Lowest | % Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bristol Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exeter Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gloucester | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harlequins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leicester Tigers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Newcastle Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Northampton Saints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sale Sharks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Saracens | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Awards[edit]
Monthly awards[edit]
Player of the Month[edit]
The following received Player of the Month awards during the 2023–24 season, as selected by a panel of media commentators, in addition to monthly public polls.
| Month | Player | Club | Position | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | Ben Spencer
|
Bath | Scrum-Half | [45] |
| November | ||||
| December | ||||
| January | ||||
| March | ||||
| April |
Note: No Player of the Month award will be given during the month of February, while the Premiership is paused due to the 2024 Six Nations Championship.[46]
Notes[edit]
- ^ Harlequins would also play two home games at Twickenham Stadium.[24]
- ^ Saracens would also play one home game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.[28]
- ^ a b The ban is reduced to two matches, subject to the player's completion of the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.[42]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Premiership - Players stats". all.rugby. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ "Gallagher confirmed as new title sponsors of Premiership Rugby". Sky Sports. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "BT Sport to remain the home of Premiership Rugby in the UK for the next four years". BT Sport. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ Rendell, Sarah (20 January 2022). "Premiership agrees broadcast deal with ITV until 2023-24". Rugby World. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "TNT Sports to deliver unrivalled coverage of 2023-24 Gallagher Premiership rugby season". TNT Sports. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ Kitson, Robert (27 May 2023). "Saracens seal Premiership title as Owen Farrell steals Sale's thunder". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ Richardson, Charles (13 February 2023). "Ealing Trailfinders will not be promoted even if they win Championship, says RFU". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ Jones, Chris (12 December 2022). "Premiership Rugby to 'relaunch' for 2024-25 after demise of Wasps & Worcester". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "RFU update on Championship Clubs Minimum Standards Criteria". England Rugby. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "Premiership Rugby clubs unanimously vote to temporarily reduce the salary cap". Premiership Rugby. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ Scott, Ged (14 February 2023). "Worcester Warriors & Wasps: What happens next for relegated Premiership pair?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ Purewal, Nick (6 June 2023). "London Irish: Club expelled from Premiership after failing to meet deadline". Evening Standard. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ "Gallagher Premiership Rugby is back! What to look out for in the 2023/24 season as Saracens aim to defend title". TNT Sports. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Morgan, Charlie (3 May 2023). "Jersey won the Championship but remain in a state of purgatory". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ "London Irish: Gallagher Premiership club given May 30 takeover deadline by RFU". Sky Sports. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ Orchard, Sara (31 May 2023). "London Irish granted further extension until 6 June to complete takeover". Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ Meagher, Gerard (2 June 2023). "London Irish crisis deepens after HMRC issues winding-up petition against club". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ Latham-Coyle, Harry (6 June 2023). "London Irish suspended from Gallagher Premiership after takeover fails". The Independent. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ Mairs, Gavin (7 June 2023). "London Irish file for administration after Premiership suspension". The Telegraph. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ "Ben Spencer named Bath Rugby captain for 2023/24". Bath Rugby. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ "Fitz Harding named Club Captain and signs long-term extension". Bristol Bears. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ "Lewis Ludlow to lead Gloucester Rugby for 2021-22 season". Gloucester Rugby. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ "Stephan Lewies named new Harlequins captain". Premiership Rugby. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ "Big Game 15 - Twickenham". Harlequins. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ "Callum Chick named as Newcastle Falcons captain for 2023–24 season". Ultimate Rugby. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ "Ludlam retains Saints captaincy for 2022/23". Northampton Saints. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ "Owen Farrell named Club Captain of Saracens". Saracens. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ "Saracens to play annual showpiece at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium". BBC Sport. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "Gallagher Premiership Rugby: Fixtures 2023-24". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ "Premiership Rugby – Fixtures/Results". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Start of season and Gallagher Premiership Final dates confirmed". Premiership Rugby. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ "Premiership Rugby Cup: Championship sides to play in 2023-24 competition". BBC Sport. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Gallagher Premiership fixtures: league will pause during Six Nations". The Times. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ "New 'Derby Weekend' and blockbusting big games launched for the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership Rugby Season". Premiership Rugby. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ Cameron, Ian (18 November 2022). "Leicester and Gloucester to contest The Slater Cup". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "Big Game 15 Is Here". Harlequins. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "The Showdown 4". Saracens. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "Premiership Rugby – FAQs". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "A Guide to the Gallagher Premiership". The Rugby Paper. 4 December 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "2023/24 Fixtures Announced". Championship Rugby. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ "Disciplinary Decisions". RFU. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ "World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme changing tackle behaviour". World Rugby. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ "RFU Short Judgment Form - Jonny May" (PDF). RFU. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ "RFU Short Judgment Form - Niall Armstrong" (PDF). RFU. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ "Ben Spencer wins Gallagher Player of the Month, by a single vote". Premiership Rugby. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ "Premiership to take eight-week break for Six Nations". ESPN. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.