2002–03 Premiership Rugby Explained

2002-2003 Zurich Premiership
Champions:London Wasps (3rd title)
Runnersup:Gloucester
Relegated:Bristol Shoguns
Matches:139
Attendance:1183972
Prevseason:2001–02
Nextseason:2003–04

The 2002-03 Zurich Premiership was the 16th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions.

The Zurich Championship which had been competed for in seasons 2000–01 and 2001–02 was dropped from this season.

Participating teams

Team Stadium CapacityCity/Area
BathRecreation Ground8,200Bath, Somerset
Bristol ShogunsMemorial Stadium12,100Bristol
GloucesterKingsholm11,000Gloucester, Gloucestershire
HarlequinsThe Stoop8,500Twickenham, London
Leeds TykesHeadingley Stadium22,250Leeds, West Yorkshire
Leicester TigersWelford Road16,815Leicester, Leicestershire
London IrishMadejski Stadium24,161Reading, Berkshire
London WaspsAdams Park10,000High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Newcastle Falcons10,000
Northampton SaintsFranklin's Gardens12,500Northampton, Northamptonshire
SaleHeywood Road5,700Sale, Greater Manchester
SaracensVicarage Road22,000Watford, Hertfordshire
Notes

Results

Week 24

Play-offs

Final

Zurich Wildcard

Meanwhile, Leeds (5th place), Leicester (6th), Harlequins (7th), Saracens (8th) played for a Zurich Wildcard to the 2003–04 Heineken Cup:

Semi-finals

Second leg

Leicester advanced to the wildcard final due to a superior aggregate score of 51–39

Saracens advanced to the wildcard final due to a superior aggregate score of 70–48

Final

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:[1]

RankPlayerClubPoints
1 Alex KingWasps284
2 Ludovic MercierGloucester258
3 Braam van StraatenLeeds Tykes252
4 Barry EverittLondon Irish238
5 Paul GraysonNorthampton Saints213
6 Jonny WilkinsonNewcastle Falcons205
7 Andy GoodeSaracens204
8 Paul BurkeHarlequins188
9 Felipe ContepomiBristol184
10 Tim StimpsonLeicester Tigers161

Most tries

Source:[2]

RankPlayerClubTries
1 Steve HanleySale Sharks14
2 Josh LewseyWasps12
3 Mark CuetoSale Sharks11
4 Jake BoerGloucester9
5 Paul SackeyLondon Irish8
Dan ScarbroughLeeds Tykes
7 Ben CohenNorthampton Saints7
Brendon DanielBristol
James ForresterGloucester
Jamie NoonNewcastle Falcons
Jason RobinsonSale Sharks

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2002-03 Premiership Rugby top points scorers. ESPNScrum. 1 September 2020.
  2. Web site: 2002-03 Premiership Rugby top try scorers. ESPNscrum. 1 September 2020.