2018–19 Premiership Rugby Cup Explained

2018–19 Premiership Rugby Cup
Countries:England
Tournament Format:Round-robin and knockout
Date:26 October 2018 – 17 March 2019
Teams:12
Matches:27
Highest Attendance:17,815
Leicester v Worcester
3 November 2018
Lowest Attendance:3,824
Sale v Newcastle
3 February 2019
Top Point Scorer:James Grayson (Northampton)
62 points
Top Try Scorer:Zach Kibirige (Newcastle)
5 tries
Champions:Northampton Saints
Count:1
Runner-Up:Saracens
Website:https://www.premiershiprugby.com/
Previous Year:2017–18 (Anglo-Welsh)
Previous Tournament:2017–18 Anglo-Welsh Cup
Next Year:2019–20
Next Tournament:2019–20 Premiership Rugby Cup

The 2018–19 Premiership Rugby Cup was the 47th season of England's national rugby union cup competition and the first 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 are no stipulations on player selection, the cup was seen by many clubs as a development competition, and games took place during the Autumn International window and during the Six Nations.

Northampton Saints became the first ever winners of the Premiership Cup when they defeated Saracens 23 – 9 in the final at Franklin's Gardens on 17 March 2019.[2] [3] It was the Saints' first domestic cup triumph since winning the 2009–10 LV Cup and their second overall.

Competition format

The competition consists of the twelve English Premiership 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 group. The top team in each pool, plus the best overall runner up, progress to the semi-finals, with the highest ranked teams having home advantage. The winners of the semi-finals then meet at the final in March 2019 to be held at the home ground of the highest ranked remaining team.[4]

Teams and locations

ClubDirector of Rugby/Head CoachCaptainKit supplierStadiumCapacityCity/Area
Bath Todd Blackadder Matt GarveyCanterburyThe Recreation Groundalign=center 14,500Bath
Bristol Bears Pat LamN/A (Leadership Group)[5] Bristol SportAshton Gatealign=center 27,000Bristol
Exeter Chiefs Rob Baxter Jack YeandleSamurai SportswearSandy Parkalign=center 12,800Exeter
Gloucester David Humphreys Willi HeinzXBladesKingsholm Stadiumalign=center 16,115Gloucester
Harlequins Paul Gustard
Billy Millard		 James Horwill
Chris Robshaw		AdidasTwickenham Stoop14,800Twickenham, Greater London
Leicester Tigers Geordan Murphy (interim) Tom YoungsKukriWelford Roadalign=center 25,849Leicester
Newcastle Falcons Dean RichardsISCKingston Parkalign=center 10,200Newcastle upon Tyne
Northampton Saints Dylan Hartley
Alex Waller		MacronFranklin's Gardens15,249Northampton
Sale Sharks Steve Diamond Jono RossSamurai SportswearAJ Bell Stadiumalign=center 12,000Salford, Greater Manchester
Saracens Mark McCall Brad BarrittNikeAllianz Park10,000Barnet, Greater London
Wasps Dai YoungUnder ArmourRicoh Arenaalign=center 32,609Coventry
Worcester Warriors Alan Solomons GJ van VelzeVX3Sixways Stadiumalign=center 11,499Worcester

Pool stage

Pool 1

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width=20% style="border:0px"Pool 1width=20% style="border:0px" align=right
ClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTries ForTries AgainstTry BonusLosing BonusPoints
1 4 3 1 0 95 62 33 12 8 1 0 15
2 4 3 1 0 88 63 25 13 8 1 0 15
3 4 1 0 3 96 74 22 14 8 1 1 6
4 4 1 0 3 73 103 -30 7 14 0 1 5
  • 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 has qualified for the semi-finals as pool winner.
Blue background means the club has qualified for the semi-finals as the best pool runner up. Updated: 2 February 2019
Note that each team plays 4 games; 3 pool games plus a derby game against a team in another pool.
Source: Web site: Premiership Rugby Cup 2018-19 . Premiership Rugby.

Round 1

[6] ----

Round 2

[7] ----

Round 3

[8]

Pool 2

<--

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width=20% style="border:0px"Pool 2width=20% style="border:0px" align=right
ClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTries ForTries AgainstTry BonusLosing BonusPoints
1 4 3 0 1 123 72 51 18 11 4 0 16
2 4 3 1 0 110 70 40 15 10 2 0 16
3 4 1 1 2 48 94 -46 6 12 0 0 6
4 4 0 0 4 69 125 -56 7 17 0 1 1
  • 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 has qualified for the semi-finals as pool winner.
Blue background means the club has qualified for the semi-finals as the best pool runner up. Updated: 2 February 2019
Note that each team plays 4 games; 3 pool games plus a derby game against a team in another pool.
Source: Web site: Premiership Rugby Cup 2018-19 . Premiership Rugby.

Round 1

[6] ----

Round 2

[7] ----

Round 3

[8]

Pool 3

<--

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width=20% style="border:0px"Pool 3width=20% style="border:0px" align=right
ClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferenceTries ForTries AgainstTry BonusLosing BonusPoints
1 4 3 0 1 125 72 53 18 10 2 1 15
2 4 2 0 2 85 95 -10 11 11 1 1 10
3 4 2 0 2 58 92 -34 8 13 1 0 9
4 4 0 0 4 63 111 -48 7 14 0 1 1
  • 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 has qualified for the semi-finals as pool winner.
Blue background means the club has qualified for the semi-finals as the best pool runner up. Updated: 2 February 2019
Note that each team plays 4 games; 3 pool games plus a derby game against a team in another pool.
Source: Web site: Premiership Rugby Cup 2018-19 . Premiership Rugby.

Round 1

[6] ----

Round 2

[7] ----

Round 3

[8]

Round 4 (derby games)

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

[11] [12]

Knock-out stage

The four qualifiers are seeded according to performance in the pool stage. The top 2 seeds host the semi-finals against the lower seeds, in a 1 v 4, 2v 3 format. Note, if two teams qualify from the same pool, they can still be drawn together in the semi-finals.

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

[13]

RankPool leadersPtsWinsDiffPFTF
1 Worcester Warriors16 3 51 123 18
2 Northampton Saints15 3 53 125 18
3 15 3 33 95 12
RankPool runners–upPtsWinsDiffPFTF
4 Saracens16 3 40 110 15
5 15 3 25 88 13
6 10 2 -10 85 11

Semi-finals

[14]

Final

[2] [3]

Attendances

ClubHome
matches		TotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity
Bath 2 22,153 11,077 14,509 7,644 76%
Bristol Bears 2 18,789 9,395 9,944 8,845 35%
Exeter Chiefs 2 24,620 12,310 12,693 11,927 96%
Gloucester 2 24,208 12,104 12,709 11,499 75%
Harlequins 2 22,827 11,414 14,800 8,027 77%
Leicester Tigers 2 34,838 17,419 17,815 17,023 67%
Newcastle Falcons 2 11,927 5,964 6,502 5,425 58%
Northampton Saints 4 47,316 11,829 15,250 5,994 78%
Sale Sharks 2 8,511 4,256 4,687 3,824 35%
Saracens 2 11,998 5,999 7,194 4,804 60%
Wasps 2 17,394 8,697 9,042 8,352 27%
Worcester Warriors 3 17,721 5,907 6,606 5,115 51%
[6] [7] [8] [11] [12] [14]

Individual statistics

Top points scorers

Rank Player Team Appearances Points
1 6 62
2 6 41
3 4 38
4 2 27
4 27
5 4 26
6 3 25
3 25
7 1 20
3 20
4 20
[6] [7] [8] [11] [12] [14] [2]

Top try scorers

Rank Player Team Appearances Tries
1 3 5
2 1 4
3 4
4 4
3 2 3
2 3
3 3
4 3
4 2 2
2 2
2 2
2 2
3 2
3 2
3 2
3 2
3 2
3 2
3 2
3 2
3 2
4 2
4 2
4 2
5 2
5 2
5 2
6 2
6 2
6 2
6 2
[6] [7] [8] [11] [12] [14] [2]

Season records

Team

Largest home win — 52 points52 – 0 Bath at home to Gloucester on 4 February 2019
  • Largest away win — 20 points32 – 12 Saracens away to Harlequins on 26 January 2019
  • Most points scored — 5959 – 33 Northampton Saints at home to Newcastle Falcons on 9 February 2019
  • Most tries in a match — 9Northampton Saints at home to Newcastle Falcons on 9 February 2019
  • Most conversions in a match — 7 (2)Bath at home to Gloucester on 4 February 2019
    Northampton Saints at home to Newcastle Falcons on 9 February 2019
  • Most penalties in a match — 4 (4)Harlequins away to Bath on 27 October 2018
    Saracens at home to Leicester Tigers on 27 October 2018
    Wasps at home to Bristol Bears on 11 November 2018
    Saracens away to Worcester Warriors on 8 February 2019
  • Most drop goals in a match — 0

    • [6] [7] [8] [11] [12] [14] [2]

    Player

    Most points in a match — 20 Semesa Rokoduguni for Bath at home to Gloucester on 4 February 2019
  • Most tries in a match — 4 Semesa Rokoduguni for Bath at home to Gloucester on 4 February 2019
  • Most conversions in a match — 7 James Grayson for Northampton Saints at home to Newcastle Falcons on 9 February 2019
  • Most penalties in a match — 4 (4) Demetri Catrakilis for Harlequins away to Bath on 27 October 2018
    Max Malins for Saracens at home to Leicester Tigers on 27 October 2018
    Lima Sopoaga for Wasps at home to Bristol Bears on 11 November 2018
    Alex Lozowski for Saracens away to Worcester Warriors on 8 February 2019
  • Most drop goals in a match — 0

    • [6] [7] [8] [11] [12] [14] [2]

    Attendances

    Highest — 17,815Leicester Tigers at home to Worcester Warriors on 3 November 2018
  • Lowest — 3,824Sale Sharks at home to Newcastle Falcons on 3 February 2019

    • [6] [7] [8] [11] [12] [14] [2]

    See also

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. News: Premiership Rugby Cup to replace Anglo-Welsh Cup from next season . BBC Sport . 10 May 2018. 12 May 2018.
    2. Web site: Match Report: Northampton Saints 23-9 Saracens . Premiership Rugby . 17 March 2019 . 17 March 2019 .
    3. Web site: Premiership Rugby Cup Final: Northampton beat Saracens with three first-half tries . BBC Sport . 17 March 2019 . 17 March 2019 .
    4. Web site: Premiership Rugby Cup Tables. Premiership Rugby . 8 October 2018.
    5. Web site: Bristol Bears Premiership Rugby. 11 September 2018.
    6. News: Premiership Rugby Cup. The RugbyPaper. 528. 28 October 2018. 8–11 & 38.
    7. News: Premiership Rugby Cup. The RugbyPaper. 529. 4 November 2018. 14–17 & 38.
    8. News: Premiership Rugby Cup. The RugbyPaper. 530. 11 November 2018. 16–19 & 34.
    9. Web site: Bath Rugby v Gloucester Rugby kick-off time confirmed . Premiership Rugby . 2 February 2019 . 2 February 2019.
    10. Web site: Bath Rugby and Gloucester Rugby fixture rearranged due to weather . Premiership Rugby . 3 February 2019 . 2 February 2019.
    11. News: Premiership Rugby Cup. The RugbyPaper. 541. 27 January 2019. 8–9 & 40.
    12. News: Premiership Rugby Cup. The RugbyPaper. 542. 3 February 2019. 23.
    13. Web site: Premiership Rugby Cup (Competition Format) . Premiership Rugby . 3 November 2018 .
    14. News: Premiership Rugby Cup. The RugbyPaper. 543. 10 February 2019. 20–21 & 38.

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