2021–22 Premiership Rugby Explained

2021–22 Gallagher Premiership
Champions:Leicester Tigers
Runnersup:Saracens
Relegated:no relegation
Matches:156
Highest Attendance:72,735 – Harlequins v Northampton Saints, 27 December 2021
Lowest Attendance:3,376 – Newcastle Falcons v Worcester Warriors, 27 November 2021
Top Point Scorer: George Ford (Leicester Tigers) – 220 points
Top Try Scorer: Max Malins (Saracens) – 16 tries
Website:www.premiershiprugby.com
Prevseason:2020–21
Nextseason:2022–23
Teams:13

The 2021–22 Premiership Rugby was the 35th season of the top flight of English domestic rugby union competition and the fourth to be sponsored by Gallagher.[1] It is also the first since 1992–93 to feature thirteen teams. The competition was broadcast by BT Sport for the ninth successive season with four league season games and the final also simulcast free-to-air on ITV. Highlights of each weekend's games were shown on ITV with extended highlights on BT Sport.

The reigning champions entering the season were Harlequins who claimed their 2nd title after defeating Exeter Chiefs in the 2021 final. Saracens were promoted as champions from the 2020–21 RFU Championship at the first attempt.

Due to changes to the global rugby calendar implemented in 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic causing a moratorium to be placed on relegation last season, the tournament features thirteen teams and will include an extra four rounds.[2] The season would take place over 40 weeks.

Rule changes

This season sees the second year of a three-year moratorium on relegation from the league.[3]

Salary cap

This season is the first under the reduced salary cap regulations before changes are made before 2024–25. A brief summary of the changes are:

Teams

For the first time since the 2002–03 Premiership Rugby season, all teams from the previous season will compete in the league together with Saracens who were promoted from the 2020–21 RFU Championship after an absence of one year, thus making a thirteen team league.[5]

Stadiums and locations

ClubDirector of Rugby/
Head Coach
CaptainKit supplierStadiumCapacityCity/Area
BathMacronThe Recreation Groundalign=center 14,509Bath, Somerset
Bristol BearsUmbroAshton
Gate
align=center 27,000Bristol
Exeter ChiefsSamurai SportswearSandy Parkalign=center 13,593Exeter, Devon
GloucesterOxen SportsKingsholm Stadiumalign=center 16,115Gloucester
HarlequinsAdidasTwickenham Stoopalign=center 14,800Twickenham,
Greater London
Leicester TigersSamurai SportswearMattioli Woods Welford Roadalign=center 25,849Leicester
London IrishBLKBrentford Community Stadiumalign=center 17,250Brentford,
Greater London
Newcastle FalconsMacronKingston Parkalign=center 10,200Newcastle upon Tyne
Northampton SaintsMacroncinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardensalign=center 15,200Northampton
Sale SharksMacronAJ Bell Stadiumalign=center 12,000Salford,
Greater Manchester
SaracensCastoreStoneX Stadiumalign=center 8,500Hendon,
Greater London
WaspsHummelCoventry Building Society Arenaalign=center 32,609Coventry, West Midlands
Worcester WarriorsO'NeillsSixways Stadiumalign=center 11,499Worcester

Regular season

Fixtures for the season were announced by Premiership Rugby on 13 July 2021. The league season begins on 17 September 2021 and is due to end on 18 June 2022.[6] Each team receives two bye weeks. Highlights of the season include:

All fixtures are subject to change.

Round 26

Play-offs

As in previous seasons, the top four teams in the Premiership table, following the conclusion of the regular season, contest the play-off semi-finals in a 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd format, with the higher ranking team having home advantage. The two winners of the semi-finals then meet in the Premiership Final at Twickenham on 18 June 2022.

Semi-finals


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 yet earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.

Most points

Source:[7]

RankPlayerClubPoints
1 George FordLeicester Tigers220
2 Paddy JacksonLondon Irish200
3 Alex LozowskiSaracens178
4 Adam HastingsGloucester175
5 Dan BiggarNorthampton Saints174
6 Jimmy GopperthWasps172
7 Callum SheedyBristol Bears170
8 Owen FarrellSaracens133
9 Joe SimmondsExeter Chiefs131
10 Freddie BurnsLeicester Tigers102

Most tries

Source:[7]

RankPlayerClubTries
1 Max MalinsSaracens16
2 Cadan MurleyHarlequins15
George McGuiganNewcastle Falcons
4 Agustín CreevyLondon Irish14
5 Tommy FreemanNorthampton Saints13
6 Ben EarlSaracens11
Alex MitchellNorthampton Saints
Courtnall SkosanNorthampton Saints
9 Ollie Hassell-CollinsLondon Irish10
Louis LynaghHarlequins
Will MuirBath
Nemani NadoloLeicester Tigers
Tom WoolstencroftSaracens

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gallagher confirmed as new title sponsors of Premiership Rugby. 12 April 2018. 17 February 2021.
  2. Web site: Premiership season structure for 2020/21 and 2021/22 confirmed. Ultimate Rugby. 4 December 2019 . 2021-02-17.
  3. Web site: RFU Council Vote in Favour of Covid Recovery Plan and Temporary Pause on Relegation. 2021-06-29. Premiership Rugby. en-US.
  4. Web site: Premiership Rugby clubs unanimously vote to temporarily reduce the salary cap. 2021-02-17. Premiership Rugby. en-US.
  5. News: RFU scraps Premiership relegation. en-GB. BBC Sport. 2021-02-12.
  6. Web site: Gallagher Premiership Rugby season 2021-22 kicks off at Ashton Gate on 17 September. 2021-07-13. Premiership Rugby. en-UK.
  7. Web site: 2021-22 Premiership Rugby player stats. Premiership Rugby. 2 May 2022. 18 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220418112710/https://www.premiershiprugby.com/gallagher-premiership-rugby/statistics/player-stats/. dead.