# 1997–98 Premiership Rugby

The 1997–98 English Premiership (known as the Allied Dunbar Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was the eleventh full season of rugby union within the top tier of the English rugby union system.
Newcastle Falcons won the league, for the first time, following their promotion from National Division 2 last season. Saracens finished just one point behind in second place, and the last placed club, Bristol, were relegated.

## Participating teams and locations

| Team | Stadium | Capacity | City/Area |
| Bath | Recreation Ground | 8,200 | Bath, Somerset |
| Bristol | Memorial Stadium | 12,100 | Bristol |
| Gloucester | Kingsholm | 11,000 | Gloucester, Gloucestershire |
| Harlequins | The Stoop | 8,500 | Twickenham, London |
| Leicester Tigers | Welford Road | 16,000 | Leicester, Leicestershire |
| London Irish | The Avenue | 6,600 | Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey |
| Newcastle Falcons | Kingston Park | 10,000 | Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear |
| Northampton Saints | Franklin's Gardens | 10,000 | Northampton, Northamptonshire |
| Richmond | Athletic Ground, Richmond | 4,500 | Richmond, London |
| Sale | Heywood Road | 5,400 | Sale, Greater Manchester |
| Saracens | Vicarage Road | 22,000 | Watford, Hertfordshire |
| Wasps | Loftus Road | 18,439 | Shepherd's Bush, London |

### Notes

* ↑ Newcastle played two home games at the Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead on 4 May 1998 and 11 May 1998

## Final table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Newcastle Falcons (C) | 22 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 645 | 387 | +258 | 85 | 31 | 38 | Champions |
| 2 | Saracens | 22 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 584 | 396 | +188 | 59 | 36 | 37 | |
| 3 | Bath | 22 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 575 | 455 | +120 | 66 | 49 | 26 | |
| 4 | Leicester Tigers | 22 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 569 | 449 | +120 | 64 | 45 | 26 | |
| 5 | Richmond | 22 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 607 | 499 | +108 | 81 | 50 | 24 | |
| 6 | Gloucester | 22 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 512 | 528 | −16 | 52 | 65 | 23 | |
| 7 | Sale Sharks | 22 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 605 | 558 | +47 | 71 | 60 | 22 | |
| 8 | Northampton Saints | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 493 | 472 | +21 | 46 | 53 | 19 | |
| 9 | Wasps | 22 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 490 | 609 | −119 | 47 | 68 | 17 | |
| 10 | Harlequins | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 516 | 645 | −129 | 58 | 73 | 16 | |
| 11 | London Irish | 22 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 457 | 673 | −216 | 45 | 82 | 12 | |
| 12 | Bristol (R) | 22 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 351 | 733 | −382 | 36 | 98 | 4 | Relegated |

## Fixtures
### Week 1

* 23 August 1997 14:15
| Bath | 13–20 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,000
* 23 August 1997 15:00
| Gloucester | 35–13 | Bristol |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 7,564
* 23 August 1997 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 23–26 | NEC Harlequins |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 6,027
* 23 August 1997 15:00
| Richmond | 32–12 | London Irish |
* Athletic Ground Attendance: 4,779
* 24 August 1997 15:00
| Sale | 10–19 | Saracens |
* Heywood Road Attendance: 3,000

### Week 2

* 30 August 1997 14:15
| NEC Harlequins | 20–27 | Bath |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 6,154
* 30 August 1997 15:00
| Bristol | 21–38 | London Wasps |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 4,000
* 30 August 1997 15:00
| Leicester Tigers | 33–16 | Gloucester |
* Welford Road Attendance: 11,159
* 30 August 1997 15:00
| London Irish | 20–26 | Sale |
* The Avenue Attendance: 5,000

### Week 3

* 8 October 1997 19:30
| Newcastle Falcons | 37–12 | Northampton Saints |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 3,390
* 8 October 1997 20:00
| Saracens | 15–9 | Richmond |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 4,134

### Week 4

* 18 October 1997 14:15
| Richmond | 37–16 | NEC Harlequins |
* Athletic Ground Attendance: 4,836
* 18 October 1997 15:00
| Bath | 44–15 | Bristol |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,000
* 18 October 1997 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 25–6 | Leicester Tigers |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 8,186
* 18 October 1997 15:00
| Sale | 26–33 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Heywood Road Attendance: 4,000
* 19 October 1997 15:00
| London Wasps | 15–19 | Saracens |
* Loftus Road Attendance: 9,700
* 19 October 1997 15:15
| Gloucester | 29–7 | London Irish |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 6,287

### Week 5

* 25 October 1997 14:15
| Leicester Tigers | 33–22 | Bath |
* Welford Road Attendance: 16,000
* 25 October 1997 15:00
| NEC Harlequins | 52–41 | Sale |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 6,810
* 26 October 1997 15:00
| Bristol | 22–15 | Northampton Saints |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 4,062
* 26 October 1997 15:00
| London Irish | 22–17 | London Wasps |
* The Avenue Attendance: 4,000
* 26 October 1997 15:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 18–12 | Richmond |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 4,202
* 26 October 1997 15:00
| Saracens | 42–24 | Gloucester |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 5,163

### Week 6

* 1 November 1997 15:00
| Bath | 47–31 | Richmond |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,000
* 1 November 1997 15:00
| London Irish | 19–35 | Newcastle Falcons |
* The Avenue Attendance: 5,000
* 2 November 1997 15:00
| Gloucester | 16–17 | NEC Harlequins |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 7,937
* 2 November 1997 15:00
| London Wasps | 22–38 | Sale |
* Loftus Road Attendance: 4,105
* 2 November 1997 15:00
| Saracens | 31–9 | Bristol |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 4,258

### Week 7

* 8 November 1997 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 13–19 | Saracens |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 7,088
* 9 November 1997 15:00
| Sale | 76–0 | Bristol |
| Try: Rees (3) Beim (4) Sanderson Winstanley (2) Ellis Mallinder Con: Howarth (8/12) | Report | |
* Heywood Road Attendance: 2,500 Referee: J.P. Pearson

### Week 8

* 13 December 1997 14:15
| Leicester Tigers | 55–15 | Sale |
* Welford Road Attendance: 10,695
* 13 December 1997 15:00
| Bristol | 12–13 | Richmond |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 2,415
* 13 December 1997 15:00
| London Irish | 10–51 | Northampton Saints |
* The Avenue Attendance: 4,300
* 13 December 1997 15:00
| NEC Harlequins | 53–17 | London Wasps |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 7,812
* 14 December 1997 15:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 37–27 | Gloucester |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 3,000
* 14 December 1997 15:00
| Saracens | 50–23 | Bath |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 10,658
* 16 December 1997 20:00
| Richmond | 32–15 | Leicester Tigers |
* Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,076

### Week 9

* 20 December 1997 15:00
| Leicester Tigers | 27–3 | NEC Harlequins |
* Welford Road Attendance: 11,606
* 21 December 1997 14:30
| Richmond | 21–24 | Northampton Saints |
* Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,204

### Week 10

* 26 December 1997 15:00
| Saracens | 21–22 | Leicester Tigers |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 14,291
* 27 December 1997 14:00
| Bristol | 8–50 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 5,000
* 27 December 1997 15:00
| Gloucester | 26–20 | Richmond |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 8,328
* 27 December 1997 15:00
| NEC Harlequins | 26–24 | London Irish |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 7,348
* 27 December 1997 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 18–10 | London Wasps |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 8,772
* 27 December 1997 15:00
| Sale | 11–13 | Bath |
* Heywood Road Attendance: 4,500

### Week 11

* 30 December 1997 15:00
| Bath | 26–3 | Northampton Saints |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,000
* 30 December 1997 19:30
| London Irish | 10–25 | Saracens |
* The Avenue Attendance: 3,800
* 30 December 1997 19:30
| London Wasps | 22–18 | Richmond |
* Loftus Road Attendance: 4,912
* 30 December 1997 19:30
| Sale | 24–24 | Gloucester |
* Heywood Road Attendance: 3,500
* 30 December 1997 19:45
| Leicester Tigers | 19–25 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Welford Road Attendance: 16,000
* 31 December 1997 15:00
| NEC Harlequins | 38–40 | Bristol |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 5,124

### Week 12

* 10 January 1998 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 33–14 | Sale |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 5,929
* 11 January 1998 15:00
| London Wasps | 26–20 | Gloucester |
* Loftus Road Attendance: 4,245
* 11 January 1998 15:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 46–13 | London Irish |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 3,500
* 11 January 1998 15:00
| Saracens | 25–16 | NEC Harlequins |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 10,753

### Week 13

* 17 January 1998 14:00
| Leicester Tigers | 45–21 | London Wasps |
* Welford Road Attendance: 15,000
* 17 January 1998 15:00
| London Irish | 14–45 | Richmond |
* The Avenue Attendance: 3,500
* 18 January 1998 15:00
| Bristol | 13–14 | Gloucester |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 5,601
* 18 January 1998 15:00
| NEC Harlequins | 5–30 | Northampton Saints |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 4,612

### Week 14

* 31 January 1998 14:30
| Richmond | 10–15 | Saracens |
* Athletic Ground Attendance: 3,888
* 31 January 1998 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 17–21 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 8,989
* 1 February 1998 15:00
| Gloucester | 32–25 | Leicester Tigers |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 7,963
* 1 February 1998 15:00
| London Wasps | 32–18 | Bristol |
* Loftus Road Attendance: 4,112
* 1 February 1998 15:00
| Sale Sharks | 41–16 | London Irish |
* Heywood Road Attendance: 3,500

### Week 15

* 11 February 1998 19:15
| Bath | 47–3 | Gloucester |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 5,500
* 14 February 1998 14:00
| Gloucester | 20–15 | Northampton Saints |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 5,689
* 14 February 1998 15:00
| Bath | 43–27 | London Wasps |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,000
* 14 February 1998 15:00
| Bristol | 20–37 | Saracens |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 3,239
* 14 February 1998 15:00
| Leicester Tigers | 34–19 | London Irish |
* Welford Road Attendance: 10,762
* 15 February 1998 15:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 43–15 | NEC Harlequins |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 5,031
* 15 February 1998 15:00
| Richmond | 20–28 | Sale |
* Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,017

### Week 16

* 20 February 1998 20:00
| London Irish | 38–23 | Bristol |
* The Avenue Attendance: 1,500
* 24 February 1998 19:30
| Saracens | 42–20 | Sale |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 3,722

### Week 17

* 28 February 1998 15:00
| Bath | 39–13 | NEC Harlequins |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,200
* 28 February 1998 15:00
| Bristol | 24–27 | Leicester Tigers |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 3,143

### Week 18

* 7 March 1998 15:00
| Leicester Tigers | 15–15 | Northampton Saints |
* Welford Road Attendance: 14,500
* 7 March 1998 15:00
| NEC Harlequins | 41–12 | Richmond |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 4,532
* 8 March 1998 15:00
| Bristol | 16–22 | Bath |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 5,271
* 8 March 1998 15:00
| Saracens | 33–27 | London Wasps |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 12,332
* 10 March 1998 19:30
| Newcastle Falcons | 23–18 | Sale |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 2,638
* 11 March 1998 19:30
| Gloucester | 22–15 | London Wasps |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 6,629

### Week 19

* 14 March 1998 14:15
| Bath | 16–5 | Leicester Tigers |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,200
* 14 March 1998 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 35–12 | Bristol |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 4,900
* 14 March 1998 15:00
| Richmond | 30–17 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Athletic Ground Attendance: 4,367
* 14 March 1998 15:00
| Sale | 23–13 | NEC Harlequins |
* Heywood Road Attendance: 4,000
* 15 March 1998 15:00
| Gloucester | 38–15 | Saracens |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 7,135
* 15 March 1998 15:00
| London Wasps | 19–38 | London Irish |
* Loftus Road Attendance: 7,935

### Week 20

* 24 March 1998 19:30
| London Irish | 23–19 | Gloucester |
* The Avenue Attendance: 2,300
* 25 March 1998 19:30
| Newcastle Falcons | 30–25 | Saracens |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 6,868
* 28 March 1998 15:00
| Leicester Tigers | 42–19 | Richmond |
* Welford Road Attendance: 10,146
* 28 March 1998 15:00
| London Irish | 35–49 | Bath |
* The Avenue Attendance: 4,800
* 29 March 1998 15:00
| NEC Harlequins | 36–16 | Gloucester |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 4,127

### Week 21

* 7 April 1998 19:30
| Newcastle Falcons | 20–13 | London Wasps |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 4,500
* 10 April 1998 15:00
| Bath | 13–29 | Saracens |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,200
* 10 April 1998 15:00
| Richmond | 43–3 | Bristol |
* Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,500
* 11 April 1998 15:00
| Gloucester | 27–29 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 9,048
* 11 April 1998 15:00
| Sale | 35–21 | Leicester Tigers |
* Heywood Road Attendance: 4,000
* 12 April 1998 15:00
| London Wasps | 29–26 | NEC Harlequins |
* Loftus Road Attendance: 5,749

### Week 22

* 13 April 1998 15:00
| Richmond | 32–14 | Bath |
* Athletic Ground Attendance: 6,500
* 15 April 1998 19:15
| Bristol | 15–25 | Sale |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 1,547
* 18 April 1998 14:00
| NEC Harlequins | 14–23 | Leicester Tigers |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 5,362
* 18 April 1998 15:00
| Gloucester | 27–17 | Bath |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 10,574
* 18 April 1998 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 39–47 | Richmond |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 5,350
* 18 April 1998 15:00
| Sale | 28–28 | London Wasps |
* Heywood Road Attendance: 3,800
* 19 April 1998 15:00
| Bristol | 5–17 | London Irish |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 2,265
* 19 April 1998 15:05
| Saracens | 12–10 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 19,764

### Week 23

* 22 April 1998 19:30
| Northampton Saints | 33–18 | London Irish |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 4,600
* 22 April 1998 19:45
| London Wasps | 18–17 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Loftus Road Attendance: 5,045
* 25 April 1998 14:15
| Leicester Tigers | 10–10 | Saracens |
* Welford Road Attendance: 16,900
* 25 April 1998 15:00
| Bath | 19–29 | Sale |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,500
* 25 April 1998 15:00
| London Irish | 62–14 | NEC Harlequins |
* The Avenue Attendance: 4,200
* 25 April 1998 15:00
| Richmond | 33–22 | Gloucester |
* Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000
* 26 April 1998 15:00
| London Wasps | 31–15 | Northampton Saints |
* Loftus Road Attendance: 5,261
* 26 April 1998 15:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 43–18 | Bristol |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 3,162

### Week 24

* 28 April 1998 19:15
| Bath | 20–3 | London Irish |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 5,500
* 29 April 1998 19:30
| NEC Harlequins | 26–28 | Saracens |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 4,152
* 29 April 1998 19:45
| London Wasps | 17–13 | Leicester Tigers |
* Loftus Road Attendance: 3,791
* 2 May 1998 15:00
| Gloucester | 31–19 | Sale |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 6,319
* 2 May 1998 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 16–15 | Bath |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 6,320
* 2 May 1998 15:00
| Richmond | 51–29 | London Wasps |
* Athletic Ground Attendance: 4,551
* 3 May 1998 15:00
| Bristol | 19–26 | NEC Harlequins |
* Memorial Stadium Attendance: 3,110
* 3 May 1998 15:00
| Saracens | 29–21 | London Irish |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 8,143

### Week 25

* 4 May 1998 15:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 27–10 | Leicester Tigers |
* Gateshead International Stadium Attendance: 7,210
* 10 May 1998 15:00
| Leicester Tigers | 34–25 | Bristol |
* Welford Road Attendance: 8,678
* 10 May 1998 15:00
| Sale | 30–19 | Northampton Saints |
* Heywood Road Attendance: 3,000

### Week 26

* 11 May 1998 19:30
| Newcastle Falcons | 20–15 | Bath |
* Gateshead International Stadium Attendance: 11,750
* 14 May 1998 19:45
| Saracens | 43–20 | Northampton Saints |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 9,117
* 17 May 1998 13:00
| NEC Harlequins | 20–44 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 8,897
* 17 May 1998 15:00
| London Irish | 16–55 | Leicester Tigers |
* The Avenue Attendance: 2,500
* 17 May 1998 15:00
| London Wasps | 17–31 | Bath |
* Loftus Road Attendance: 9,324
* 17 May 1998 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 22–24 | Gloucester |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 5,500
* 17 May 1998 15:00
| Sale | 28–40 | Richmond |
* Heywood Road Attendance: 4,000

## Sponsorship

Following ten years of sponsorship by the Courage Brewery, the life assurance group Allied Dunbar agreed to sponsor the top two divisions for £7,500,000.

## 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 did not earn international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.