# 1995–96 Courage League National Division One

The 1995–96 Courage League National Division One was the ninth season of the first tier of the English league system, currently known as the Gallagher Premiership. Leicester Tigers were the defending champions and Saracens the promoted team. Each team played each other twice, in a round robin system.
Bath finished as champions for the sixth team, beating holders Leicester Tigers by just one point. Despite a disastrous season with 18 defeats in as many matches, West Hartlepool kept its place in the first division due to the expansion of the league from 10 teams to 12 the following season.

## Participating teams

| Team | Stadium | Capacity | City/Area | Previous season |
| Bath | Recreation Ground | 8,200 | Bath, Somerset | 2nd |
| Bristol | Memorial Stadium | 12,100 | Bristol, Avon | 6th |
| Gloucester | Kingsholm | 11,000 | Gloucester, Gloucestershire | 7th |
| Harlequins | The Stoop | 8,500 | Twickenham, London | 8th |
| Leicester Tigers | Welford Road | 16,000 | Leicester, Leicestershire | Champions |
| Orrell | Edge Hall Road | 5,500 | Orrell, Greater Manchester | 5th |
| Sale | Heywood Road | 5,400 | Sale, Greater Manchester | 4th |
| Saracens | Bramley Road | 2,000 | Enfield, London | Promoted from Courage Division 2 (1st) |
| Wasps | Repton Avenue | 3,000 | Sudbury, London | 3rd |
| West Hartlepool | Brierton Lane | 7,000 | Hartlepool, County Durham | 9th |

## Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Bath (C) | 18 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 575 | 276 | +299 | 31 | Champion 1996–97 Heineken Cup |
| 2 | Leicester Tigers | 18 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 476 | 242 | +234 | 30 | Qualified for the 1996–97 Heineken Cup |
| 3 | Harlequins | 18 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 524 | 314 | +210 | 26 | Qualified for the 1996–97 Heineken Cup |
| 4 | Wasps | 18 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 439 | 322 | +117 | 22 | Qualified for the 1996–97 Heineken Cup |
| 5 | Sale | 18 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 365 | 371 | −6 | 19 | |
| 6 | Bristol | 18 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 329 | 421 | −92 | 16 | |
| 7 | Orrell | 18 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 323 | 477 | −154 | 14 | |
| 8 | Gloucester | 18 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 275 | 370 | −95 | 12 | |
| 9 | Saracens (P) | 18 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 284 | 451 | −167 | 10 | |
| 10 | West Hartlepool | 18 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 288 | 634 | −346 | 0 | |

## Results

The Home Team is listed in the left column.
| Home \ Away | BAT | BRI | GLO | HAR | LEI | ORR | SAL | SAR | WAS | WHA |
| Bath Rugby | | 52–19 | 37–11 | 41–15 | 14–15 | 55–20 | 38–38 | 52–16 | 36–12 | 34–22 |
| Bristol | 5–43 | | 22–16 | 25–31 | 29–43 | 33–14 | 30–6 | 21–7 | 9–17 | 12–3 |
| Gloucester RFC | 16–10 | 18–14 | | 13–24 | 14–27 | 27–0 | 17–22 | 17–10 | 15–26 | 17–16 |
| Harlequins | 13–19 | 28–3 | 33–19 | | 25–29 | 21–25 | 55–0 | 23–15 | 29–20 | 34–18 |
| Leicester Tigers | 9–14 | 43–6 | 28–6 | 19–21 | | 22–3 | 32–10 | 31–3 | 15–12 | 48–15 |
| Orrell | 11–44 | 26–29 | 21–3 | 9–23 | 10–38 | | 12–6 | 38–13 | 32–29 | 20–10 |
| Sale | 18–30 | 15–6 | 21–13 | 29–11 | 12–16 | 39–13 | | 18–15 | 18–25 | 44–13 |
| Saracens | 15–21 | 11–24 | 19–16 | 6–13 | 25–21 | 12–9 | 9–24 | | 20–24 | 31–30 |
| Wasps | 6–15 | 33–5 | 21–10 | 3–34 | 11–21 | 51–16 | 25–16 | 38–16 | | 52–12 |
| West Hartlepool | 15–20 | 15–37 | 19–27 | 21–91 | 12–19 | 22–44 | 11–29 | 31–41 | 3–34 | |

## Fixtures & Results
### Round 1

* 9 September 1995
| Gloucester | 17 – 22 | Sale |
* Kingsholm
* 9 September 1995
| Leicester Tigers | 31 – 3 | Saracens |
* Welford Road
* 9 September 1995
| Orrell | 9 – 23 | Harlequins |
* Edge Hall Road
* 9 September 1995
| Wasps | 33 – 5 | Bristol |
* Repton Avenue
* 9 September 1995
| West Hartlepool | 15 – 20 | Bath |
* Brierton Lane Referee: Brian Campsall

### Round 2

* 16 September 1995
| Bath | 37 – 11 | Gloucester |
* Recreation Ground Referee: Stuart Piercy
* 16 September 1995
| Bristol | 12 – 3 | West Hartlepool |
* Memorial Stadium
* 16 September 1995
| Harlequins | 29 – 20 | Wasps |
* The Stoop
* 16 September 1995
| Sale | 12 – 16 | Leicester Tigers |
* Heywood Road
* 16 September 1995
| Saracens | 12 – 9 | Orrell |
* Bramley Road

### Round 3

* 23 September 1995
| Bristol | 25 – 31 | Harlequins |
* Memorial Stadium
* 23 September 1995
| Leicester Tigers | 9 – 14 | Bath |
* Welford Road Attendance: 16,000 Referee: Tony Rowlands
* 23 September 1995
| Orrell | 12 – 6 | Sale |
* Edge Hall Road
* 23 September 1995
| Wasps | 38 – 16 | Saracens |
* Repton Avenue
* 23 September 1995
| West Hartlepool | 19 – 27 | Gloucester |
* Brierton Lane

### Round 4

* 30 September 1995
| Bath | 55 – 20 | Orrell |
* Recreation Ground Referee: Ashley Rowden
* 30 September 1995
| Gloucester | 14 – 27 | Leicester Tigers |
* Kingsholm
* 30 September 1995
| Harlequins | 34 – 18 | West Hartlepool |
* The Stoop
* 30 September 1995
| Sale | 18 – 25 | Wasps |
* Heywood Road
* 30 September 1995
| Saracens | 11 – 24 | Bristol |
* Bramley Road

### Round 5

* 7 October 1995
| Bristol | 30 – 6 | Sale |
* Memorial Stadium
* 7 October 1995
| Harlequins | 23 – 15 | Saracens |
* The Stoop
* 7 October 1995
| Orrell | 21 – 3 | Gloucester |
* Edge Hall Road
* 7 October 1995
| Wasps | 6 – 15 | Bath |
* Repton Avenue Referee: Ed Morrison
* 7 October 1995
| West Hartlepool | 12 – 19 | Leicester Tigers |
* Brierton Lane

### Round 6

* 14 October 1995
| Bath | 52 – 19 | Bristol |
* Memorial Stadium Referee: Brian Campsall
* 14 October 1995
| Gloucester | 15 – 26 | Wasps |
* Kingsholm
* 14 October 1995
| Leicester Tigers | 22 – 3 | Orrell |
* Welford Road
* 14 October 1995
| Sale | 23 – 9 | Harlequins |
* Heywood Road
* 14 October 1995
| Saracens | 31 – 30 | West Hartlepool |
* Bramley Road

### Round 7

* 21 October 1995
| Bristol | 22 – 16 | Gloucester |
* Memorial Stadium
* 21 October 1995
| Harlequins | 13 – 19 | Bath |
* The Stoop Referee: Chris Wright
* 21 October 1995
| Orrell | 20 – 10 | West Hartlepool |
* Edge Hall Road
* 21 October 1995
| Saracens | 9 – 24 | Sale |
* Bramley Road
* 21 October 1995
| Wasps | 11 – 21 | Leicester Tigers |
* Repton Avenue

### Round 8

* 28 October 1995
| Bath | 52 – 16 | Saracens |
* Recreation Ground Referee: Steve Lander
* 28 October 1995
| Gloucester | 13 – 24 | Harlequins |
* Kingsholm
* 28 October 1995
| Leicester Tigers | 43 – 6 | Bristol |
* Welford Road
* 28 October 1995
| Orrell | 32 – 29 | Wasps |
* Edge Hall Road
* 28 October 1995
| West Hartlepool | 11 – 29 | Sale |
* Brierton Lane

### Round 9

* 4 November 1995
| Bristol | 33 – 14 | Orrell |
* Memorial Stadium
* 4 November 1995
| Harlequins | 25 – 29 | Leicester Tigers |
* The Stoop
* 4 November 1995
| Sale | 18 – 30 | Bath |
* Heywood Road Referee: Chris Rees
* 4 November 1995
| Saracens | 19 – 16 | Gloucester |
* Bramley Road
* 4 November 1995
| Wasps | P – P | West Hartlepool |
* Repton Avenue
* Postponed due to spectator falling ill. Game rescheduled to 20 April 1996.

### Round 10

* 11 November 1995
| Bath | 34 – 22 | West Hartlepool |
* Recreation Ground Referee: Ashley Rowden
* 11 November 1995
| Bristol | 9 – 17 | Wasps |
* Memorial Stadium
* 11 November 1995
| Harlequins | 21 – 25 | Orrell |
* The Stoop
* 11 November 1995
| Sale | 21 – 13 | Gloucester |
* Heywood Road
* 11 November 1995
| Saracens | 25 – 21 | Leicester Tigers |
* Bramley Road

### Round 11

* 30 December 1995
| Gloucester | P – P | Bath |
* Kingholsm
* Postponed. Game rescheduled to 10 April 1996.
* 30 December 1995
| Leicester Tigers | P – P | Sale |
* Welford Road
* Postponed. Game rescheduled to 17 April 1996.
* 30 December 1995
| Orrell | P – P | Saracens |
* Edge Hall Road
* Postponed. Game rescheduled to 13 January 1996.
* 30 December 1995
| Wasps | P – P | Harlequins |
* Repton Avenue
* Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 March 1996.
* 30 December 1995
| West Hartlepool | P – P | Bristol |
* Brierton Lane
* Postponed. Game rescheduled to 5 May 1996.

### Round 12

* 6 January 1996
| Bath | 14 – 15 | Leicester Tigers |
* Recreation Ground Referee: Brian Campsall
* 6 January 1996
| Gloucester | 17 – 16 | West Hartlepool |
* Kingsholm
* 6 January 1996
| Harlequins | 28 – 3 | Bristol |
* The Stoop
* 6 January 1996
| Sale | 39 – 13 | Orrell |
* Heywood Road
* 6 January 1996
| Saracens | 20 – 24 | Wasps |
* Bramley Road

### Round 11 (rescheduled game)

* 13 January 1996
| Orrell | 38 – 13 | Saracens |
* Edge Hall Road
* Game rescheduled from 30 December 1995.

### Round 13

* 10 February 1996
| Bristol | P – P | Saracens |
* Memorial Stadium
* Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 April 1996.
* 10 February 1996
| Leicester Tigers | P – P | Gloucester |
* Welford Road
* Postponed. Game rescheduled to 24 April 1996.
* 10 February 1996
| Orrell | P – P | Bath |
* Edge Hall Road
* Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 April 1996.
* 10 February 1996
| Wasps | P – P | Sale |
* Repton Avenue
* Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 1996.
* 10 February 1996
| West Hartlepool | P – P | Harlequins |
* Brierton Lane
* Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 1996.

### Round 14

* 17 February 1996
| Bath | 36 – 12 | Wasps |
* Recreation Ground Referee: Brian Campsall
* 17 February 1996
| Gloucester | 27 – 0 | Orrell |
* Kingsholm
* 17 February 1996
| Leicester Tigers | 48 – 15 | West Hartlepool |
* Welford Road
* 17 February 1996
| Sale | 15 – 6 | Bristol |
* Heywood Road
* 17 February 1996
| Saracens | 6 – 13 | Harlequins |
* Bramley Road

### Round 11 (rescheduled game)

* 9 March 1996
| Wasps | 3 – 34 | Harlequins |
* Repton Avenue
* Game rescheduled from 30 December 1995.

### Round 13 (rescheduled games)

* 23 March 1996
| Wasps | 25 – 16 | Sale |
* Repton Avenue
* Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.
* 23 March 1996
| West Hartlepool | 21 – 91 | Harlequins |
* Brierton Lane
* Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.

### Round 15

* 30 March 1996
| Bristol | 5 – 43 | Bath |
* Memorial Stadium Referee: Steve Lander
* 30 March 1996
| Harlequins | 55 – 0 | Sale |
* The Stoop
* 30 March 1996
| Orrell | 10 – 38 | Leicester Tigers |
* Edge Hall Road
* 30 March 1996
| Wasps | 21 – 10 | Gloucester |
* Repton Avenue
* 30 March 1996
| West Hartlepool | 3 – 14 | Saracens |
* Brierton Lane

### Round 16

* 6 April 1996
| Bath | 41 – 15 | Harlequins |
* Recreation Ground Referee: John Pearson
* 6 April 1996
| Gloucester | 18 – 14 | Bristol |
* Kingsholm
* 6 April 1996
| Leicester Tigers | 15 – 12 | Wasps |
* Welford Road
* 6 April 1996
| Sale | 18 – 15 | Saracens |
* Heywood Road
* 6 April 1996
| West Hartlepool | 22 – 44 | Orrell |
* Brierton Lane

### Round 11 (rescheduled game)

* 10 April 1996
| Gloucester | 16 – 10 | Bath |
* Kingholsm Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Nick Cousins
* Game rescheduled from 30 December 1995.

### Round 17

* 13 April 1996
| Bristol | 29 – 43 | Leicester Tigers |
* Memorial Stadium
* 13 April 1996
| Harlequins | 33 – 19 | Gloucester |
* The Stoop
* 13 April 1996
| Sale | 44 – 13 | West Hartlepool |
* Heywood Road
* 13 April 1996
| Saracens | 15 – 21 | Bath |
* Bramley Road Referee: Stuart Piercy
* 13 April 1996
| Wasps | 51 – 16 | Orrell |
* Repton Avenue

### Round 11 (rescheduled game)

* 17 April 1996
| Leicester Tigers | 32 – 10 | Sale |
* Welford Road
* Game rescheduled from 30 December 1995.

### Rounds 9 & 13 (rescheduled games)

* 20 April 1996
| Bristol | 21 – 7 | Saracens |
* Memorial Stadium Referee: Chris White
* Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.
* 20 April 1996
| Orrell | 11 – 44 | Bath |
* Central Park, Wigan Attendance: 2,600 Referee: Chris White
* Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.
* 20 April 1996
| Wasps | 52 – 12 | West Hartlepool |
* Game rescheduled from 4 November 1995.

### Round 13 (rescheduled game)

* 24 April 1996
| Leicester Tigers | 28 – 6 | Gloucester |
* Welford Road
* Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.

### Round 18

* 27 April 1996
| Bath | 38 – 38 | Sale |
* Recreation Ground Referee: Brian Campsall
* Bath are champions.
* 27 April 1996
| Gloucester | 17 – 10 | Saracens |
* Kingsholm
* 27 April 1996
| Leicester Tigers | 19 – 21 | Harlequins |
* Welford Road
* 27 April 1996
| Orrell | 26 – 29 | Bristol |
* Edge Hall Road
* 27 April 1996
| West Hartlepool | 3 – 34 | Wasps |
* Brierton Lane

### Round 11 (rescheduled game)

* 5 May 1996
| West Hartlepool | 15 – 37 | Bristol |
* Brierton Lane
* Game rescheduled from 30 December 1995.

## Note

* ↑ Orrell would also play one home game at the 18,000 capacity Central Park in Wigan.