# 2003–04 Premiership Rugby

The 2003-04 Zurich Premiership was the 17th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions.
Rotherham were relegated after failing to win a single match all season.

## Participating teams

| Team | Stadium | Capacity | City/Area |
| Bath | Recreation Ground | 9,980 | Bath, Somerset |
| Gloucester | Kingsholm | 11,000 | Gloucester, Gloucestershire |
| Harlequins | The Stoop | 8,500 | Twickenham, London |
| Leeds Tykes | Headingley Stadium | 22,250 | Leeds, West Yorkshire |
| Leicester Tigers | Welford Road | 16,815 | Leicester, Leicestershire |
| London Irish | Madejski Stadium | 24,161 | Reading, Berkshire |
| London Wasps | The Causeway Stadium | 10,000 | High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire |
| Newcastle Falcons | Kingston Park | 10,000 | Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear |
| Northampton Saints | Franklin's Gardens | 12,100 | Northampton, Northamptonshire |
| Rotherham Titans | Millmoor | 11,158 | Rotherham, South Yorkshire |
| Sale | Edgeley Park | 10,641 | Stockport, Greater Manchester |
| Saracens | Vicarage Road | 22,000 | Watford, Hertfordshire |

## Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Bath | 22 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 508 | 311 | +197 | 45 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 79 | Playoff place |
| 2 | London Wasps (C) | 22 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 575 | 406 | +169 | 59 | 37 | 6 | 3 | 73 | Playoff place |
| 3 | Northampton Saints | 22 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 574 | 416 | +158 | 61 | 48 | 6 | 2 | 70 | Playoff place |
| 4 | Gloucester | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 491 | 412 | +79 | 51 | 41 | 4 | 3 | 63 | 2004–05 Heineken Cup |
| 5 | Leicester Tigers | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 537 | 430 | +107 | 53 | 37 | 4 | 2 | 55 | 2004–05 Heineken Cup |
| 6 | Harlequins | 22 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 502 | 449 | +53 | 50 | 43 | 4 | 6 | 54 | 2004–05 Heineken Cup |
| 7 | Sale Sharks | 22 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 510 | 472 | +38 | 56 | 50 | 5 | 6 | 53 | |
| 8 | London Irish | 22 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 427 | 454 | −27 | 30 | 37 | 1 | 6 | 49 | |
| 9 | Newcastle Falcons | 22 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 497 | 525 | −28 | 53 | 55 | 4 | 9 | 45 | 2004–05 Heineken Cup |
| 10 | Saracens | 22 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 397 | 543 | −146 | 40 | 56 | 3 | 3 | 39 | |
| 11 | Leeds Tykes | 22 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 449 | 588 | −139 | 47 | 59 | 4 | 3 | 37 | |
| 12 | Rotherham Titans (R) | 22 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 309 | 770 | −461 | 32 | 90 | 0 | 3 | 3 | Relegation place |
* 1 2 Leicester and Saracens deducted one point each for fielding an ineligible player.

## Results
### Week 1

* 12 September 2003 19:45
| Sale Sharks | 37 – 37 | Northampton Saints |
* Edgeley Park Attendance: 8,105
* 13 September 2003 14:45
| Harlequins | 33 – 27 | London Wasps |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 7,223
* 13 September 2003 15:00
| Gloucester | 22 – 8 | Rotherham Titans |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 10,114
* 13 September 2003 15:00
| Leicester Tigers | 29 – 19 | London Irish |
* Welford Road Attendance: 16,029
* 14 September 2003 14:30
| Leeds Tykes | 32 – 44 | Bath |
* Headingley Attendance: 4,093
* 14 September 2003 15:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 20 – 25 | Saracens |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 7,012

### Week 2

* 20 September 2003 14:15
| Bath | 24 – 6 | Northampton Saints |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,381
* 20 September 2003 14:45
| Rotherham Titans | 15 – 43 | Harlequins |
* Millmoor Attendance: 4,003
* 21 September 2003 15:00
| London Irish | 16 – 10 | Gloucester |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 9,968
* 21 September 2003 15:00
| London Wasps | 33 – 10 | Leeds Tykes |
* The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 5,721
* 21 September 2003 15:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 9 – 8 | Sale Sharks |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 5,628
* 21 September 2003 15:00
| Saracens | 19 – 19 | Leicester Tigers |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 7,730

### Week 3

* 26 September 2003 19:45
| Leicester Tigers | 28 – 21 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Welford Road Attendance: 16,815
* 26 September 2003 19:45
| Sale Sharks | 9 – 14 | Bath |
* Edgeley Park Attendance: 6,500
* 26 September 2003 20:00
| Leeds Tykes | 23 – 13 | Rotherham Titans |
* Headingley Attendance: 4,842
* 27 September 2003 14:45
| Gloucester | 30 – 7 | Saracens |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 10,050
* 27 September 2003 15:00
| Harlequins | 15 – 10 | London Irish |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 7,523
* 27 September 2003 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 27 – 17 | London Wasps |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 10,571

### Week 4

* 4 October 2003 14:45
| Leicester Tigers | 16 – 22 | Sale Sharks |
* Welford Road Attendance: 15,507
* 4 October 2003 15:00
| Rotherham Titans | 13 – 42 | Northampton Saints |
* Millmoor Attendance: 3,118
* 5 October 2003 14:00
| London Wasps | 19 – 20 | Bath |
* The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 7,767
* 5 October 2003 15:00
| London Irish | 31 – 16 | Leeds Tykes |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 5,725
* 5 October 2003 15:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 42 – 22 | Gloucester |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 6,102
* 5 October 2003 15:00
| Saracens | 39 – 33 | Harlequins |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 6,380

### Week 5

* 10 October 2003 19:45
| Sale Sharks | 33 – 37 | London Wasps |
* Edgeley Park Attendance: 5,803
* 11 October 2003 14:15
| Bath | 47 – 3 | Rotherham Titans |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,733
* 11 October 2003 14:45
| Gloucester | 24 – 3 | Leicester Tigers |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 11,000
* 11 October 2003 15:00
| Harlequins | 18 – 11 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 6,523
* 11 October 2003 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 24 – 30 | London Irish |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 10,384
* 12 October 2003 15:00
| Leeds Tykes | 41 – 31 | Saracens |
* Headingley Attendance: 2,888

### Week 6

* 17 October 2003 19:45
| Rotherham Titans | 14 – 28 | Sale Sharks |
* Millmoor Attendance: 2,229
* 18 October 2003 15:30
| Harlequins | 0 – 16 | Gloucester |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 6,223
* 18 October 2003 16:00
| Northampton Saints | 33 – 20 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 9,923
* 19 October 2003 14:00
| Bath | 25 – 3 | Saracens |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,154
* 19 October 2003 14:30
| Leeds Tykes | 39 – 18 | Leicester Tigers |
* Headingley Attendance: 4,073
* 19 October 2003 15:00
| London Wasps | 22 – 15 | London Irish |
* The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 6,463

### Week 7

* 25 October 2003 14:45
| Newcastle Falcons | 19 – 17 | Bath |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 4,885
* 25 October 2003 15:00
| Gloucester | 24 – 19 | Leeds Tykes |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 9,832
* 25 October 2003 15:00
| Leicester Tigers | 15 – 32 | Northampton Saints |
* Welford Road Attendance: 16,815
* 25 October 2003 15:00
| Harlequins | 21 – 30 | Sale Sharks |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 5,123
* 26 October 2003 15:00
| London Irish | 47 – 26 | Rotherham Titans |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 5,831
* 26 October 2003 15:00
| Saracens | 3 – 42 | London Wasps |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 6,950

### Week 8

* 31 October 2003 19:45
| Sale Sharks | 26 – 28 | London Irish |
* Edgeley Park Attendance: 5,605
* 31 October 2003 20:00
| Leeds Tykes | 16 – 30 | Harlequins |
* Headingley Attendance: 3,205
* 1 November 2003 14:15
| Bath | 31 – 17 | Leicester Tigers |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,980
* 1 November 2003 14:45
| Northampton Saints | 30 – 17 | Gloucester |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 11,026
* 1 November 2003 15:00
| Rotherham Titans | 12 – 25 | Saracens |
* Millmoor Attendance: 2,500
* 2 November 2003 15:00
| London Wasps | 30 – 26 | Newcastle Falcons |
* The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 5,151

### Week 9

* 8 November 2003 14:45
| Sale Sharks | 37 – 21 | Leeds Tykes |
* Edgeley Park Attendance: 3,367
* 8 November 2003 15:00
| Gloucester | 14 – 20 | Bath |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 11,000
* 8 November 2003 15:00
| Leicester Tigers | 32 – 22 | London Wasps |
* Welford Road Attendance: 15,384
* 8 November 2003 15:00
| Harlequins | 43 – 21 | Northampton Saints |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 6,223
* 9 November 2003 15:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 56 – 10 | Rotherham Titans |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 5,452
* 9 November 2003 15:00
| Saracens | 31 – 34 | London Irish |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 5,013

### Week 10

* 21 November 2003 19:45
| London Wasps | 20 – 12 | Gloucester |
* The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 7,288
* 21 November 2003 19:45
| Sale Sharks | 33 – 3 | Saracens |
* Edgeley Park Attendance: 5,487
* 22 November 2003 14:15
| Bath | 18 – 10 | Harlequins |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,980
* 22 November 2003 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 48 – 24 | Leeds Tykes |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 11,292
* 22 November 2003 16:00
| Rotherham Titans | 17 – 27 | Leicester Tigers |
* Millmoor Attendance: 2,900
* 23 November 2003 15:00
| London Irish | 15 – 19 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 6,791

### Week 11

* 29 November 2003 14:45
| Newcastle Falcons | 20 – 23 | London Wasps |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 10,001
* 29 November 2003 15:00
| Gloucester | 28 – 20 | Northampton Saints |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 11,000
* 29 November 2003 15:00
| Leicester Tigers | 12 – 13 | Bath |
* Welford Road Attendance: 16,815
* 29 November 2003 15:00
| Harlequins | 9 – 16 | Leeds Tykes |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 7,123
* 30 November 2003 15:00
| London Irish | 9 – 3 | Sale Sharks |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 7,488
* 30 November 2003 15:00
| Saracens | 29 – 10 | Rotherham Titans |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 5,680

### Week 12

* 19 December 2003 19:45
| Sale Sharks | 27 – 27 | Harlequins |
* Edgeley Park Attendance: 6,643
* 20 December 2003 13:00
| Rotherham Titans | 10 – 15 | London Irish |
* Millmoor Attendance: 1,910
* 20 December 2003 14:15
| Bath | 20 – 10 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,800
* 20 December 2003 14:45
| Northampton Saints | 14 – 0 | Leicester Tigers |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 12,150
* 21 December 2003 14:30
| Leeds Tykes | 22 – 18 | Gloucester |
* Headingley Attendance: 7,467
* 21 December 2003 15:00
| London Wasps | 41 – 0 | Saracens |
* The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 9,350

### Week 13

* 27 December 2003 15:00
| Gloucester | 18 – 17 | Harlequins |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 11,000
* 27 December 2003 15:00
| Leicester Tigers | 39 – 11 | Leeds Tykes |
* Welford Road Attendance: 16,815
* 27 December 2003 15:00
| Sale Sharks | 35 – 7 | Rotherham Titans |
* Edgeley Park Attendance: 8,797
* 27 December 2003 15:00
| Saracens | 15 – 24 | Bath |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 11,477
* 27 December 2003 15:15
| London Irish | 19 – 34 | London Wasps |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 20,318
* 28 December 2003 14:30
| Newcastle Falcons | 23 – 19 | Northampton Saints |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 10,000

### Week 14

* 1 January 2004 15:00
| Saracens | 27 – 3 | Leeds Tykes |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 9,350
* 3 January 2004 14:45
| Leicester Tigers | 18 – 28 | Gloucester |
* Welford Road Attendance: 16,815
* 4 January 2004 14:30
| Newcastle Falcons | 25 – 29 | Harlequins |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 7,975
* 4 January 2004 15:00
| London Irish | 15 – 36 | Northampton Saints |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 10,004
* 4 January 2004 15:00
| London Wasps | 26 – 10 | Sale Sharks |
* The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 9,506
* 4 January 2004 15:00
| Rotherham Titans | 18 – 34 | Bath |
* Millmoor Attendance: 6,894

### Week 15

* 6 February 2004 19:45
| Sale Sharks | 3 – 3 | Leicester Tigers |
* Edgeley Park Attendance: 10,541
* 6 February 2004 20:00
| Leeds Tykes | 9 – 16 | London Irish |
* Headingley Attendance: 3,230
* 7 February 2004 14:40
| Bath | 6 – 10 | London Wasps |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,980
* 7 February 2004 15:00
| Gloucester | 36 – 12 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 11,000
* 7 February 2004 15:00
| Harlequins | 12 – 10 | Saracens |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 8,170
* 7 February 2004 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 18 – 8 | Rotherham Titans |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 10,839

### Week 16

* 14 February 2004 15:00
| Rotherham Titans | 20 – 27 | London Wasps |
* Millmoor Attendance: 2,200
* 14 February 2004 18:00
| Gloucester | 38 – 12 | Sale Sharks |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 10,993
* 15 February 2004 13:00
| Saracens | 18 – 22 | Northampton Saints |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 5,651
* 15 February 2004 13:30
| Newcastle Falcons | 25 – 28 | Leeds Tykes |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 7,503

### Week 17

* 21 February 2004 14:15
| Bath | 22 – 13 | Leeds Tykes |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,818
* 21 February 2004 14:30
| London Irish | 9 – 22 | Leicester Tigers |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 10,836
* 21 February 2004 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 51 – 12 | Sale Sharks |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 11,756
* 22 February 2004 15:00
| Rotherham Titans | 21 – 35 | Gloucester |
* Millmoor Attendance: 2,250
* 22 February 2004 15:00
| Saracens | 32 – 27 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 7,516
* 22 February 2004 18:00
| London Wasps | 22 – 21 | Harlequins |
* The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 8,549

### Week 18

* 19 March 2004 19:45
| Leicester Tigers | 30 – 21 | Harlequins |
* Welford Road Attendance: 16,815
* 21 March 2004 15:00
| London Irish | 20 – 21 | Bath |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 20,840

### Week 19

* 26 March 2004 19:45
| Sale Sharks | 38 – 20 | Gloucester |
* Edgeley Park Attendance: 6,487
* 27 March 2004 14:15
| Bath | 23 – 21 | London Irish |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,980
* 27 March 2004 15:00
| Harlequins | 20 – 23 | Leicester Tigers |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 7,871
* 27 March 2004 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 24 – 3 | Saracens |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 12,003
* 28 March 2004 14:30
| Leeds Tykes | 30 – 30 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Headingley Attendance: 4,907
* 28 March 2004 15:00
| London Wasps | 39 – 11 | Rotherham Titans |
* The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 6,757

### Week 20

* 2 April 2004 19:45
| Rotherham Titans | 20 – 34 | Leeds Tykes |
* Millmoor Attendance: 2,750
* 3 April 2004 14:15
| Bath | 16 – 12 | Sale Sharks |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,980
* 3 April 2004 14:45
| Saracens | 8 – 16 | Gloucester |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 6,907
* 4 April 2004 15:00
| London Irish | 15 – 15 | Harlequins |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 9,574
* 4 April 2004 15:00
| London Wasps | 31 – 5 | Northampton Saints |
* The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 10,000
* 4 April 2004 15:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 25 – 25 | Leicester Tigers |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 10,000

### Week 21

* 16 April 2004 19:45
| Leicester Tigers | 38 – 10 | Saracens |
* Welford Road Attendance: 16,815
* 16 April 2004 19:45
| Harlequins | 43 – 20 | Rotherham Titans |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 4,758
* 18 April 2004 14:00
| Northampton Saints | 16 – 6 | Bath |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 12,005
* 18 April 2004 14:30
| Leeds Tykes | 7 – 11 | London Wasps |
* Headingley Attendance: 3,194
* 18 April 2004 16:00
| Gloucester | 28 – 13 | London Irish |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 11,000

### Week 22

* 23 April 2004 19:45
| Sale Sharks | 41 – 16 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Edgeley Park Attendance: 9,486

### Week 23

* 1 May 2004 14:45
| Gloucester | 28 – 25 | London Wasps |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 11,000
* 1 May 2004 15:00
| Leicester Tigers | 75 – 13 | Rotherham Titans |
* Welford Road Attendance: 16,815
* 2 May 2004 14:00
| Harlequins | 25 – 22 | Bath |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 7,870
* 2 May 2004 14:30
| Leeds Tykes | 15 – 31 | Northampton Saints |
* Headingley Attendance: 4,239
* 2 May 2004 15:00
| Newcastle Falcons | 15 – 16 | London Irish |
* Kingston Park Attendance: 8,723
* 2 May 2004 15:00
| Saracens | 39 – 23 | Sale Sharks |
* Vicarage Road Attendance: 6,917

### Week 24

* 8 May 2004 15:00
| Bath | 41 – 7 | Gloucester |
* Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,980
* 8 May 2004 15:00
| Leeds Tykes | 20 – 31 | Sale Sharks |
* Headingley Attendance: 4,036
* 8 May 2004 15:00
| London Irish | 14 – 20 | Saracens |
* Madejski Stadium Attendance: 9,856
* 8 May 2004 15:00
| London Wasps | 17 – 48 | Leicester Tigers |
* The Causeway Stadium Attendance: 10,000
* 8 May 2004 15:00
| Northampton Saints | 18 – 17 | Harlequins |
* Franklin’s Gardens Attendance: 12,048
* 8 May 2004 15:00
| Rotherham Titans | 20 – 26 | Newcastle Falcons |
* Don Valley Stadium Attendance: 5,203

## Play-offs

As for the 2002–03 season, the first placed team automatically qualified for the final where they played the winner of the second vs third place semi-final.

### Semi-final

* 16 May 2004 14:00
| London Wasps | 57 – 20 | Northampton Saints |
| | Report | |
* The Causeway Stadium, High Wycombe Attendance: 6,219

### Final

* 29 May 2004 18:00
| Bath | 6–10 | London Wasps |
| P-Malone (1) DG-Malone (1) | Report | T-Abbott (1) C-van Gisbergen (1) DG-King (1) |
* Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 59,500
Team details :
| | Mike Catt |
| | Andrew Higgins |
| | Robbie Fleck |
| | Mike Tindall |
| | Alex Crockett |
| | Chris Malone |
| | Martyn Wood |
| | Zak Feunati |
| | Michael Lipman |
| | Andy Beattie |
| | Danny Grewcock |
| | Steve Borthwick |
| | Duncan Bell |
| | Jonathan Humphreys (capt) |
| | David Barnes |
| Replacements: |
| | Hentie Martens |
| | Lee Mears |
| | Matt Stevens |
| | Olly Barkley |
| | Spencer Davey |
| | James Scaysbrook |
| | Rob Fidler |
| Coach: |
| | Mark van Gisbergen |
| | Josh Lewsey |
| | Fraser Waters |
| | Stuart Abbott |
| | Tom Voyce |
| | Alex King |
| | Rob Howley |
| | Lawrence Dallaglio (capt) |
| | Paul Volley |
| | Joe Worsley |
| | Richard Birkett |
| | Simon Shaw |
| | Will Green |
| | Trevor Leota |
| | Tim Payne |
| Replacements: |
| | Henry Nwume |
| | Mark Lock |
| | Ben Gotting |
| | Martin Purdy |
| | Peter Richards |
| | Mark Denney |
| | Ayoola Erinle |
| Coach: |
| Warren Gatland |

## Zurich Wildcard

The Zurich Wildcard was contested by the teams placed fourth through seventh in the final table.

### Semi finals

* 15 May 2004
| Gloucester | 44 – 35 | Sale Sharks |
* Kingsholm, Gloucester Attendance: 4,859
Despite winning this match, Gloucester forfeited their place in the final as English teams were awarded an additional Heineken Cup qualification place due to London Wasps winning the 2003–04 Heineken Cup. This additional place was awarded to Gloucester as the next highest placed team in the league not automatically qualified.
* 26 May 2004
| Leicester Tigers | 43 – 26 | Harlequins |
* Welford Road, Leicester Attendance: 12,004

### Final

* 29 May 2004
| Sale Sharks | 27 – 48 | Leicester Tigers |
* Twickenham, London Attendance: 30,000

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