Premiership Rugby
Clubs -- Current clubs chart
Table:
Club

Established

City

Stadium

Capacity*

Titles (Last)**

Bath

1865

Bath

The Recreation Ground

14,509

6 (1996)

Bristol Bears

1888

Bristol

Ashton Gate

27,000

0 (N/A)

Exeter Chiefs

1871

Exeter

Sandy Park

13,593

1 (2017)

Gloucester

1873

Gloucester

Kingsholm Stadium

16,115

0 (N/A)

Harlequins

1866

London (Twickenham)

Twickenham Stoop

14,800

1 (2012)

Leicester Tigers

1880

Leicester

Welford Road

25,849

10 (2013)

London Irish

1898

Reading

Madejski Stadium

24,161

0 (N/A)

Northampton Saints

1880

Northampton

Franklin's Gardens

15,200

1 (2014)

Sale Sharks

1861

Salford

AJ Bell Stadium

12,000

1 (2006)

Saracens

1876

London (Hendon)

Allianz Park

8,500

5 (2019)

Wasps

1867

Coventry

Ricoh Arena

32,753

6 (2008)

Worcester Warriors

1871

Worcester

Sixways Stadium

11,499

0 (N/A)

Taking into account the accompanying table plus the supporting evidence provided.

Solve the question: For the earliest established club what is the population of its city ? Return your answer as JSON: {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Use only the information given.

Bath Rugby ( also known as just Bath ) is an English professional rugby union club in Bath , Somerset . They play in the English Premiership . The club has won England 's domestic competition , the Premiership Rugby Cup , the Heineken Cup , and the European Challenge Cup . The club was founded in 1865 as Bath Football Club . The club plays at the Recreation Ground .
Bath is the largest city in the county of Somerset , England , known for and named after its Roman-built baths . In 2011 , the population was 88,859 . Bath is in the valley of the River Avon , 97 miles ( 156 km ) west of London and 11 miles ( 18 km ) southeast of Bristol . The city became a World Heritage site in 1987 . The city became a spa with the Latin name Aquae Sulis ( the waters of Sul ) c. 60 AD when the Romans built baths and a temple in the valley of the River Avon , although hot springs were known even before then . Bath Abbey was founded in the 7th century and became a religious centre ; the building was rebuilt in the 12th and 16th centuries . In the 17th century , claims were made for the curative properties of water from the springs , and Bath became popular as a spa town in the Georgian era . Georgian architecture , crafted from Bath stone , includes the Royal Crescent , Circus , Pump Room and Assembly Rooms where Beau Nash presided over the city 's social life from 1705 until his death in 1761 . Many of the streets and squares were laid out by John Wood , the Elder , and in the 18th century the city became fashionable and the population grew . Jane Austen lived in Bath in the early 19th century . Further building was undertaken in the 19th century and following the Bath Blitz in World War II . The city has software , publishing and service-oriented industries .
The Recreation Ground ( commonly the Rec ) is a large open space in the centre of Bath , England , next to the River Avon , which is available to be used by permission from the Recreation Ground Trust for recreational purposes by the public at large but particularly the people of Bath and surrounding areas . About a quarter of the Rec is leased to Bath Rugby during the rugby union season as a sports ground capable of holding 14,500 people . During the summer the rugby ground 's temporary East Stand is removed to make way for cricket on a larger pitch . This cricket pitch is used for local contests and was used by Somerset County Cricket Club until 2011 . Parts of the eastern area of the Rec are used by Bath Hockey Club , Bath Croquet Club , Bath Drama Club , Bath Quidditch Club and for some tennis courts . Pitches are available for amateur sports such as Football , Volleyball and Lacrosse . There is a cricket pavilion at the William Street entrance to the ground . The council-run Sports and Leisure Centre is located on the southern edge of the Rec , accessed via North Parade . In former years the Rec was subject to periodic flooding from the River Avon , but a flood alleviation scheme in the 1960s improved the flow of the river . However , the Rec remains part of the floodplain at risk of occasional flooding . The ground can still get very boggy after heavy rains .
Bristol Bears ( officially Bristol Rugby Club ) is an English professional rugby union club based in Bristol , England . They play in Premiership Rugby , England 's top division of rugby . The club was founded as Bristol Football Club in 1888 ; between 1921 and 2014 Bristol 's home matches were played at the Memorial Ground and since 2014 Bristol plays its home matches at Ashton Gate Stadium in the south-west of the city . The current head coach is Pat Lam who was appointed in 2017 . The club announced a new nickname of Bears to be used from 1 June 2018 ; between 2001 and 2005 the club were known as Bristol Shoguns due to a sponsorship deal with Mitsubishi . Bristol won the 1983 John Player Cup and have also won England 's second division four times , most recently in 2017-18 .
Bristol ( /ˈbrɪstəl/ ( listen ) ) is a city and county in South West England with a population of 463,400 . The wider district has the 10th-largest population in England . The urban area population of 724,000 is the 8th-largest in the UK . The city borders North Somerset and South Gloucestershire , with the cities of Bath and Gloucester to the south-east and north-east , respectively . South Wales lies across the Severn estuary . Iron Age hill forts and Roman villas were built near the confluence of the rivers Frome and Avon , and around the beginning of the 11th century , the settlement was known as Brycgstow ( Old English the place at the bridge ) . Bristol received a royal charter in 1155 and was historically divided between Gloucestershire and Somerset until 1373 when it became a county of itself . From the 13th to the 18th century , Bristol was among the top three English cities , after London , in tax receipts . Bristol was surpassed by the rapid rise of Birmingham , Manchester and Liverpool in the Industrial Revolution . Bristol was a starting place for early voyages of exploration to the New World . On a ship out of Bristol in 1497 John Cabot , a Venetian , became the first European since the Vikings to land on mainland North America . In 1499 William Weston , a Bristol merchant , was the first Englishman to lead an exploration to North America .
Ashton Gate is a stadium in Ashton Gate , Bristol , England , and is the home of Bristol City F.C . and the Bristol Bears . Located in the south-west of the city , just south of the River Avon , it currently has an all-seated capacity of 27,000 .
Exeter Chiefs ( officially Exeter Rugby Club ) are an English professional rugby union club based in Exeter , Devon . They play in Premiership Rugby , England 's top division of rugby . The club was founded in 1871 and since 2006 plays its home matches at Sandy Park , a purpose built facility on the outskirts of the city . They have been known by the name Chiefs since 1999 . They were promoted to the Premiership for the first time in 2010 . In the 2016-17 Premiership Rugby season Exeter became English Champions for the first time . In 2017-18 Exeter topped the regular season table but lost the Play-Off final ; this entitled them to compete in the 2018-19 European Rugby Champions Cup . The current head coach is Rob Baxter who was appointed in March 2009 . Exeter are the only club to win the top four tiers of English rugby , winning the Premiership in 2017 , RFU Championship in 2010 , National League 1 in 1997 and National League 2 South in 1996 . They have won the Anglo-Welsh Cup twice , most recently in 2018 .
Exeter ( /ˈɛksɪtər/ ( listen ) ) is a cathedral city in Devon , England , with a population of 130,428 ( mid-2018 est. ) . The city is located on the River Exe approximately 36 miles ( 58 km ) northeast of Plymouth and 65 miles ( 105 km ) southwest of Bristol . It is the county town of Devon , and the base of Devon County Council . Also situated in Exeter are two campuses of the University of Exeter , Streatham Campus and St Luke 's Campus . In Roman Britain , Exeter was established as the base of Legio II Augusta under the personal command of Vespasian . Exeter became a religious centre during the Middle Ages and into the Tudor times : Exeter Cathedral , founded in the mid 11th century , became Anglican during the 16th-century English Reformation . During the late 19th century , Exeter became an affluent centre for the wool trade , although by the First World War the city was in decline . After the Second World War , much of the city centre was rebuilt and is now considered to be a centre for modern business and tourism in Devon and Cornwall . The administrative area of Exeter has the status of a non-metropolitan district under the administration of the County Council ; a plan to grant the city unitary authority status was scrapped under the 2010 coalition government .
Sandy Park is a rugby union stadium and conference and banqueting centre in Exeter , England . It is the home ground of Exeter Chiefs , who from the 2010-11 season have been playing in the Gallagher Premiership , the top flight of the English rugby union league system . The club relocated there from their former stadium at the County Ground in 2006 . The stadium can hold 12,800 spectators and is located adjacent to M5 junction 30 , which is around 5 miles from Exeter City Centre . Sandy Park played host to the England Saxons vs Ireland Wolfhounds on 28 January 2012 ; the England Saxons won 23-17 .
Gloucester Rugby are a professional rugby union club based in the West Country city of Gloucester . They play in Premiership Rugby , England 's top division of rugby , as well as in European competitions . The club was formed in 1873 and since 1891 has played its home matches at Kingsholm Stadium , on the fringes of the city centre . In the 2018-19 Premiership Rugby season , they finished 3rd and lost in the play off semi-finals , qualifying to compete in the 2019-20 European Rugby Champions Cup . The current head coach is Johan Ackermann , who was appointed in the summer of 2017 . The club has no official nickname but are often referred to as the Cherry and Whites by supporters and the media in reference to the traditional red and white hooped shirts worn by the team . Matches with local rivals Bath and Bristol Bears are referred to as West Country derbies , in the 2018/19 season they managed an away draw and home win against Bath .
Gloucester ( /ˈɡlɒstər/ ( listen ) ) is a cathedral city and district in Gloucestershire , of which it is the county town , in the South West of England . Gloucester lies on the River Severn , between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean to the west , 19 miles ( 31 km ) east of Monmouth , and 17 miles ( 27 km ) east of the border with Wales . Including suburban areas , Gloucester has a population of around 150,000 . It is a port , linked via the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal to the Severn Estuary . Gloucester was founded in AD 97 by the Romans under Emperor Nerva as Colonia Glevum Nervensis , and was granted its first charter in 1155 by Henry II . In 1216 Henry III , aged only ten years , was crowned with a gilded iron ring in the Chapter House of Gloucester Cathedral . Gloucester 's significance in the Middle Ages is underlined by the fact that it had a number of monastic establishments , including St Peter 's Abbey founded in 679 ( later Gloucester Cathedral ) , the nearby St Oswald 's Priory , Gloucester founded in the 880s or 890s , and Llanthony Secunda Priory , founded 1136 . The town is also the site of the Siege of Gloucester in 1643 , during which the city held out against Royalist forces in the First English Civil War . A major attraction of the city is Gloucester Cathedral , which is the burial place of King Edward II and Walter de Lacy , and features in scenes from the Harry Potter films . Other features of interest include the museum and school of art and science , the former county jail ( on the site of a Saxon and Norman castle ) , the Shire Hall ( now headquarters of the County Council ) and the Whitefield memorial church . A park in the south of the city contains a spa , a chalybeate spring having been discovered in 1814 . Economically , the city is dominated by the service industries , and has strong financial , research , distribution and light industrial sectors .
Kingsholm Stadium is a rugby union stadium located in the Kingsholm area of Gloucester , England , and is the home stadium of Gloucester Rugby . The stadium has a capacity of 16,115 . It is sometimes nicknamed 'Castle Grim ' after the estate where the stadium is built . The new main grandstand , opened in 2007 , is an all seated 7,500 capacity stand along the south touchline . It is currently sponsored by Malvern Tyres . Kingsholm was used as a home stadium for England before they settled at Twickenham and also hosted New Zealand versus United States for a pool match in the 1991 Rugby World Cup . In common with many grounds of English professional rugby union clubs , Kingsholm features several terraced standing areas . The North Stand is such an area and is known colloquially as 'The Shed ' . It runs down the whole length of the pitch and holds around 3,000 people . The Shed is known within rugby union for its proximity to the pitch and the low roof , enabling fervent home support . The West Stand terrace holds around 1,615 spectators and has a row of hospitality boxes located above . It is sponsored by Stowford Press .
The Harlequin Football Club ( Harlequins or Quins for short ) is an English rugby union team that plays in the top level of English rugby , the English Premiership . Their ground in London is the Twickenham Stoop . They were one of the founding members of the RFU . Quins were crowned winners of the European Challenge Cup in 2011 , the English Premiership for the first time in 2012 and won the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2013 . The current club captain is Chris Robshaw while the current Head of Rugby is former England defence coach Paul Gustard , with Billy Millard acting as the Club 's General Manager . For sponsorship reasons they were formerly known as NEC Harlequins , but principal sponsorship is currently held by DHL and Adidas .
London is the capital and largest city of England and of the United Kingdom . Standing on the River Thames in the south-east of England , at the head of its 50-mile ( 80 km ) estuary leading to the North Sea , London has been a major settlement for two millennia . Londinium was founded by the Romans . The City of London , London 's ancient core − an area of just 1.12 square miles ( 2.9 km2 ) and colloquially known as the Square Mile − retains boundaries that closely follow its medieval limits . [ note 1 ] The City of Westminster is also an Inner London borough holding city status . Greater London is governed by the Mayor of London and the London Assembly . [ note 2 ] London is considered to be one of the world 's most important global cities and has been termed the world 's most powerful , most desirable , most influential , most visited , most expensive , innovative , sustainable , most investment friendly , and most popular for work city . London exerts a considerable impact upon the arts , commerce , education , entertainment , fashion , finance , healthcare , media , professional services , research and development , tourism and transportation . London ranks 26th out of 300 major cities for economic performance . It is one of the largest financial centres and has either the fifth or the sixth largest metropolitan area GDP . [ note 3 ] It is the most-visited city as measured by international arrivals and has the busiest city airport system as measured by passenger traffic . It is the leading investment destination , hosting more international retailers and ultra high-net-worth individuals than any other city .
Twickenham is an affluent suburban town in south-west London , England . It lies on the River Thames and is 10 miles ( 16 km ) west-southwest of Charing Cross , 2 miles ( 3.2 km ) south-east of Hounslow , and 2.6 miles ( 4.2 km ) north-west of Kingston upon Thames . Historically part of Middlesex , it has formed part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames since 1965 . The population of the town , including its localities St Margarets and Whitton , was 62,148 as of 2011 . Twickenham has an extensive town centre and is famous for being the home of rugby union in England , with hundreds of thousands of spectators visiting Twickenham Stadium , the world 's largest rugby stadium , each year . The historic riverside area is famous for its network of 18th-century buildings and pleasure grounds , many of which survive intact . This area has three grand period mansions with public access : York House , Marble Hill and Strawberry Hill House . Another has been lost , that belonging to 18th-century aphoristic poet Alexander Pope . Among these is the Neo-Gothic prototype home of Horace Walpole which has given its name to a whole district , Strawberry Hill , and is linked with the oldest Roman Catholic university in the country , St Mary 's University .
Twickenham Stoop Stadium ( informally referred to as The Stoop ) is a sports stadium located in south-west London , England . The stadium is home to Harlequins rugby union team , who play in the Gallagher Premiership . The stadium has a capacity of 14,800 and is situated just across the road from Twickenham Stadium .
Leicester Tigers ( officially Leicester Football Club ) is an English professional rugby union club based in Leicester , England . They play in Premiership Rugby , England 's top division of rugby . The club was founded in 1880 and since 1892 plays its home matches at Welford Road Stadium in the south of the city . The club has been known by the nickname Tigers since at least 1885 . In the 2018-19 Premiership Rugby season Tigers finished 11th , this entitled them to compete in the 2019-20 European Rugby Challenge Cup . The current head coach is Geordan Murphy who was appointed in September 2018 . Leicester have won 20 major titles . They were European Champions twice , back-to-back in 2001 and 2002 ; have won a record 10 English Championships ; and have won eight Anglo-Welsh Cups , most recently in 2017 . Leicester last won the Premiership Rugby title in the 2013 and appeared in a record nine successive Premiership finals , from 2005 to 2013 . Leicester are one of only four teams never to have been relegated from the top division . Leicester have appeared in five European finals , the joint-second most overall , as well as the two victories they have also lost finals three times , in 1997 , 2007 and 2009 . Three Leicester Tigers players were members of the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final winning England side including captain Martin Johnson .
Leicester ( /ˈlɛstər/ ( listen ) LEST-ər ) is a city and unitary authority area in the East Midlands of England , and the county town of Leicestershire . The city lies on the River Soar and close to the eastern end of the National Forest . It is to the north-east of Birmingham and Coventry , south of Nottingham , and west of Peterborough . The 2016 mid year estimate of the population of the City of Leicester unitary authority was 348,300 , an increase of approximately 18,500 ( 5.6% ) from the 2011 census figure of 329,839 , making it the most populous municipality in the East Midlands region . The associated urban area is also the 11th most populous in England and the 13th most populous in the United Kingdom . Leicester is at the intersection of two major railway lines - the north-south Midland Main Line and the east/west Birmingham to London Stansted CrossCountry line ; as well as the confluence of the M1/M69 motorways and the A6/A46 trunk routes . Leicester is the home to football club Leicester City and rugby club Leicester Tigers .
Welford Road is a rugby union stadium in Leicester , England , and is the home ground for Leicester Tigers . The ground was opened on 10 September 1892 and is located between Aylestone Road and Welford Road on the southern edge of the city centre . The ground was developed in two main periods , either side of the First World War stands were built on both sides and then between 1995 and 2016 both ends were developed and the north side redeveloped . The stadium has a capacity of 25,849 , making it the largest purpose-built club rugby union ground in England . It hosted five full England national team matches between 1902 and 1923 , and staged a single match at each of the 1991 and 1999 Rugby World Cups .
London Irish RFC is a professional English rugby union club , with an Irish Identity . It was originally based in Sunbury , Surrey , where the senior squad train , youth teams and senior academy play home games , and the club maintain their administrative offices , at Hazelwood Drive . It competed in the Premiership , the top division of English rugby union , every season since its inception in 1996-97 , apart from the 2016-17 and 2018-19 seasons , in which they competed in the RFU Championship , winning the league in 2017 and 2019 . The club also competed in the Anglo-Welsh Cup , until its demise in 2018 , and has participated in both the European Champions Cup and European Challenge Cup . While playing in the Championship , in 2016-17 and 2018-19 , Irish also played in the British and Irish Cup and its successor the RFU Championship Cup respectively . The club currently plays its home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading , Berkshire . However , at the end of the 2019-20 season they will move to Brentford Community Stadium in Brentford , West London . London Irish won its first major trophy in 2002 , claiming the Powergen Cup ( the competition that is now the Premiership Rugby Cup ) . Irish also reached the final of the 2009 English Premiership , narrowly losing 10-9 to Leicester Tigers at Twickenham Stadium . In the 2007-08 season the team came close to a place in the Heineken Cup Final , losing out to Stade Toulousain 15-21 in a tense semi-final encounter at Twickenham Stadium . The club 's mascot is an Irish Wolfhound character called Digger .
Reading ( /ˈrɛdɪŋ/ ( listen ) RED-ing ) is a large , historic university and minster town in Berkshire , South East England . It is in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet , and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway . Reading is 70 miles ( 110 km ) east of Bristol , 24 miles ( 39 km ) south of Oxford , 40 miles ( 64 km ) west of London , 14 miles ( 23 km ) north of Basingstoke , 12 miles ( 19 km ) south-west of Maidenhead and 15 miles ( 24 km ) east of Newbury . The first evidence for Reading as a town dates from the 8th century . It was an important trading and ecclesiastical centre in the medieval period , as the site of Reading Abbey , one of the largest and richest monasteries of medieval England with strong royal connections , of which the 12th-century abbey gateway and significant ancient ruins remain . By 1525 , Reading was the largest town in Berkshire , and tax returns show that Reading was the 10th largest town in England when measured by taxable wealth . The medieval town was seriously affected by the English Civil War , with a major siege and loss of trade , and played a pivotal role in the Revolution of 1688 , with that revolution 's only significant military action fought on the streets of the town . The 18th century saw the beginning of a major iron works in the town and the growth of the brewing trade for which Reading was to become famous . The 19th century saw the coming of the Great Western Railway and the development of the town 's brewing , baking and seed growing businesses . During that period , the town grew rapidly as a manufacturing centre . Today , [ when ? ] Reading is a major commercial centre , with involvement in information technology and insurance , and despite its proximity to London , has a net inward commuter flow .
The Madejski /məˈdeɪski/ is a football stadium located in Reading , Berkshire , England . It is the home of Reading Football Club playing in the Football League Championship and the rugby union club London Irish as tenants . It also provides the finish for the Reading Half Marathon . The stadium is named after Reading 's chairman Sir John Madejski . It is an all-seater bowl stadium with a capacity of 24,161 and is located close to the M4 motorway . It is built on the site of a former household waste dump and is surrounded by methane vents . The West Stand contains the Millennium Madejski Hotel . The stadium was opened on 22 August 1998 and replaced Elm Park as Reading 's home ground .
Northampton Saints ( officially Northampton Rugby Football Club ) is a professional rugby union club from Northampton , England . They play in Premiership Rugby , England 's top division of rugby . They were formed in 1880 as Northampton St. James , which gave them the nickname Saints from the 1880s . The team play their home games at Franklin 's Gardens , in the west of the town , which has a capacity of 15,250 and play in black , green , and gold colours . In the 2018-19 Premiership Rugby season Saints finished 4th and lost in the semi-finals , this entitled them to compete in the 2019-20 European Rugby Champions Cup . The current Director of Rugby is Chris Boyd who was appointed in 2018 . Northampton has won six major titles . They were European Champions in 2000 and English Champions in 2014 , they have also won the secondary European Rugby Challenge Cup twice , in 2009 and 2014 , the Anglo Welsh Cup in 2010 and most recently the inaugural Premiership Rugby Cup in 2019 . They have also won the second division three times ; in 1990 , 1996 and 2008 . Their biggest rivals are Leicester Tigers . The East Midlands Derby is one of the fiercest rivalries in English rugby union .
Northampton /nɔːrˈθæmptən/ ( listen ) is a large market town and the county town of Northamptonshire in the East Midlands of England . It lies on the River Nene , 60 miles ( 97 km ) north-west of London and 50 miles ( 80 km ) south-east of Birmingham . One of the largest towns in England , it had a population of 212,100 at the 2011 census ( 223,000 est . 2019 ) . Northampton is also home to Northampton Cathedral which is an established cathedral for the Diocese of Northampton . Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates to the Bronze Age , Romans and Anglo-Saxons . In the Middle Ages , the town rose to national significance with the establishment of Northampton Castle , an occasional royal residence which regularly hosted the Parliament of England . Medieval Northampton had many churches , monasteries and the University of Northampton , all enclosed by the town walls . It was granted a town charter by Richard I in 1189 and a mayor was appointed by King John in 1215 . The town was also the site of two medieval battles , in 1264 and 1460 . Northampton supported the Parliamentary Roundheads in the English Civil War , and Charles II ordered the destruction of the town walls and most of the castle . The Great Fire of Northampton in 1675 destroyed much of the town .
Franklin 's Gardens is a purpose-built rugby stadium in Northampton , England . It is the home stadium of Northampton Saints . The stadium holds 15,249 people . The four stands are : Carlsberg Stand ; Elite Insurance Stand ; Church 's Stand ; and Barwell Stand . It is also the Northampton conference centre as well as the only UK Aviva Premiership Rugby ground with its own cenotaph , the setting for a moving ceremony every Remembrance Weekend .
Sale Sharks is a professional rugby union club from Greater Manchester , England . They play in the Premiership Rugby , England 's top division of rugby . Originally founded in 1861 as Sale Football Club , now a distinct amateur club , they adopted the nickname Sharks in 1999 . Since 2012 they have played their home games at the A.J . Bell Stadium in Barton-upon-Irwell , Eccles . Between 1905 and 2003 they played at Heywood Road in Sale , before moving to Edgeley Park in Stockport where they stayed until 2012 . Their traditional colours are blue and white . Sale have won three major trophies . They were English Champions in 2006 and won the European Rugby Challenge Cup in 2002 and 2005 . They also won the second division in 1994 . In the 2018-19 Premiership Rugby season Sale finished 7th , this entitled them to compete in the 2019-20 European Rugby Champions Cup . The current Director of Rugby is Steve Diamond who was appointed in 2012 .
Salford ( /ˈsɒlfərd/ ) is a district and the main component in the City of Salford , Greater Manchester , England , directly west of Manchester city centre in a meander of the River Irwell , which forms part of its boundary with Manchester . The wider City of Salford local government district is administered from Swinton . The former County Borough of Salford , which included Broughton , Pendleton and Kersal , was granted city status in 1926 . In 2011 , Salford had a population of 103,886 , and the City of Salford 233,933 . Historically in Lancashire , Salford was the judicial seat of the ancient hundred of Salfordshire . It was granted a charter by Ranulf de Blondeville , 6th Earl of Chester , in about 1230 , making Salford a free borough of greater cultural and commercial importance than its neighbour Manchester , although since the Industrial Revolution of the late 18th and early 19th centuries that position has been reversed . Salford became a major cotton and silk spinning and weaving factory town and inland port on the Manchester Ship Canal in the 18th and 19th centuries . Industries declined in the 20th century , causing economic depression , and Salford became a place of contrasts , with regenerated inner-city areas like Salford Quays next to some of the most socially deprived and violent areas in England . Salford is home to the University of Salford , and has seen several firsts , including the world 's first free public library , and the first street to be lit by gas . Salford 's MediaCityUK became the headquarters of CBBC and BBC Sport in 2011 , joined by ITV Granada in 2013 .
Salford City Stadium ( referred to as the AJ Bell Stadium for sponsorship purposes ) is a rugby stadium in Barton-upon-Irwell , Salford , England , built to replace Salford rugby league club 's ground the Willows for the 2012 season . Sale Sharks rugby union club have also played at the stadium since the 2012-13 season .
Saracens Football Club ( /ˈsærəsənz/ ) are an English professional rugby union football club based in London , England . Established in 1876 , they play in Premiership Rugby , the top level of domestic rugby union in England . They are the current title holders of the European Rugby Champions Cup , a tournament which they have won more times than any other English team , with three titles , won in 2016 , 2017 and 2019 . Since 2012 , Saracens have played their home games at Allianz Park in Hendon , in the London Borough of Barnet ; previous grounds have included Vicarage Road in Watford , and Bramley Road . The club 's home playing colours are black and red . In November 2019 , they were handed a 35-point deduction and fined £5.3m after they were found to have breached Premiership Rugby salary cap regulations over the previous three seasons . On 18 January 2020 Premiership Rugby announced they would be relegated to the RFU Championship at the end of the season , following the 'conclusion of dialogue ' between Premiership Rugby and the team .
Hendon is a London urban area in the Borough of Barnet , 7 miles ( 11 km ) northwest of Charing Cross , between the A41 , A406 and the M1 motorway . Hendon was an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex and has been part of Greater London since 1965 . It used to be the home for the London Aerodrome which later became RAF Hendon . From 1972 the site of the RAF station was gradually handed over to the RAF Museum London . Hendon had a population of 52,972 in 2011 which includes the West Hendon and Colindale wards .
Barnet Copthall is a leisure complex on the Hendon-Mill Hill borders in London NW4 . The complex houses a local authority-owned swimming pool and gymnasium facilities , a golf-driving range with 9 hole pitch and putt run by Metro Golf , and a stadium , Allianz Park , used primarily for rugby and athletics . The stadium is the home of rugby union Premiership side Saracens .
Wasps Rugby Football Club is an English professional rugby union team based in Coventry , England . They play in Premiership Rugby , England 's top division of rugby . Founded in 1867 as Wasps Football Club , now a distinct amateur club , the club was originally London-based , but relocated to Coventry in December 2014 . Wasps now own and play at the Ricoh Arena . Prior to the move to the Midlands , Wasps had several homes ; from 1923 to 1996 they were based at Repton Avenue in Sudbury , London , from 1996 to 2002 they played at Loftus Road in Shepherd 's Bush and from 2002 to 2014 they played at Adams Park in High Wycombe , Buckinghamshire , 30 miles northwest of London . Wasps has won 12 major titles . They were European Champions twice , in 2004 and 2007 ; have won six English Championships including three in a row from 2003-05 ; and won three Anglo-Welsh Cups . They have also won the 2003 European Rugby Challenge Cup . Wasps most recent trophy is the 2008 Premiership . The 2017-18 season marked the 150th anniversary of Wasps Rugby Football Club . In the 2018-19 Premiership Rugby season Wasps finished 8th . This entitles them to compete in the 2019-20 European Rugby Challenge Cup .
Coventry ( /ˈkɒvəntri/ ( listen ) KOV-ən-tree or /ˈkʌv-/ KUV- ) is a city , administrative centre and metropolitan borough in England and the United Kingdom . It is built on the River Sherbourne , which remains largely hidden by infrastructure , although it can be seen by the canal . Coventry has been a large settlement for centuries , although it was n't founded and given its city status since the Middle Ages , since then it has been one of the most important and largest cities of the country . The conurbation consists of the Coventry and Bedworth Urban Area , being the 20th largest in the country , and the city is governed by Coventry City Council . Historically part of Warwickshire , at the 2011 census Coventry had a population of 316,915 , making it the 9th largest city in England only and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom . It is the second largest city in the West Midlands region , after Birmingham , and although proximate to the West Midlands conurbation , it is just outside it . Coventry is 19 miles ( 31 km ) east-southeast of Birmingham , 24 miles ( 39 km ) southwest of Leicester , 11 miles ( 18 km ) north of Warwick and 94 miles ( 151 km ) northwest of London . Coventry is also the most central city in England , being only 11 miles ( 18 km ) south-southwest of the country 's geographical centre in Leicestershire and is located in the West Midlands . The current Coventry Cathedral was built after the majority of the 14th century cathedral church of Saint Michael was destroyed by the Luftwaffe in the Coventry Blitz of 14 November 1940 . Coventry motor companies have contributed significantly to the British motor industry . The city has three universities , Coventry University in the city centre , the University of Warwick on the southern outskirts and the smaller private Arden University , with its headquarters close to Coventry Airport . On 7 December 2017 , the city won the title of UK City of Culture 2021 , after beating Paisley , Stoke-on-Trent , Swansea and Sunderland to the title .
The Ricoh Arena in Coventry , England , is a complex which includes a 32,609-seater stadium , used by Wasps rugby union club , a 6,000 square metres ( 65,000 sq ft ) exhibition hall , a hotel and a casino . The site is also home to Arena Park Shopping Centre , containing one of UK 's largest Tesco Extra hypermarkets . Built on the site of the Foleshill gasworks , it is named after its sponsor , Japanese company Ricoh , which paid £10 million for the naming rights over 10 years . For the 2012 Summer Olympics , where stadium naming sponsorship was forbidden , the stadium was known as the City of Coventry Stadium . Originally built as a replacement for Coventry City 's Highfield Road ground , the stadium was initially operated by Arena Coventry Limited ( ACL ) , with Coventry City as tenants . ACL was owned jointly by Coventry City Council and the Higgs Charity . The stadium hosted its first football match in August 2005 . The official opening was performed by Dame Kelly Holmes and sports minister Richard Caborn on 24 February 2007 , by which time the arena had already hosted a sell-out England U21 football match against Germany as well as a full season of Coventry City matches . The Ricoh Arena was the first cashless stadium in the United Kingdom , with customers using a prepay smartcard system in the grounds bars and shops . However , the stadium now accepts cash at all kiosks . Following a protracted rent dispute between Coventry City and ACL , the football club left the Ricoh Arena in 2013 , playing home matches at Sixfields Stadium in Northampton for over a year before returning to the Ricoh in September 2014 . Within two months , both shareholders in ACL were bought out by rugby union Premiership club Wasps , who relocated to the stadium from their previous ground , Adams Park in High Wycombe .
Worcester Warriors Rugby Football Club are an English rugby union club , playing in the English Premiership . Warriors also compete in the Premiership Rugby Cup , European Challenge Cup , and Premiership Rugby Shield competitions . Their home ground is Sixways Stadium , and the team colours are gold and blue .
Worcester ( /ˈwʊstər/ ( listen ) WUUS-tər ) is a cathedral city in Worcestershire , England , 30 miles ( 48 km ) south-west of Birmingham , 101 miles ( 163 km ) west-north-west of London , 27 miles ( 43 km ) north of Gloucester and 23 miles ( 37 km ) north-east of Hereford . The population is about 100,000 . The River Severn flanks the western side of the city centre , which is overlooked by Worcester Cathedral . The Battle of Worcester in 1651 was the final battle of the English Civil War , where Oliver Cromwell 's New Model Army defeated King Charles II 's Royalists . Worcester is known as the home of Royal Worcester Porcelain , composer Edward Elgar , Lea & Perrins , makers of traditional Worcestershire sauce , University of Worcester , and Berrow 's Worcester Journal , claimed to be the world 's oldest newspaper .
Sixways Stadium is a stadium in Worcester , England . It is currently used mostly for rugby union matches and is the home stadium of Worcester Warriors . The stadium is able to hold 11,499 with parking for 1,000 cars , Sixways has 60 modern meeting and event rooms . The ground opened 1975 and is located off junction 6 of the M5 motorway , which splits into six directions , hence the name Sixways . The Stadium commenced building on the site of the old 3rd team pitch and club house after a lottery grant in 1998 . On 7 April 2016 it was announced that Sixways ' pitch would be converted to the latest technology artificial grass ahead of the 2016-17 season . Sixways would become the third premiership venue with an artificial pitch after Allianz Park and Kingston Park but the first to feature organic infill rather than rubber crumb .