The 1999–00 Premiership 1 was the thirteenth season of the first tier of the English league system, currently known a Premiership Rugby, and the third and final to be sponsored by Allied Dunbar, having previous been sponsored by Courage Brewery. Leicester Tigers were defending champions and Bristol the promoted side. The league was reduced from fourteen teams to twelve following London Scottish and Richmond both entering administration.
At the end of the season Leicester Tigers finished as champions, retaining their title (and fourth overall). Bottom side Bedford were relegated to the 2000–01 National Division One (formerly Premiership 2) after losing the promotion-relegation playoff against Premiership 2 champions Rotherham.
Structure Each side played one another twice, in a round robin system, home and away, to make a total of twenty-two matches for each team. The bottom side would play a two legged promotion-relegation playoff against the Premiership 2 league champion to decide who be in the division for the following season.
Participating teams
TeamStadiumCapacityCity/AreaPrevious seasonBathRecreation Ground8,500Bath, Somerset6thBedfordGoldington Road6,500Bedford, Bedfordshire13thBristolMemorial Stadium8,500 (1,200 seats)BristolPromoted from Premiership 2 (1st)GloucesterKingsholm12,000Gloucester, Gloucestershire10thHarlequinsThe Stoop9,000 (2,000 seats)Twickenham, London4thLeicester TigersWelford Road17,000Leicester, LeicestershireChampionsLondon IrishThe Stoop9,000Twickenham, London7thLondon WaspsLoftus Road 18,439Shepherd's Bush, London5thNewcastle FalconsKingston Park8,000Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear8thNorthampton SaintsFranklin's Gardens10,000Northampton, Northamptonshire2ndSale SharksHeywood Road4,800Sale, Greater Manchester11thSaracensVicarage Road 22,000Watford, Hertfordshire3rd
Table The season began on 10 September 1999.
Points increased from 2 to 3 for a win after the World Cup in November 1999. This was an attempt to ensure competitive balance in the leagues for teams while they were without their international players.
Results
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Week 17
Week 18
Week 19
Week 20
Week 21
Week 22
Week 23
Week 24
Week 25
Promotion/Relegation Playoff 12th place Bedford faced 1999–00 Premiership 2 champions Rotherham in a two legged playoff to see who was promoted or relegated.
Rotherham win 40–34 on aggregate and are promoted to 2000–01 Premiership Rugby.
Attendances ClubHomeGamesTotalAverageHighestLowest% Capacity Bath 11 76,700 6,973 8,500 5,000 82% Bedford 11 29,894 2,718 4,722 1,486 42% Bristol 11 54,541 4,958 7,775 2,656 58% Gloucester 11 75,023 6,820 9,500 4,402 57% Harlequins 11 47,450 4,314 7,588 2,322 48% Leicester Tigers 11 139,598 12,691 17,109 7,785 74% London Irish 11 48,072 4,370 7,174 2,801 49% Newcastle Falcons 11 36,154 3,287 4,380 2,359 41% Northampton Saints 11 80,100 7,282 9,512 5,617 73% Sale Sharks 11 30,396 2,763 3,443 2,210 58% Saracens 11 79,760 7,251 10,292 4,513 33% Wasps 11 54,096 4,918 8,372 2,871 27%
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.
Most points Source: Rank Player ClubPoints1 Jarrod CunninghamLondon Irish3242 Tim StimpsonLeicester Tigers3213 Simon MannixGloucester2854 Thierry LacroixSaracens2805 Jon PrestonBath1826 Henry HoniballBristol1787 Jonny WilkinsonNewcastle Falcons1638 Kenny LoganWasps1369 Jon CallardBath13310 Alex KingWasps125
Most tries Source: Rank Player ClubTries1 Iain BalshawBath152 Ryan ConstableSaracens123 Darragh O'MahonySaracens114 Dave LougheedLeicester Tigers10 Conor O'SheaLondon Irish6 Chris CatlingGloucester9 Rob HendersonWasps Josh LewseyWasps Elton MoncrieffGloucester Geordan MurphyLeicester Tigers Paul SackeyBedford
Note
See also 1999–00 Premiership 2 1999–00 National League 1 1999–00 National League 2 North 1999–00 National League 2 South
References
External links Official site