The 2006–07 Guinness Premiership was the 20th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions, played between September 2006 and May 2007. It was announced during the 2005-06 season that the 2006-07 competition would end two weeks early due to the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, as England would be defending their title. At the end of the previous season, Harlequins gained promotion to this season, while the Leeds Tykes were relegated. The Champions of this season were Leicester Tigers, beating Gloucester RFC 44–16 on 12 May in the Final at Twickenham, while the Northampton Saints were relegated. Leeds returned in 2007–08, under their new name of Leeds Carnegie, after being promoted.

From the start of the season, all half-time intervals were increased from the traditional 10 minutes to 15 minutes. The move has been explained as allowing clubs to capitalise on growing capacities and maximise refreshment income.

Two of the opening games of the season were played at Twickenham, in the 2006 London Double Header.

Participating teams

Team Stadium CapacityCity/Area BathRecreation Ground10,600Bath, SomersetBristolMemorial Stadium11,916BristolGloucesterKingsholm12,500Gloucester, GloucestershireHarlequinsThe Stoop12,638Twickenham, LondonLeicester TigersWelford Road16,815Leicester, LeicestershireLondon IrishMadejski Stadium24,161Reading, BerkshireLondon WaspsAdams Park10,000High Wycombe, BuckinghamshireNewcastle FalconsKingston Park 10,200 Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear Northampton SaintsFranklin's Gardens13,600Northampton, NorthamptonshireSaleEdgeley Park10,852Stockport, Greater ManchesterSaracensVicarage Road22,000Watford, HertfordshireWorcesterSixways10,197Worcester, Worcestershire Notes

Table

Results

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Round 8

Round 9

Round 10

Round 11

Round 12

Round 13

Round 14

Round 15

Round 16

Round 17

Round 18

Round 19

Rearranged fixtures

Round 20

Round 21

Round 22

Play-offs

Semi-finals

Final

FB 15 Willie WalkerRW 14 Iain BalshawOC 13 James Simpson-DanielIC 12 Anthony AllenLW 11 Mark FosterFH 10 Ryan LambSH 9 Peter Richards N8 8 Luke Narraway OF 7 Andy HazellBF 6 Peter Buxton (c)RL 5 Alex Brown LL 4 Will James TP 3 Carlos Nieto HK 2 Olivier AzamLP 1 Nick Wood Replacements:HK 16 Mefin Davies PR 17 Christian Califano LK 18 Adam Eustace FL 19 Jake Boer SH 20 Rory Lawson CE 21 Jake Adams FB 22 Jon GoodridgeCoach: Dean Ryan FB 15 Geordan Murphy RW 14 Seru Rabeni OC 13 Dan HipkissIC 12 Ollie SmithLW 11 Alesana TuilagiFH 10 Andy GoodeSH 9 Frank MurphyN8 8 Martin Corry (c)OF 7 Shane Jennings BF 6 Lewis Moody RL 5 Ben KayLL 4 Louis DeaconTP 3 Julian WhiteHK 2 George ChuterLP 1 Marcos AyerzaReplacements:HK 16 James BucklandPR 17 Alex Moreno LK 18 Leo Cullen FL 19 Brett DeaconSH 20 Ben YoungsFH 21 Sam Vesty CE 22 Tom VarndellCoach: Pat Howard

Individual statistics

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 Glen JacksonSaracens2812 Olly BarkleyBath185 Willie WalkerGloucester4 Adrian JarvisHarlequins 1815 Andy GoodeLeicester Tigers174 6 Shane DrahmWorcester Warriors1567 Toby FloodNewcastle Falcons898 Ryan LambGloucester879 Ian HumphreysLeicester Tigers84 Mark van GisbergenLondon Wasps

Most tries Source: Rank Player ClubTries1 David LemiBristol112 Mike BrownHarlequins9 Tom VarndellLeicester Tigers4 Topsy OjoLondon Irish 8 Mark RobinsonNorthampton Saints Paul SackeyLondon Wasps David StrettleHarlequins Alesana TuilagiLeicester Tigers9 Kameli RatuvouSaracens7106 players tied6

References

External links Official site