Rugby Union Premiership: 2006-07 Quiz

Answer: Newcastle

The Falcons play their home games at Kingston Park. Sale are known as the Sharks, Worcester are the Warriors, but Bath don't have a nickname. Newcastle were formally known as Gosforth until the advent of the professional game in England.

Answer: Leicester Tigers

The Tigers did consider moving away from Welford Road and ground sharing with Leicester City. The move was opposed by a large number of fans, and eventually fell through because the two clubs could not agree on the fine detail. The Tigers finally decided to stay at their own ground and develop the facilities there. The other three clubs already share their grounds with soccer teams.

Answer: 1997/98

The game lost its amateur status in 1995 when the IRB removed all obstacles to payments for players. At this time it was still known as the Courage League. It was renamed The Premiership in 97/98 when the sponsors were Allied Dunbar.

Answer: 3

In the first ten years just 3 companies sponsored the league. Allied Dunbar between 1997/2000, Zurich between 2000/2005, and Guinness.

Answer: 2

Bonus points are awarded for scoring 4 tries, and for losing by less than 7 points.

Answer: Harlequins

Harlequins, or 'The Quins' as they are somtimes known, play at The Stoop, which is only a short walk from Twickenham. In times past the club had an arrangement with Twickenham to play some of their home games on the hallowed turf.
Worcester play at Sixways, Northampton play at Franklins Gardens and London Welsh are not a Premiership side.

Answer: Saracens

Until 2001/2 the top team at the end of the season were crowned Champions. The following year the 'playoffs' were introduced. Over the years it has varied as to how many teams entered the playoffs, but it never went any lower than the top 4. At the present time, ie season 2006/7, the top team gets a home tie against the team finishing fourth.

The team finishing second plays at home against the third place team. The two winners then play the Final at Twickenham. Between 2002 and 2005 Wasps have been crowned Champions, despite not finishing at the top of the league.

Answer: False

During season 1998/9 there were 14 clubs in the Premiership. This is the only season that there has been more than 12 teams.

Answer: London Irish

Digger is an Irish Wolfhound, not a real one though. All club mascots are people dressed in costumes. London Irish are the only surviving 'exiles' team left in the top flight. Although they now play in Reading they have kept their original name. The Sale mascot is called Sharkie, Saracens have Sarrie the camel and Worcester have Maximus.

Answer: Leicester Tigers

During this period Leicester won the league every season. They had an incredible home record of 57 wins, including 52 successively. This run lasted from 30 December 1999 until 30 November 2002 when they lost to Northampton. During this 4 year period Leicester lost only 14 out of 92 league matches.