2012–13 Premiership Rugby


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The 2012–13 Aviva Premiership was the 26th season of the top-flight English domestic rugby union competition and the third one to be sponsored by Aviva. The reigning champions entering the season were Harlequins, who had claimed their first title after defeating Leicester Tigers in the 2012 final. London Welsh had been promoted as champions from the 2011–12 RFU Championship, their first promotion to the top flight.

2012–13 Aviva Premiership
Countries England
Date1 September 2012 – 25 May 2013
ChampionsLeicester Tigers (10th title)
Runners-upNorthampton Saints
RelegatedLondon Welsh
Matches played135
Attendance1,684,804
(average 12,480 per match)
Tries scored542
(average 4 per match)
Top point scorerNick Evans (Harlequins)
(258 points)[1]
Top try scorerTom Varndell (Wasps),
Christian Wade (Wasps)
(13 tries)[2]
Official website
www.premiershiprugby.com

Leicester Tigers won their tenth title after defeating Northampton Saints in the final at Twickenham, having finished second in the regular season table. London Welsh were relegated, in part, for having received a 5-point deduction for fielding a player who did not hold an Effective Registration. It was the first time that London Welsh had been relegated from the top flight since they first achieved promotion.

As usual, round 1 included the London Double Header at Twickenham, the ninth instance since its inception in 2004.

For the second consecutive season, significant changes were made to the Premiership's salary cap. Last season, "academy credits" were introduced, giving each team a £30,000 cap credit for each of up to eight home-grown players in the senior squad.[3] This season, the team cap rose for the first time since the 2008–09 season when it was increased from £2.2 million to £4 million.[4] The new cap is £4.26 million before academy credits and up to £4.5 million with credits.[3] In addition, each team was allowed to sign one player whose salary did not count against the cap.[3]

Twelve teams compete in the league – the top eleven teams from the previous season and London Welsh, who were promoted from the 2011–12 RFU Championship to the top flight for the first time. They replaced Newcastle Falcons, who were relegated after fifteen years in the top flight.

Stadiums and locations

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2012–13 Aviva Premiership Teams

Greater London Premiership Rugby clubs

Club Director of Rugby/Head Coach Captain Kit Supplier Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bath   Gary Gold   Stuart Hooper Puma The Recreation Ground 12,300 Bath
Exeter Chiefs   Rob Baxter   Tommy Hayes Samurai Sportswear Sandy Park 10,744 Exeter
Gloucester   Nigel Davies   Jim Hamilton KooGa Kingsholm Stadium 16,500 Gloucester
Harlequins   Conor O'Shea   Chris Robshaw O'Neills Twickenham Stoop[a] 14,816 Twickenham, Greater London
Leicester Tigers   Richard Cockerill   Geordan Murphy Canterbury Welford Road 24,000 Leicester
London Irish   Brian Smith   Declan Danaher ISC Madejski Stadium[b] 24,250 Reading
London Wasps   Dai Young   Hugo Southwell Kukri Sports Adams Park[c] 10,516 High Wycombe
London Welsh   Lyn Jones   Jonathan Mills Samurai Sportswear Kassam Stadium 12,500 Oxford
Northampton Saints   Jim Mallinder   Dylan Hartley BURRDA Franklin's Gardens 13,591 Northampton
Sale Sharks   Bryan Redpath   David Seymour Canterbury AJ Bell Stadium 12,000 Salford, Greater Manchester
Saracens   Mark McCall   Steve Borthwick Nike Allianz Park[d] 10,000[e] Hendon,
Greater London
Worcester Warriors   Richard Hill   Dean Schofield Cotton Traders Sixways Stadium 12,068 Worcester

Following a lengthy appeal, London Welsh successfully gained promotion to the Premiership, having contested the Professional Game Boards recommendation to refuse them entry based on the Minimum Standards Criteria.[6] This meant that Newcastle Falcons were relegated, following their confirmation that they would not appeal the new decision.[7]

The 2012 edition of the Premiership Rugby Sevens Series began on 13 July 2012 at The Stoop, continued on 20 July at Edgeley Park, and 26 July at Kingsholm. This was the first opportunity of the season for any of the teams competing in the Premiership to win a trophy. The finals were held on 3 August 2012 at The Recreation Ground, and the Series was won by London Irish.[8]

2012–13 Premiership Rugby Table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Saracens (SF) 22 17 1 4 533 339 +194 41 25 5 2 77 Play-off place,
Berth in the 2013–14 Heineken Cup
2 Leicester Tigers (C) 22 15 1 6 538 345 +193 56 29 7 5 74
3 Harlequins (SF) 22 15 0 7 560 453 +107 52 35 5 4 69
4 Northampton Saints (RU) 22 14 0 8 501 433 +68 55 36 6 3 65
5 Gloucester 22 12 1 9 515 481 +34 40 42 2 8 60 Berth in the 2013–14 Heineken Cup
6 Exeter Chiefs 22 12 1 9 542 446 +96 51 43 4 5 59
7 Bath 22 10 1 11 452 434 +18 44 29 4 7 53 2013–14 European Challenge Cup
8 London Wasps 22 9 0 13 511 528 −17 47 51 4 8 48
9 London Irish 22 7 1 14 459 601 −142 38 57 2 3 35
10 Sale Sharks 22 7 1 14 377 596 −219 37 53 2 3 35
11 Worcester Warriors 22 5 1 16 422 547 −125 35 59 3 8 33
12 London Welsh[f] (R) 22 5 0 17 412 619 −207 30 67 1 7 23[g] Relegated

Source: Premiership Rugby
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
(C) Champions; (RU) Runners-up; (SF) Losing semi-finalists; (R) Relegated
Notes:

  1. ^ Harlequins will also play a home game at Twickenham Stadium on 29 December 2012
  2. ^ London Irish will also play a home game at Twickenham Stadium on 6 September 2014
  3. ^ London Wasps will also play a home game at Twickenham Stadium on 1 September 2012
  4. ^ Allianz Park was not ready until February 2013. Until that time, Saracens played their home fixtures in a variety of stadia including one game at Twickenham Stadium, one game at Wembley Stadium, one game at Stadium mk and three games at Vicarage Road[5]
  5. ^ Allianz Park typically has a capacity of 10,000 but this can be raised to 15,000 with temporary seating
  6. ^ The champion of the Championship (Newcastle Falcons) are eligible for promotion.
  7. ^ London Welsh were deducted 5 competition points for fielding a player who did not hold an Effective Registration.[9]

Premiership Rugby announced the fixture list on 4 July 2012.[10] As with previous seasons, Round 1 included the London Double Header at Twickenham.

Fixtures as per Premiership Rugby Match Centre.

London Wasps40–42Harlequins
Report
Exeter Chiefs43–6Sale Sharks
Report
Gloucester19–24Northampton Saints
Report
Worcester Warriors23–24Bath
Report
Saracens40–3London Irish
Report

Twickenham
Attendance: 63,102

London Welsh13–38Leicester Tigers
Report
Harlequins40–3London Welsh
Report
Leicester Tigers34–26Worcester Warriors
Report
London Irish31–40Gloucester
Report
Sale Sharks16–23Saracens
Report
Northampton Saints24–21Exeter Chiefs
Report
Bath14–18Northampton Saints
Report

The Rec
Attendance: 10,462

Worcester Warriors16–16Gloucester
Report
Harlequins37–14Sale Sharks
Report

Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 13,432

London Wasps43–14London Irish
Report
Saracens9–9Leicester Tigers
Report
London Welsh25–24Exeter Chiefs
Report

Kassam Stadium
Attendance: 3,150

Sale Sharks19–29London Welsh
Report

Salford City Stadium
Attendance: 7,479

Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,324

Northampton Saints37–31Worcester Warriors
Report

Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 12,114

Gloucester29–22London Wasps
Report

Kingsholm
Attendance: 10,782

Leicester Tigers9–22Harlequins
Report

Welford Road
Attendance: 20,354

Exeter Chiefs14–12Saracens
Report

Sandy Park
Attendance: 6,141

Northampton Saints24–6London Wasps
Report

Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 12,955

Worcester Warriors35–11London Irish
Report

The Rec
Attendance: 11,073

Leicester Tigers30–8Exeter Chiefs
Report

Welford Road
Attendance: 19,292

Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 14,224

London Welsh25–31Gloucester
Report

Kassam Stadium
Attendance: 4,548

Sale Sharks8–20Leicester Tigers
Report

Salford City Stadium
Attendance: 8,212

Kingsholm
Attendance: 15,677

Exeter Chiefs42–28Harlequins
Report

Sandy Park
Attendance: 8,472

London Irish39–17Northampton Saints
Report

Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,918

London Welsh23–28Saracens
Report

Kassam Stadium
Attendance: 4,685

London Wasps10–6Worcester Warriors
Report

Adams Park
Attendance: 5,232

Worcester Warriors23–16Sale Sharks
Report

The Rec
Attendance: 12,200

Northampton Saints6–16Saracens
Report

Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 13,475

Gloucester27–21Leicester Tigers
Report

Kingsholm
Attendance: 15,110

London Irish28–31Harlequins
Report

Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 10,247

London Wasps29–19London Welsh
Report

Adams Park
Attendance: 5,964

Sale Sharks21–9London Irish
Report

Salford City Stadium
Attendance: 5,723

Leicester Tigers16–12Northampton Saints
Report

Welford Road
Attendance: 24,000

Exeter Chiefs33–9Worcester Warriors
Report

Sandy Park
Attendance: 7,295

Harlequins28–25Gloucester
Report

Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 14,517

Saracens29–24London Wasps
Report

Kassam Stadium
Attendance: 5,004

The Rec
Attendance: 11,666

Worcester Warriors12–3Saracens
Report
Gloucester29–3Sale Sharks
Report

Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,501

Northampton Saints23–16London Welsh
Report

Franklin's Gardens
Attendance: 11,695

London Wasps14–12Leicester Tigers
Report

Adams Park
Attendance: 7,658

London Irish23–27Exeter Chiefs
Report

Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,270

Harlequins22–19Worcester Warriors
Report

Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 11,630

Sale Sharks16–27Northampton Saints
Report

Salford City Stadium
Attendance: 5,307

Leicester Tigers17–12Bath
Report

Welford Road
Attendance: 20,170

London Welsh15–9London Irish
Report

Kassam Stadium
Attendance: 3,750

Exeter Chiefs30–23London Wasps
Report

Sandy Park
Attendance: 7,557

Vicarage Road
Attendance: 5,960

Worcester Warriors13–6London Welsh
Report

The Rec
Attendance: 12,200

Gloucester18–16Exeter Chiefs
Report

Kingsholm
Attendance: 16,121

London Irish9–31Leicester Tigers
Report

Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 10,958

Northampton Saints9–18Harlequins
Report

Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,475

London Wasps25–18Sale Sharks
Report

Adams Park
Attendance: 6,486

Sale Sharks33–27Worcester Warriors
Report

Salford City Stadium
Attendance: 6,347

Harlequins26–15London Irish
Report

Twickenham
Attendance: 82,000

Sandy Park
Attendance: 10,744

London Welsh15–34London Wasps
Report

Kassam Stadium
Attendance: 10,045

Leicester Tigers17–12Gloucester
Report

Welford Road
Attendance: 24,000

Saracens17–16Northampton Saints
Report

Kingsholm
Attendance: 13,171
Referee: David Rose

Northampton Saints11–27Gloucester
Try: Dowson 54' m
Con: Myler (0/1)
Pen: Myler (2/3) 5', 27'		ReportTry: May (2) 19' m, 42' c
Con: Cook (1/2)
Pen: Cook (5/5) 8', 12', 32', 34', 73'

Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,742
Referee: Martin Fox

The Rec
Attendance: 10,989
Referee: Wayne Barnes

Welford Road
Attendance: 20,065
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 9,245
Referee: Andrew Small

Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 12,552
Referee: JP Doyle

The Rec
Attendance: 11,879
Referee: David Rose

Saracens31–11Exeter Chiefs
Report
Worcester Warriors18–27Northampton Saints
Report

Sixways
Attendance: 9,013
Referee: Greg Garner

Harlequins25–21Leicester Tigers
Report

Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 14,800
Referee: Wayne Barnes

London Wasps33–29Gloucester
Report

Adams Park
Attendance: 6,076
Referee: Andrew Small

London Welsh25–26Sale Sharks
Report

Kassam Stadium
Attendance: 4,074
Referee: JP Doyle

Gloucester29–23Worcester Warriors
Report

Kingsholm
Attendance: 14,362
Referee: David Rose

Sale Sharks21–30Harlequins
Report

Salford City Stadium
Attendance: 7,103
Referee: Martin Fox

Exeter Chiefs47–16London Welsh
Report

Sandy Park
Attendance: 7,317
Referee: Andrew Small

Northampton Saints25–23Bath
Report

Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,291
Referee: Luke Pearce

Leicester Tigers27–32Saracens
Report

Welford Road
Attendance: 20,728
Referee: JP Doyle

London Irish30–19London Wasps
Report

Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 7,184
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

The Rec
Attendance: 11,953
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

Worcester Warriors29–23London Wasps
Report

Sixways
Attendance: 9,214
Referee: Greg Garner

Leicester Tigers48–10Sale Sharks
Report

Welford Road
Attendance: 20,585
Referee: Wayne Barnes

Northampton Saints40–14London Irish
Report

Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 12,465
Referee: JP Doyle

Harlequins16–27Exeter Chiefs
Report

Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 14,800
Referee: David Rose

Saracens35–14London Welsh
Report

Allianz Park
Attendance: 9,968
Referee: Luke Pearce

Salford City Stadium
Attendance: 6,541
Referee: JP Doyle

Gloucester15–14London Welsh
Report

Kingsholm
Attendance: 14,627
Referee: Martin Fox

London Irish26–6Worcester Warriors
Report

Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 19,523
Referee: Wayne Barnes

London Wasps24–26Northampton Saints
Report

Adams Park
Attendance: 7,193
Referee: David Rose

Exeter Chiefs9–12Leicester Tigers
Report

Sandy Park
Attendance: 10,427
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

Allianz Park
Attendance: 9,996
Referee: Greg Garner

Kingsholm
Attendance: 14,699
Referee: JP Doyle

The Rec
Attendance: 11,621
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

Adams Park
Attendance: 8,078
Referee: Martin Fox

Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,479
Referee: Wayne Barnes

Sixways
Attendance: 9,130
Referee: David Rose

Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 6,968
Referee: Greg Garner

Salford City Stadium
Attendance: 8,023
Referee: David Rose

The Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 14,326
Referee: Wayne Barnes

Sandy Park
Attendance: 8,986
Referee: Martin Fox

Kassam Stadium
Attendance: 5,621
Referee: Greg Garner

Allianz Park
Attendance: 9,995
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

Welford Road
Attendance: 24,000
Referee: JP Doyle

The Rec
Attendance: 12,200
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

Kingsholm
Attendance: 15,537
Referee: JP Doyle

Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 11,716
Referee: Dean Richards

Sixways
Attendance: 11,579
Referee: Martin Fox

Franklin’s Gardens
Attendance: 13,493
Referee: Luke Pearce

Adams Park
Attendance: 7,197
Referee: Wayne Barnes

All games in Round 22 kicked off at 15.00 on 4 May 2013, so as to not give any team a potential advantage with regards to knowing how to achieve a play-off berth, Heineken Cup place, or safety from relegation.

Exeter Chiefs40–39Gloucester
Report

Sandy Park
Attendance: 10,744
Referee: Greg Garner

Harlequins22–19Northampton Saints
Report

Twickenham Stoop
Attendance: 14,800
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

Leicester Tigers32–20London Irish
Report

Welford Road
Attendance: 24,000
Referee: Luke Pearce

London Welsh33–22Worcester Warriors
Report

Kassam Stadium
Attendance: 3,610
Referee: Matt Carley

Sale Sharks21–20London Wasps
Report

Salford City Stadium
Attendance: 9,783
Referee: Dean Richards

Allianz Park
Attendance: 9,998
Referee: Martin Fox

As in previous seasons, the top four teams in the Premiership table, following the conclusion of the regular season, contest the play-off semi-finals in a 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd format, with the higher ranking team having home advantage. The two winners of the semi-finals then meet in the Premiership Final at Twickenham on 25 May 2013.

Semi-finals Final
      
1 Leicester Tigers 33
4 Harlequins 16
1 Leicester Tigers 37
3 Northampton Saints 17
2 Saracens 13
3 Northampton Saints 27
Leicester Tigers33–16Harlequins
Report

Welford Road
Attendance: 20,243
Referee: Greg Garner

Saracens13–27Northampton Saints
Report

Allianz Park
Attendance: 9,998
Referee: JP Doyle

The final was contested at Twickenham on 25 May 2013 between Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints with Leicester winning 37–17. Northampton captain Dylan Hartley was sent off for using foul and abusive language just before half-time after calling referee Wayne Barnes a "f*****g cheat" . This was the first time a player has ever been red carded in a Premiership Final, as was said by the commentators during the match. [11][12][13][14]

Team details

Leicester Tigers

Northampton Saints

FB 15   Mathew Tait
RW 14   Niall Morris
OC 13   Manu Tuilagi
IC 12   Anthony Allen
LW 11   Vereniki Goneva   75'
FH 10   Toby Flood (c)   24'
SH 9   Ben Youngs   75'
N8 8   Jordan Crane   73'
OF 7   Julian Salvi
BF 6   Tom Croft
RL 5   Geoff Parling
LL 4   Graham Kitchener   56'
TP 3   Dan Cole   68'
HK 2   Tom Youngs   68'
LP 1   Logovi'i Mulipola   75'
Substitutions:
HK 16   Rob Hawkins   68'
PR 17   Fraser Balmain   75'
PR 18   Martin Castrogiovanni   68'
LK 19   Ed Slater   56'
FL 20   Steve Mafi   73'
SH 21   Sam Harrison   75'
FH 22   George Ford   24'
WG 23   Matt Smith   75'
Coach:
  Richard Cockerill
FB 15   Ben Foden   68'
RW 14   Ken Pisi
OC 13   James Wilson
IC 12   Luther Burrell
LW 11   Jamie Elliott   40'
FH 10   Stephen Myler   68'
SH 9   Lee Dickson   68'
N8 8   Samu Manoa
OF 7   Tom Wood
BF 6   Phil Dowson   68'
RL 5   Christian Day   60'
LL 4   Courtney Lawes
TP 3   Brian Mujati   57'
HK 2   Dylan Hartley (c)  40+1'
LP 1   Soane Tongaʻuiha   56'
Substitutions:
HK 16   Mike Haywood   40'
PR 17   Alex Waller   56'
PR 18   Tom Mercey   57'
FL 19   Ben Nutley   68'
LK 20   Gerrit-Jan van Velze   60'
SH 21   Martin Roberts   68'
FH 22   Ryan Lamb   68'
FB 23   George Pisi   68'
Coach:
  Jim Mallinder

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

  1. ^ a b "Statistics; Official Aviva Premiership Website: Top Points Scorers". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Statistics; Official Aviva Premiership Website: Top Try scorers". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "Premiership clubs handed salary cap boost". ESPN Scrum. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  4. ^ "Premiership ponders wage cap cut". BBC Sport. 17 December 2008. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  5. ^ "Fixtures & Results for Season 2012 – 2013". Saracens Ltd. Archived from the original on 2010-10-24. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  6. ^ "London Welsh promoted on appeal". ESPN Scrum. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Newcastle opt against appeal". ESPN Scrum. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  8. ^ "Fixtures - J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s - Previous Seasons". Premiership Rugby. Archived from the original on 2013-11-08. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  9. ^ "Panel of Inquiry decision". Rugby Football Union. 7 March 2013. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  10. ^ Morgan, Paul (4 July 2012). "Aviva Premiership Rugby fixtures announced". Premiership Rugby. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  11. ^ "Tigers power to tenth title as Hartley sees red". ESPN. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  12. ^ "Leicester 37-17 Northampton". BBC Sport. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  13. ^ "Leicester Tigers 37 Northampton Saints 17 match report: Dylan Hartley's rant cannot sour Leicester win". The Independent. 25 May 2013. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  14. ^ "Leicester win Premiership final as Northampton's Dylan Hartley sees red". Guardian. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.