The 2002-03 Zurich Premiership was the 16th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions.
The Zurich Championship which had been competed for in seasons 2000–01 and 2001–02 was dropped from this season.
Participating teams
Team Stadium CapacityCity/Area BathRecreation Ground8,200Bath, SomersetBristol ShogunsMemorial Stadium8,500 (1,200 seats)BristolGloucesterKingsholm11,000Gloucester, GloucestershireHarlequinsThe Stoop9,000 (2,000 seats)Twickenham, LondonLeeds TykesHeadingley Stadium22,250Leeds, West YorkshireLeicester TigersWelford Road16,815Leicester, LeicestershireLondon IrishMadejski Stadium24,161Reading, BerkshireLondon WaspsAdams Park10,000High Wycombe, BuckinghamshireNewcastle FalconsKingston Park 9,800 Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear Northampton SaintsFranklin's Gardens12,500Northampton, NorthamptonshireSaleHeywood Road5,800Sale, Greater ManchesterSaracensVicarage Road22,000Watford, Hertfordshire Notes
Table
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
Play-offs
Semi final
Final
FB15 Thinus DelportRW14 Marcel GarveyOC13 Terry FanoluaIC12 Henry PaulLW11 James Simpson-DanielFH10 Ludovic MercierSH9 Andy GomarsallN88 Junior ParamoreOF7 Andy HazellBF6 Jake BoerRL5 Mark CornwellLL4 Adam EustaceTP3 Phil Vickery (c)HK2 Olivier AzamLP1 Rodrigo RonceroSubstitutions:HK16C. CollinsPR17 Andy DeaconLK18 Rob FidlerFL19 Pete BuxtonFH20 Simon AmorCE21 Robert ToddWG22 Clive Stuart-SmithCoach: Nigel MelvilleFB15 Mark Van GisbergenRW14 Josh LewseyOC13 Fraser WatersIC12 Stuart AbbottLW11 Kenny LoganFH10 Alex KingSH9 Rob HowleyN88 Lawrence Dallaglio (c)OF7 Paul VolleyBF6 Joe WorsleyRL5 Richard BirkettLL4 Simon ShawTP3 Will GreenHK2 Trevor LeotaLP1 Craig DowdSubstitutions:HK16 Phil GreeningPR17 Alistair McKenzieLK18 Peter ScrivenerFL19 Mark LockSH20 Martyn WoodCE21 Mark DenneyCE22 Ayoola ErinleCoach: Warren Gatland
Zurich Wildcard Meanwhile, Leeds (5th place), Leicester (6th), Harlequins (7th), Saracens (8th) played for a Zurich Wildcard to the 2003–04 Heineken Cup:
Semi-finals
First leg
Second leg
Leicester advanced to the wildcard final due to a superior aggregate score of 51–39
Saracens advanced to the wildcard final due to a superior aggregate score of 70–48
Final
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 have not earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.
Most points Source: Rank Player ClubPoints1 Alex KingWasps2842 Ludovic MercierGloucester2583 Braam van StraatenLeeds Tykes2524 Barry EverittLondon Irish2385 Paul GraysonNorthampton Saints2136 Jonny WilkinsonNewcastle Falcons2057 Andy GoodeSaracens2048 Paul BurkeHarlequins1889 Felipe ContepomiBristol18410 Tim StimpsonLeicester Tigers161
Most tries Source: Rank Player ClubTries1 Steve HanleySale Sharks142 Josh LewseyWasps123 Mark CuetoSale Sharks114 Jake BoerGloucester95 Paul SackeyLondon Irish8 Dan ScarbroughLeeds Tykes7 Ben CohenNorthampton Saints7 Brendon DanielBristol James ForresterGloucester Jamie NoonNewcastle Falcons Jason RobinsonSale Sharks
References