The 2004–05 Zurich Premiership was the 18th season of the top flight of the English domestic rugby union competitions.

For the first time, two of the opening games of the season were played at Twickenham, in the 2004 London Double Header, between the four "London" teams: Harlequins, London Irish, London Wasps and Saracens.

At the end of the season, Harlequins were relegated, to be replaced by Bristol for 2005–06.

Participating teams

TeamStadium CapacityCity/Area BathRecreation Ground10,500Bath, SomersetGloucesterKingsholm13,000Gloucester, GloucestershireHarlequinsThe Stoop10,000Twickenham, LondonLeeds TykesHeadingley Stadium22,250Leeds, West YorkshireLeicester TigersWelford Road16,815Leicester, LeicestershireLondon IrishMadejski Stadium24,161Reading, BerkshireLondon WaspsThe Causeway Stadium10,000High Wycombe, BuckinghamshireNewcastle FalconsKingston Park 10,200 Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear Northampton SaintsFranklin's Gardens12,100Northampton, NorthamptonshireSaleEdgeley Park10,641Stockport, Greater ManchesterSaracensVicarage Road22,000Watford, HertfordshireWorcesterSixways8,477Worcester, Worcestershire 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

Play-offs As for the 2003–04 season, the first placed team automatically qualified for the final, where they played the winner of the second vs third place semi-final. This was the last season in which that format of play-off was used.

Semi-final

Final

FB 15 Sam Vesty RW 14 Geordan MurphyOC 13 Ollie SmithIC 12 Daryl GibsonLW 11 Leon LloydFH 10 Andy GoodeSH 9 Harry EllisN8 8 Martin CorryOF 7 Neil BackBF 6 Louis Deacon RL 5 Ben KayLL 4 Martin Johnson (c)TP 3 Julian White HK 2 George ChuterLP 1 Darren MorrisReplacements:HK 16 James BucklandPR 17 Graham RowntreeFL 18 Lewis MoodyFL 19 Will JohnsonSH 20 Scott BemandWG 21 Austin HealeyWG 22 Alesana TuilagiCoach: John Wells FB 15 Mark van GisbergenRW 14 Paul SackeyOC 13 Ayoola ErinleIC 12 Josh LewseyLW 11 Tom VoyceFH 10 Alex KingSH 9 Matt DawsonN8 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (c)OF 7 Joe WorsleyBF 6 John HartRL 5 Richard BirkettLL 4 Simon ShawTP 3 Will GreenHK 2 Phil GreeningLP 1 Tim PayneReplacements:HK 16 Trevor LeotaPR 17 Craig Dowd LK 18 Mark Lock FL 19 Martin PurdySH 20 Warren FuryFH 21 James BrooksFB 22 Rob HoadleyCoach: Warren Gatland

Wildcard

Semi finals

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 Andy GoodeLeicester Tigers2682 Mark van GisbergenWasps2253 Charlie HodgsonSale Sharks2004 Jeremy StauntonHarlequins1865 Shane DrahmNorthampton Saints1806 Gordon RossLeeds Tykes1617 Jonny WilkinsonNewcastle Falcons1508 Barry EverittLondon Irish1459 Henry PaulGloucester13610 Chris MaloneBath133

Most tries Source: Rank Player ClubTries1 Tom VoyceWasps122 Mark CuetoSale Sharks11 Ayoola ErinleWasps4 Steve HanleySale Sharks95 Neil BackLeicester Tigers7 Scott StaniforthLondon Irish Michael StephensonNewcastle Falcons88 players6

See also 2004–05 Powergen Cup

Notes

References