35th season of top-flight English rugby union
The 2021–22 Premiership Rugby was the 35th season of the top flight of English domestic rugby union competition and the fourth to be sponsored by Gallagher.[1] It is also the first since 1992–93 to feature thirteen teams. The competition was broadcast by BT Sport for the ninth successive season with four league season games and the final also simulcast free-to-air on ITV. Highlights of each weekend's games were shown on ITV with extended highlights on BT Sport.
The reigning champions entering the season were Harlequins who claimed their 2nd title after defeating Exeter Chiefs in the 2021 final. Saracens were promoted as champions from the 2020–21 RFU Championship at the first attempt.
Due to changes to the global rugby calendar implemented in 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic causing a moratorium to be placed on relegation last season, the tournament features thirteen teams and will include an extra four rounds.[2] The season would take place over 40 weeks.
Rule changes
This season sees the second year of a three-year moratorium on relegation from the league.[3]
Salary cap
This season is the first under the reduced salary cap regulations before changes are made before 2024–25. A brief summary of the changes are:
- Senior ceiling is reduced from £6.4m to £5m.
- Homegrown player credits retained up to £600,000
- International and EPS credits retained but limited to £400,000.
- Season-long loan salary cap exemption is removed.
- Academy ceiling for international players retained at £100,000 but with maximum salary increasing from £30,000 to £50,000. Homegrown academy players are not counted in the £100,000 limit.
- For contracts continuing into 2021–22, the cap cost will be counted at 75% of their actual value to manage transition to the new caps.
- Two players continue to be excluded from the salary cap for this season.[4]
Teams
For the first time since the 2002–03 Premiership Rugby season, all teams from the previous season will compete in the league together with Saracens who were promoted from the 2020–21 RFU Championship after an absence of one year, thus making a thirteen team league.[5]
Stadiums and locations
2021–22 Gallagher Premiership teams
Greater London Premiership Rugby clubs
Table
Source: Premiership Rugby
Rules for classification: Games cancelled due to
COVID-19 will be recorded as 0–0, but a win and 4 points will be awarded if a club was able to field a team, and a loss and 2 points if they were not. Games cancelled for other reasons will be recorded as 20–0, with a win and 5 points awarded to the club that was able to field a team, and a loss and 0 points for the club that could not.
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
Notes:
- ^ Director of Rugby Performance
- ^ Harlequins would also play two home games at Twickenham Stadium on 27 December 2021 and 21 May 2022.
- ^ Wilson retired from rugby with immediate effect on 14 February 2022.[6]
- ^ McCall took a short break from his role for medical reasons, from 28 January to 1 March 2022.[7][8]
- ^ Saracens would also play one home game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 26 March 2022.
- ^ StoneX Stadium capacity was temporarily reduced at the start of the season due to redevelopment, but gradually rose above 8,500 from February 2022.[9]
- ^ a b c d e f
Regular season
Fixtures for the season were announced by Premiership Rugby on 13 July 2021. The league season begins on 17 September 2021 and is due to end on 18 June 2022.[10] Each team receives two bye weeks. Highlights of the season include:
All fixtures are subject to change.
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
Round 20
Round 21
Round 22
Round 23
Round 24
Round 25
Round 26
Play-offs
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 18 June 2022.
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 yet earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.
Notes
- ^ Sale Sharks returned a number of positive COVID-19 tests and were therefore unable to field a side.
Newcastle Falcons were awarded a win and 4 points, while Sale received 2 points. - ^ Bath returned a number of positive COVID-19 tests and were therefore unable to field a side.
London Irish were awarded a win and 4 points, while Bath received 2 points. - ^ Due to a combination of illness and injuries, Worcester Warriors were unable to field a side and therefore had to forfeit the match.
Gloucester were awarded a win and 5 points.
References
- ^ "Gallagher confirmed as new title sponsors of Premiership Rugby". 12 April 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Premiership season structure for 2020/21 and 2021/22 confirmed". Ultimate Rugby. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "RFU Council Vote in Favour of Covid Recovery Plan and Temporary Pause on Relegation". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ "Premiership Rugby clubs unanimously vote to temporarily reduce the salary cap". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "RFU scraps Premiership relegation". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ "Mark Wilson retires from rugby". Newcastle Falcons. 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Saracens statement: Mark McCall to take 'break' as director of rugby". Rugby Pass. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ "Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall returns to club after one-month break". The Telegraph. 1 March 2022.
- ^ "New West Stand lower tier seats launched for the Bath game on 5th February". Saracens. 21 January 2022.
- ^ "Gallagher Premiership Rugby season 2021-22 kicks off at Ashton Gate on 17 September". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ a b "2021-22 Premiership Rugby player stats". Premiership Rugby. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
External links
