1995–96 Courage League National Division One

The 1995–96 Courage League National Division One was the ninth season of the first tier of the English league system, currently known as the Gallagher Premiership. Leicester Tigers were the defending champions and Saracens the promoted team. Each team played each other twice, in a round robin system.

1995–96 Courage League
Countries	England
Date	9 September 1995 – 5 May 1995
Champions	Bath (6th title)
Runners-up	Leicester Tigers
Matches played	90
Official website
www.premiershiprugby.com
← 1994–95 1996–97 →

Bath finished as champions for the sixth time, beating holders Leicester Tigers by just one point. Despite a disastrous season with 18 defeats in as many matches, West Hartlepool kept its place in the first division due to the expansion of the league from 10 teams to 12 the following season.^[1]

Participating teams

Bath

Bristol

Gloucester

Harlequins

Leicester

Orrell

Sale

Saracens

Wasps

W Hartlepool

Locations of the 1995–96 Courage League National Division One teams

Team	Stadium	Capacity	City/Area	Previous season
Bath	Recreation Ground	8,200	Bath, Somerset	2nd
Bristol	Memorial Stadium	12,100	Bristol, Avon	6th
Gloucester	Kingsholm	12,000	Gloucester, Gloucestershire	7th
Harlequins	The Stoop	8,500	Twickenham, London	8th
Leicester Tigers	Welford Road	16,000	Leicester, Leicestershire	Champions
Orrell	Edge Hall Road[a]	5,500	Orrell, Greater Manchester	5th
Sale	Heywood Road	5,400	Sale, Greater Manchester	4th
Saracens	Bramley Road	2,000[2]	Enfield, London	Promoted from Courage Division 2 (1st)
Wasps	Repton Avenue	3,000	Sudbury, London	3rd
West Hartlepool	Brierton Lane	7,000[3]	Hartlepool, County Durham	9th

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Bath (C)	18	15	1	2	575	276	+299	31	Champion 1996–97 Heineken Cup
2	Leicester Tigers	18	15	0	3	476	242	+234	30	Qualified for the 1996–97 Heineken Cup
3	Harlequins	18	13	0	5	524	314	+210	26
4	Wasps	18	11	0	7	439	322	+117	22
5	Sale	18	9	1	8	365	371	−6	19
6	Bristol	18	8	0	10	329	421	−92	16
7	Orrell	18	7	0	11	323	477	−154	14
8	Gloucester	18	6	0	12	275	370	−95	12
9	Saracens	18	5	0	13	284	451	−167	10
10	West Hartlepool	18	0	0	18	288	634	−346	0

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
(C) Champions

Results

The Home Team is listed in the left column.

Home \ Away	BAT	BRI	GLO	HAR	LEI	ORR	SAL	SAR	WAS	WHA
Bath Rugby		52–19	37–11	41–15	14–15	55–20	38–38	52–16	36–12	34–22
Bristol	5–43		22–16	25–31	29–43	33–14	30–6	21–7	9–17	12–3
Gloucester RFC	16–10	18–14		13–24	14–27	27–0	17–22	17–10	15–26	17–16
Harlequins	13–19	28–3	33–19		25–29	21–25	55–0	23–15	29–20	34–18
Leicester Tigers	9–14	43–6	28–6	19–21		22–3	32–10	31–3	15–12	48–15
Orrell	11–44	26–29	21–3	9–23	10–38		12–6	38–13	32–29	20–10
Sale	18–30	15–6	21–13	29–11	12–16	39–13		18–15	18–25	44–13
Saracens	15–21	11–24	19–16	6–13	25–21	12–9	9–24		20–24	31–30
Wasps	6–15	33–5	21–10	3–34	11–21	51–16	25–16	38–16		52–12
West Hartlepool	15–20	15–37	19–27	21–91	12–19	22–44	11–29	31–41	3–34

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Fixtures & Results

Round 1

9 September 1995

Gloucester	17 – 22	Sale

Kingsholm

9 September 1995

Leicester Tigers	31 – 3	Saracens

Welford Road

9 September 1995

Orrell	9 – 23	Harlequins

Edge Hall Road

9 September 1995

Wasps	33 – 5	Bristol

Repton Avenue

9 September 1995

West Hartlepool	15 – 20	Bath

Brierton Lane Referee: Brian Campsall[4]

^[5]

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Round 2

16 September 1995

Bath	37 – 11	Gloucester

Recreation Ground Referee: Stuart Piercy[4]

16 September 1995

Bristol	12 – 3	West Hartlepool

Memorial Stadium

16 September 1995

Harlequins	29 – 20	Wasps

The Stoop

16 September 1995

Sale	12 – 16	Leicester Tigers

Heywood Road

16 September 1995

Saracens	12 – 9	Orrell

Bramley Road

^[5]

---

Round 3

23 September 1995

Bristol	25 – 31	Harlequins

Memorial Stadium

23 September 1995

Leicester Tigers	9 – 14	Bath

Welford Road Attendance: 16,000[4] Referee: Tony Rowlands[4]

23 September 1995

Orrell	12 – 6	Sale

Edge Hall Road

23 September 1995

Wasps	38 – 16	Saracens

Repton Avenue

23 September 1995

West Hartlepool	19 – 27	Gloucester

Brierton Lane

^[5]

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Round 4

30 September 1995

Bath	55 – 20	Orrell

Recreation Ground Referee: Ashley Rowden[4]

30 September 1995

Gloucester	14 – 27	Leicester Tigers

Kingsholm

30 September 1995

Harlequins	34 – 18	West Hartlepool

The Stoop

30 September 1995

Sale	18 – 25	Wasps

Heywood Road

30 September 1995

Saracens	11 – 24	Bristol

Bramley Road

^[5]

---

Round 5

7 October 1995

Bristol	30 – 6	Sale

Memorial Stadium

7 October 1995

Harlequins	23 – 15	Saracens

The Stoop

7 October 1995

Orrell	21 – 3	Gloucester

Edge Hall Road

7 October 1995

Wasps	6 – 15	Bath

Repton Avenue Referee: Ed Morrison[4]

7 October 1995

West Hartlepool	12 – 19	Leicester Tigers

Brierton Lane

^[5]

---

Round 6

14 October 1995

Bath	52 – 19	Bristol

Memorial Stadium Referee: Brian Campsall[4]

14 October 1995

Gloucester	15 – 26	Wasps

Kingsholm

14 October 1995

Leicester Tigers	22 – 3	Orrell

Welford Road

14 October 1995

Sale	23 – 9	Harlequins

Heywood Road

14 October 1995

Saracens	31 – 30	West Hartlepool

Bramley Road

^[5]

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Round 7

21 October 1995

Bristol	22 – 16	Gloucester

Memorial Stadium

21 October 1995

Harlequins	13 – 19	Bath

The Stoop Referee: Chris Wright[4]

21 October 1995

Orrell	20 – 10	West Hartlepool

Edge Hall Road

21 October 1995

Saracens	9 – 24	Sale

Bramley Road

21 October 1995

Wasps	11 – 21	Leicester Tigers

Repton Avenue

^[5]

---

Round 8

28 October 1995

Bath	52 – 16	Saracens

Recreation Ground Referee: Steve Lander[4]

28 October 1995

Gloucester	13 – 24	Harlequins

Kingsholm

28 October 1995

Leicester Tigers	43 – 6	Bristol

Welford Road

28 October 1995

Orrell	32 – 29	Wasps

Edge Hall Road

28 October 1995

West Hartlepool	11 – 29	Sale

Brierton Lane

^[5]

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Round 9

4 November 1995

Bristol	33 – 14	Orrell

Memorial Stadium

4 November 1995

Harlequins	25 – 29	Leicester Tigers

The Stoop

4 November 1995

Sale	18 – 30	Bath

Heywood Road Referee: Chris Rees[4]

4 November 1995

Saracens	19 – 16	Gloucester

Bramley Road

4 November 1995

Wasps	P – P	West Hartlepool

Repton Avenue

• Postponed due to spectator falling ill.^[6] Game rescheduled to 20 April 1996.

^[5]

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Round 10

11 November 1995

Bath	34 – 22	West Hartlepool

Recreation Ground Referee: Ashley Rowden[4]

11 November 1995

Bristol	9 – 17	Wasps

Memorial Stadium

11 November 1995

Harlequins	21 – 25	Orrell

The Stoop

11 November 1995

Sale	21 – 13	Gloucester

Heywood Road

11 November 1995

Saracens	25 – 21	Leicester Tigers

Bramley Road

^[5]

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Round 11

30 December 1995

Gloucester	P – P	Bath

Kingholsm

• Postponed. Game rescheduled to 10 April 1996.

30 December 1995

Leicester Tigers	P – P	Sale

Welford Road

• Postponed. Game rescheduled to 17 April 1996.

30 December 1995

Orrell	P – P	Saracens

Edge Hall Road

• Postponed. Game rescheduled to 13 January 1996.

30 December 1995

Wasps	P – P	Harlequins

Repton Avenue

• Postponed. Game rescheduled to 9 March 1996.

30 December 1995

West Hartlepool	P – P	Bristol

Brierton Lane

• Postponed. Game rescheduled to 5 May 1996.

^[5]

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Round 12

6 January 1996

Bath	14 – 15	Leicester Tigers

Recreation Ground Referee: Brian Campsall[4]

6 January 1996

Gloucester	17 – 16	West Hartlepool

Kingsholm

6 January 1996

Harlequins	28 – 3	Bristol

The Stoop

6 January 1996

Sale	39 – 13	Orrell

Heywood Road

6 January 1996

Saracens	20 – 24	Wasps

Bramley Road

^[5]

---

Round 11 (rescheduled game)

13 January 1996

Orrell	38 – 13	Saracens

Edge Hall Road

• Game rescheduled from 30 December 1995.

^[5]

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Round 13

10 February 1996

Bristol	P – P	Saracens

Memorial Stadium

• Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 April 1996.

10 February 1996

Leicester Tigers	P – P	Gloucester

Welford Road

• Postponed. Game rescheduled to 24 April 1996.

10 February 1996

Orrell	P – P	Bath

Edge Hall Road

• Postponed. Game rescheduled to 20 April 1996.

10 February 1996

Wasps	P – P	Sale

Repton Avenue

• Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 1996.

10 February 1996

West Hartlepool	P – P	Harlequins

Brierton Lane

• Postponed. Game rescheduled to 23 March 1996.

^[5]

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Round 14

17 February 1996

Bath	36 – 12	Wasps

Recreation Ground Referee: Brian Campsall[4]

17 February 1996

Gloucester	27 – 0	Orrell

Kingsholm

17 February 1996

Leicester Tigers	48 – 15	West Hartlepool

Welford Road

17 February 1996

Sale	15 – 6	Bristol

Heywood Road

17 February 1996

Saracens	6 – 13	Harlequins

Bramley Road

^[5]

---

Round 11 (rescheduled game)

9 March 1996

Wasps	3 – 34	Harlequins

Repton Avenue

• Game rescheduled from 30 December 1995.

^[5]

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Round 13 (rescheduled games)

23 March 1996

Wasps	25 – 16	Sale

Repton Avenue

• Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.

23 March 1996

West Hartlepool	21 – 91	Harlequins

Brierton Lane

• Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.

^[5]

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Round 15

30 March 1996

Bristol	5 – 43	Bath

Memorial Stadium Referee: Steve Lander[4]

30 March 1996

Harlequins	55 – 0	Sale

The Stoop

30 March 1996

Orrell	10 – 38	Leicester Tigers

Edge Hall Road

30 March 1996

Wasps	21 – 10	Gloucester

Repton Avenue

30 March 1996

West Hartlepool	3 – 14	Saracens

Brierton Lane

^[5]

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Round 16

6 April 1996

Bath	41 – 15	Harlequins

Recreation Ground Referee: John Pearson[4]

6 April 1996

Gloucester	18 – 14	Bristol

Kingsholm

6 April 1996

Leicester Tigers	15 – 12	Wasps

Welford Road

6 April 1996

Sale	18 – 15	Saracens

Heywood Road

6 April 1996

West Hartlepool	22 – 44	Orrell

Brierton Lane

^[5]

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Round 11 (rescheduled game)

10 April 1996

Gloucester	16 – 10	Bath

Kingholsm Attendance: 10,000[4] Referee: Nick Cousins

• Game rescheduled from 30 December 1995.

^[5]

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Round 17

13 April 1996

Bristol	29 – 43	Leicester Tigers

Memorial Stadium

13 April 1996

Harlequins	33 – 19	Gloucester

The Stoop

13 April 1996

Sale	44 – 13	West Hartlepool

Heywood Road

13 April 1996

Saracens	15 – 21	Bath

Bramley Road Referee: Stuart Piercy[4]

13 April 1996

Wasps	51 – 16	Orrell

Repton Avenue

^[5]

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Round 11 (rescheduled game)

17 April 1996

Leicester Tigers	32 – 10	Sale

Welford Road

• Game rescheduled from 30 December 1995.

^[5]

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Rounds 9 & 13 (rescheduled games)

20 April 1996

Bristol	21 – 7	Saracens

Memorial Stadium Referee: Chris White

• Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.

20 April 1996

Orrell	11 – 44	Bath

Central Park, Wigan Attendance: 2,600[4] Referee: Chris White[4]

• Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.

20 April 1996

Wasps	52 – 12	West Hartlepool

• Game rescheduled from 4 November 1995.

^[5]

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Round 13 (rescheduled game)

24 April 1996

Leicester Tigers	28 – 6	Gloucester

Welford Road

• Game rescheduled from 10 February 1996.

^[5]

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Round 18

27 April 1996

Bath	38 – 38	Sale

Recreation Ground Referee: Brian Campsall[4]

• Bath are champions.

27 April 1996

Gloucester	17 – 10	Saracens

Kingsholm

27 April 1996

Leicester Tigers	19 – 21	Harlequins

Welford Road

27 April 1996

Orrell	26 – 29	Bristol

Edge Hall Road

27 April 1996

West Hartlepool	3 – 34	Wasps

Brierton Lane

^[5]

---

Round 11 (rescheduled game)

5 May 1996

West Hartlepool	15 – 37	Bristol

Brierton Lane

• Game rescheduled from 30 December 1995.

^[5]

Note

1. Orrell would also play one home game at the 18,000 capacity Central Park in Wigan.

See also

• 1995–96 Courage League National Division Two
• 1995–96 Courage League National Division Three
• 1995–96 Courage League Division 4
• 1995–96 Courage League Division 5 North
• 1995–96 Courage League Division 5 South