The 2010β11 Aviva Premiership was the 24th season of the
top flight English domestic
rugby union competition and the first one to be sponsored by
Aviva.[1] The reigning champions entering the season were
Leicester Tigers, who had claimed their ninth title after defeating
Saracens in the
2010 final.
Exeter Chiefs had been promoted as champions from the
2009β10 RFU Championship, their first promotion to the top flight.
Summary
Saracens won their first title after defeating
Leicester Tigers in the final at
Twickenham after having finished second in the regular season table.
Leeds Carnege were relegated on the last day of the season. It was the third time that Leeds have been relegated from the top flight since the leagues began and the first time since the
2007β08 Premiership Rugby season.
Twelve teams compete in the league β the top eleven teams from the previous season and
Exeter Chiefs who were promoted from the
2009β10 RFU Championship to the top flight for the first time. They replaced
Worcester Warriors who were relegated after six years in the top flight.
Green background (rows 1 to 4) indicate teams that qualify for the play-offs, which also earn a space in the
2011β12 Heineken Cup. Blue background (rows 5 and 6 and Harlequins) indicates teams outside the play-off places, but which also earn a place in the 2011β12 Heineken Cup, based on their position in the table. Plain background (rows 8 to 11) indicates teams that earn a place in
2011β12 European Challenge Cup.
Pink background (row 12) indicates team that is relegated to the
2011β12 RFU Championship.
(Q) Qualified for play-offs.
Source:
Premiership Rugby β Updated: 7 May 2011
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: 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.
^Harlequins will also play a home game at
Twickenham Stadium on 27 December 2010
^London Irish will also play a home game at
Twickenham Stadium on 4 September 2010
^London Wasps will also play a home game at
Twickenham Stadium on 4 September 2010 and on 23 April 2011
^Sale will also play a home game at
Reebok Stadium on 16 April 2011
^Saracens will also play a home game at
Wembley Stadium on 26 December 2010
^Exeter Chiefs deducted two points and fined Β£5,000 for naming three overseas players in the squad for their match at Leeds Carnegie.[3]
Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 13,209 Referee: Andrew Small
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 28 May 2011.
The 2010β11 Aviva Premiership was the 24th season of the
top flight English domestic
rugby union competition and the first one to be sponsored by
Aviva.[1] The reigning champions entering the season were
Leicester Tigers, who had claimed their ninth title after defeating
Saracens in the
2010 final.
Exeter Chiefs had been promoted as champions from the
2009β10 RFU Championship, their first promotion to the top flight.
Summary
Saracens won their first title after defeating
Leicester Tigers in the final at
Twickenham after having finished second in the regular season table.
Leeds Carnege were relegated on the last day of the season. It was the third time that Leeds have been relegated from the top flight since the leagues began and the first time since the
2007β08 Premiership Rugby season.
Twelve teams compete in the league β the top eleven teams from the previous season and
Exeter Chiefs who were promoted from the
2009β10 RFU Championship to the top flight for the first time. They replaced
Worcester Warriors who were relegated after six years in the top flight.
Green background (rows 1 to 4) indicate teams that qualify for the play-offs, which also earn a space in the
2011β12 Heineken Cup. Blue background (rows 5 and 6 and Harlequins) indicates teams outside the play-off places, but which also earn a place in the 2011β12 Heineken Cup, based on their position in the table. Plain background (rows 8 to 11) indicates teams that earn a place in
2011β12 European Challenge Cup.
Pink background (row 12) indicates team that is relegated to the
2011β12 RFU Championship.
(Q) Qualified for play-offs.
Source:
Premiership Rugby β Updated: 7 May 2011
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: 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.
^Harlequins will also play a home game at
Twickenham Stadium on 27 December 2010
^London Irish will also play a home game at
Twickenham Stadium on 4 September 2010
^London Wasps will also play a home game at
Twickenham Stadium on 4 September 2010 and on 23 April 2011
^Sale will also play a home game at
Reebok Stadium on 16 April 2011
^Saracens will also play a home game at
Wembley Stadium on 26 December 2010
^Exeter Chiefs deducted two points and fined Β£5,000 for naming three overseas players in the squad for their match at Leeds Carnegie.[3]
Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 13,209 Referee: Andrew Small
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 28 May 2011.