2015–16 English Premiership (rugby union)

2015–16 Aviva Premiership
Countries	England
Date	16 October 2015 – 28 May 2016
Champions	Saracens
Runners-up	Exeter Chiefs
Relegated	London Irish
Matches played	135
Attendance	1,837,427 (average 13,611 per match)
Tries scored	634 (average 4.696 per match)
Top point scorer	Gareth Steenson (Exeter) (258 points)[1]
Top try scorer	Thomas Waldrom (Exeter) (13 tries)[2]
Official website
www.premiershiprugby.com
← 2014–15 2016–17 →

The 2015–16 Aviva Premiership was the 29th season of the top flight of English domestic rugby union competition, and the sixth to be sponsored by Aviva. The competition began slightly later than normal, due to the 2015 Rugby World Cup taking place in England, and was broadcast by BT Sport for the third successive season. Highlights of each weekend's games were shown on ITV4.

The reigning champions entering the season were Saracens, who claimed their second title after defeating Bath in the 2014–15 final. Saracens defended their title – becoming the first team to do since Leicester Tigers in 2008–09 and 2009–10^[3] – with a 28–20 win over the Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham.^[4][5] The Chiefs, who made the playoffs for the first time in their history, had the top points scorer Gareth Steenson (with 258 points),^[1] and top try scorer Thomas Waldrom (with 13 tries) in the competition.^[2]

With their title win, Saracens sealed a European–league double – having won the 2016 European Rugby Champions Cup Final a fortnight prior,^[3] against Racing 92 – the first English team to do so since Wasps in 2004.^[6][7] London Irish were relegated to the 2016–17 RFU Championship with a round to spare, after losing 32–25 to Harlequins.^[8] They will be replaced by 2015–16 RFU Championship winners Bristol, who beat Doncaster Knights 60–47 in the two-legged play-off final.^[9]

Rule changes

Salary cap

This season was the first for several significant changes to the Premiership's salary cap regulations:^[10][11]

• The base salary cap, which was £4.76 million in 2014–15, rose to £5.1 million.
• The amount of "academy credits" available to each club—credits against the cap for younger players on the senior squad who were developed at the club—rose from £240,000 to £400,000. The number of "academy credits" remained at eight, as in past seasons, but the credit per player rose from £30,000 to £50,000. A club that could use all of its available credits in both 2014–15 and 2015–16 saw its effective cap rise from £5 million to £5.5 million.
• Each club is now allowed to exclude two players from the salary cap calculations, up from one in 2014–15. However, the two slots for what the Premiership calls "excluded players" differ in how they can be used. The first slot can be used on a player on the club's current roster. The new slot can only be used for a player who had not been in the Premiership during the 12 months preceding the start of his contract. In a change from the rules that prevailed from 2011–12 through to 2014–15, a player's presence on or absence from a Rugby World Cup roster is no longer relevant to his status as an excluded player.

In addition to the above, a standard cap provision applicable only in Rugby World Cup years gave each club a £35,000 cap credit (up from £30,000 in the last World Cup season of 2011–12)^[11] for each member of the senior squad who participated in the tournament.

Teams

Worcester Warriors, having beaten Bristol 59–58 on aggregate in the Greene King IPA Championship play-off final, replaced London Welsh, who finished last season having not won a single game.^[12]

Bath

Exeter

Gloucester

Harlequins

Leicester

L. Irish

Wasps

Worcester

Newcastle

Northampton

Sale

Saracens

2015–16 Aviva Premiership Teams

Club	Coach	Captain	Stadium	Capacity	City/Area
Bath	Mike Ford	Stuart Hooper	The Recreation Ground	13,516	Bath, Somerset
Exeter Chiefs	Rob Baxter	Jack Yeandle	Sandy Park	12,300	Exeter, Devon
Gloucester	David Humphreys	Billy Twelvetrees	Kingsholm Stadium	16,121	Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Harlequins	Conor O'Shea	Danny Care	Twickenham Stoop[lower-alpha 1]	14,816	Twickenham, Greater London
Leicester Tigers	Richard Cockerill	Ed Slater	Welford Road	25,800[lower-alpha 2]	Leicester, Leicestershire
London Irish	Tom Coventry	George Skivington Luke Narraway	Madejski Stadium[lower-alpha 3]	24,161	Reading, Berkshire
Newcastle Falcons	John Wells	Will Welch	Kingston Park	10,200	Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
Northampton Saints	Jim Mallinder	Lee Dickson	Franklin's Gardens[lower-alpha 4]	15,500	Northampton, Northamptonshire
Sale Sharks	Steve Diamond	Daniel Braid	AJ Bell Stadium	12,000	Salford, Greater Manchester
Saracens	Mark McCall	Alistair Hargreaves	Allianz Park[lower-alpha 5]	10,000	Barnet, Greater London
Wasps	Dai Young	James Haskell Matt Mullan	Ricoh Arena	32,609	Coventry, West Midlands
Worcester Warriors	Dean Ryan	Gerrit-Jan van Velze	Sixways Stadium	12,024	Worcester, Worcestershire

Table

2015–16 Aviva Premiership Table
	Club	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points For	Points Against	Points Difference	Tries For	Tries Against	Try Bonus	Losing Bonus	Points
1	Saracens (CH)	22	17	1	4	580	376	+204	60	36	8	2	80
2	Exeter Chiefs (RU)	22	15	0	7	585	361	+224	71	40	8	6	74
3	Wasps (SF)	22	15	0	7	598	397	+201	71	42	9	3	72
4	Leicester Tigers (SF)	22	14	0	8	509	475	+34	55	48	6	3	65
5	Northampton Saints	22	12	0	10	455	392	+63	51	35	5	7	60
6	Sale Sharks	22	11	2	9	456	459	−3	53	52	6	4	58
7	Harlequins	22	10	1	11	547	583	−36	55	66	6	7	55
8	Gloucester	22	10	1	11	429	423	+6	36	44	2	5	49
9	Bath	22	9	0	13	435	460	−25	47	43	4	8	48
10	Worcester Warriors	22	7	0	15	420	597	−177	47	74	2	5	35
11	Newcastle Falcons	22	5	1	16	357	556	−199	34	62	0	5	27
12	London Irish (R)	22	4	0	18	328	620	−292	36	74	0	4	20
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Number of matches won Difference between points for and against Total number of points for Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background (rows 1 to 4) are play-off places and earns a berth in the 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup. Blue background (rows 5 & 6) indicates teams outside the play-off places, that earns a berth in the 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup. Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2016–17 European Rugby Challenge Cup. Red background (row 12) will be relegated, as both Greene King IPA Championship play-off finalists meet the promotion criteria. Final table — source: Premiership Rugby

Pre-season

The 2015 edition of the Singha Premiership Rugby Sevens was held in August. Once again, the four Welsh Regions contested a group, alongside the twelve Premiership clubs, which were split into three groups. The top two sides from each group contested the series final at the Twickenham Stoop on 28 August. The series was won by Welsh region Newport Gwent Dragons who beat Premiership side Wasps in the final.

Regular season

Fixtures for the season were announced by Premiership Rugby at 11am on 3 July 2015.^[14] Unlike previous seasons, the London Double Header will not take place in Round 1, as Twickenham Stadium is being used for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but will instead take place during Round 5, on 28 November 2015.^[15] All fixtures are subject to change, taken from Premiership Rugby Match Centre.

One game during this season was played on foreign soil, in the United States. The London Irish v Saracens match – played in Round 16 on 12 March 2016 – took place at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.^[16]

Round 1

16 October 2015 19:45

Harlequins	26–21	Wasps (1 BP)
Try: N. Evans 24' c Lowe 46' c Con: N. Evans (2/2) Pen: N. Evans (4/5) 8', 14', 70', 74'	Report	Try: Cooper-Woolley 15' m Daly 75' c Con: Jackson (1/1) Pen: Gopperth (3/4) 3', 29', 59'

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 13,479 Referee: Luke Pearce

16 October 2015 19:45

Worcester Warriors	13–12	Northampton Saints (1 BP)
Try: Van Velze 30' c Con: Heathcote (1/1) Pen: Heathcote (1/4) 10' Drop: Heathcote (1/1) 80'	Report	Pen: Myler (4/4) 4', 6', 44', 78'

Sixways Stadium Attendance: 8,483 Referee: Greg Garner

16 October 2015 20:00

Newcastle Falcons	27–39	Gloucester
Try: Hammersley 49' c Harris 59' c McGuigan 71' c Con: Delany (3/3) Pen: Delany (2/2) 11', 54'	Report	Try: Kvesic 25' m Sharples 28' c Con: Twelvetrees (1/2) Pen: Twelvetrees (9/11) 5', 9', 15', 20', 40', 48', 58', 62', 74'

Kingston Park Attendance: 5,049 Referee: Thomas Foley

17 October 2015 14:00

Bath	19–17	Exeter Chiefs (1 BP)
Try: Hooper 35' c Con: Ford (1/1) Pen: Ford (4/4) 6', 46', 53', 77'	Report	Try: Short 1' m Pen: Steenson (4/4) 9', 40', 51', 66'

The Recreation Ground Attendance: 12,957 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

17 October 2015 14:00

(1 BP) Saracens	41–3	Sale Sharks
Try: Rhodes 3' c Streather 28' c Ellery (2) 39' c, 61' c Fraser 74' c Con: Hodgson (4/4) Goode (1/1) Pen: Hodgson (2/2) 16', 23'	Report	Pen: Cipriani (1/2) 18'

Allianz Park Attendance: 7,231 Referee: Dean Richards

18 October 2015 15:15

London Irish	16–28	Leicester Tigers
Try: Sinclair 22' c Con: Noakes (1/1) Pen: Noakes (3/4) 15', 37', 45'	Report	Try: Betham 9' c Con: Bell (1/1) Pen: Bell (7/8) 1', 18', 25', 40', 59', 74', 79'

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 6,597 Referee: Matthew Carley

Round 2

23 October 2015 19:45

(1 BP) Gloucester	15–17	Saracens
Pen: Twelvetrees (5/6) 28', 33', 50', 61', 74'	Report	Try: Ellery 14' m Pen: Hodgson (1/1) 21' Farrell (3/4) 40', 68', 76'

Kingsholm Stadium Attendance: 12,749 Referee: Matthew Carley

23 October 2015 20:00

(1 BP) Sale Sharks	27–13	Worcester Warriors
Try: Cipriani 6' m Seymour 29' m Beaumont 44' c Leota 80' c Con: Cipriani (2/4) Pen: Cipriani (1/2) 40'	Report	Try: Arr 64' c Con: Lamb (1/1) Pen: Mills (2/2) 16', 27'

AJ Bell Stadium Attendance: 4,356 Referee: Luke Pearce

24 October 2015 13:45

(1 BP) Northampton Saints	42–16	Newcastle Falcons
Try: Day (2) 4' c, 54' c Burrell 57' m Foden (2) 64' c, 70' c Con: Myler (4/5) Pen: Myler (3/3) 9', 12', 38'	Report	Try: Penny 67' c Con: Catterick (1/1) Pen: Delany (3/3) 14', 29', 36'

Stadium mk Attendance: 20,034 Referee: Dean Richards

24 October 2015 14:00

Wasps	16–9	Bath (1 BP)
Try: penalty try 53' c Con: Gopperth (1/1) Pen: Gopperth (3/5) 20', 34', 59'	Report	Pen: Ford (3/3) 29', 66', 73'

Ricoh Arena Attendance: 10,093 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

24 October 2015 18:00

(1 BP) Exeter Chiefs	38–11	London Irish
Try: Steenson 11' m Armand 21' c Cowan-Dickie 26' c Short 41' c Nowell (2) 49' m, 77' c Con: Steenson (4/6)	Report	Try: Cowan 54' m Pen: Noakes (2/2) 15', 35'

Sandy Park Attendance: 7,130 Referee: Andrew Small

25 October 2015 14:00

Leicester Tigers	22–19	Harlequins (1 BP)
Try: Pearce 71' c Con: O. Williams (1/1) Pen: Bell (5/6) 10', 14', 19', 28', 44'	Report	Try: Clifford 34' c Con: N. Evans (1/1) Pen: N. Evans (4/5) 12', 22', 41', 55'

Welford Road Attendance: 17,510 Referee: Thomas Foley

Round 3

31 October 2015 13:00

Saracens	24–14	London Irish
Try: Wray 50' m Goode 61' c Con: Farrell (1/2) Pen: Farrell (4/6) 15', 46', 69', 75'	Report	Try: Tikoirotuma 26' c Halavatau 66' c Con: Noakes (1/1) Geraghty (1/1)

Allianz Park Attendance: 7,932 Referee: Greg Garner

31 October 2015 13:30

Bath	28–38	Harlequins
Try: Eastmond 30' c Auterac 75' m Rokoduguni 80' c Con: Ford (2/3) Pen: Ford (3/3) 13', 38', 56'	Report	Try: Care 43' c Ward 71' c Con: N. Evans (2/2) Pen: N. Evans (8/8) 7', 17', 34', 36', 42', 49', 53', 61'

The Recreation Ground Attendance: 13,065 Referee: Matthew Carley

31 October 2015 14:00

Gloucester	24–22	Worcester Warriors (1 BP)
Try: Hibbard 2' m Kalamafoni 14' m Halaifonua 59' m Pen: Twelvetrees (3/4) 13', 20', 34'	Report	Try: Vuna (2) 4' c, 48' m Annett 30' c Con: Heathcote (2/2) Pen: Mills (1/1) 22'

Kingsholm Stadium Attendance: 12,913 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

1 November 2015 13:00

Newcastle Falcons	3–41	Exeter Chiefs (1 BP)
Pen: Delany (1/1) 5'	Report	Try: Chudley 6' c Salvi 13' c Armand (2) 20' m, 39' c Jess 31' m Low 66' c Con: Steenson (4/6) Pen: Steenson (1/1) 80'

Kingston Park Attendance: 5,160 Referee: Ian Tempest

1 November 2015 14:30

Sale Sharks	20–13	Northampton Saints (1 BP)
Try: James 35' c Addison 44' c Con: Cipriani (2/2) Pen: Cipriani (2/4) 17', 22'	Report	Try: Myler 53' c Con: Myler (1/1) Pen: Myler (2/2) 30', 33'

AJ Bell Stadium Attendance: 5,072 Referee: Andrew Small

1 November 2015 15:15

Leicester Tigers	24–16	Wasps
Try: Goneva 4' c Veainu 60' m Con: O. Williams (1/2) Pen: O. Williams (4/5) 13', 19', 48', 68'	Report	Try: Cittadini 77' c Con: Jackson (1/1) Pen: Gopperth (2/2) 8', 27' Daly (1/1) 24'

Welford Road Attendance: 19,746 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

Round 4

6 November 2015 19:45

Harlequins	16–14	Sale Sharks (1 BP)
Try: Visser 47' c Con: N. Evans (1/1) Pen: N. Evans (3/4) 37', 43', 54'	Report	Try: Braid 16' c James 64' c Con: Cipriani (2/2)

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 12,157 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

7 November 2015 15:00

London Irish	14–45	Bath (1 BP)
Try: Steele 26' c Mulchrone 51' c Con: Geraghty (2/2)	Report	Try: Houston 15' c Devoto 22' c Fa'osiliva 41' c Eastmond 43' c Priestland 69' c Matawalu 79' c Con: Priestland (2/2) T. Homer (2/2) Ford (2/2) Pen: Priestland (1/2) 6'

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 6,641 Referee: Thomas Foley

7 November 2015 15:00

(1 BP) Worcester Warriors	28–20	Newcastle Falcons
Try: Pennell 5' c Heem 20' c Grove (2) 28' c, 37' c Con: Heathcote (4/4)	Report	Try: M. Young 13' c Catterick 39' c Con: Delany (2/2) Pen: Delany (1/2) 33' Catterick (1/1) 49'

Sixways Stadium Attendance: 7,987 Referee: JP Doyle

7 November 2015 15:15

(1 BP) Northampton Saints	6–12	Saracens
Pen: Myler (1/2) 2' Hanrahan (1/1) 80'	Report	Pen: Farrell (4/4) 34', 40', 46', 68'

Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 15,169 Referee: Luke Pearce

7 November 2015 17:30

Exeter Chiefs	19–6	Leicester Tigers
Try: Steenson 5' c Con: Steenson (1/1) Pen: Steenson (4/4) 37', 40', 74', 76'	Report	Pen: O. Williams (2/2) 38', 62'

Sandy Park Attendance: 10,102 Referee: Greg Garner

8 November 2015 15:00

Wasps	23–3	Gloucester
Try: Wade 18' c penalty try 51' c Con: Jackson (2/2) Pen: Daly (3/4) 9', 26', 32'	Report	Pen: Laidlaw (1/1) 48'

Ricoh Arena Attendance: 11,649 Referee: Ian Tempest

Round 5

27 November 2015 19:45

Northampton Saints	15–3	Gloucester
Pen: Myler (5/6) 9', 14', 21', 63', 66'	Report	Pen: Twelvetrees (1/2) 24'

Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 14,893 Referee: Greg Garner

28 November 2015 14:30

Sale Sharks	15–15	Newcastle Falcons
Pen: Cipriani (5/6) 2', 22', 33', 40', 50'	Report	Try: Vickers 24' m Welsh 70' c Con: Catterick (1/2) Pen: Delany (1/1) 11'

AJ Bell Stadium Attendance: 5,220 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

28 November 2015 15:00

Exeter Chiefs	26–25	Harlequins (2 BP)
Try: Short 39' c Steenson 55' c Con: Steenson (2/2) Pen: Steenson (4/4) 1', 10', 24', 32'	Report	Try: penalty try 7' c N. Evans 13' m Walker 29' m Visser 62' m Con: N. Evans (1/3) Pen: N. Evans (1/1) 42'

Sandy Park Attendance: 11,471 Referee: Matthew Carley

28 November 2015 15:15

(1 BP) Saracens	48–18	Worcester Warriors
Try: Ashton (2) 3' c, 51' c Spencer 21' c Wray 43' c Brits 55' c Ransom 62' c Con: Hodgson (6/6) Pen: Hodgson (2/3) 30', 39'	Report	Try: Rees 70' m Van Velze 79' c Con: Heathcote (1/2) Pen: Heathcote (2/3) 33', 37'

Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 42,680 Referee: Ian Tempest

28 November 2015 17:30

London Irish	15–33	Wasps (1 BP)
Try: Williams (2) 40' m, 56' c Con: Noakes (1/2) Pen: Noakes (1/3) 7'	Report	Try: Halai (2) 37' m, 74' m Daly 49' c Young 70' c Con: Jackson (1/2) Gopperth (1/2) Pen: Jackson (2/4) 4', 18' Gopperth (1/1) 54'

Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 42,680 Referee: Wayne Barnes

29 November 2015 15:00

Leicester Tigers	21–11	Bath
Try: Veainu 33' m Cole 72' c Con: Bell (1/2) Pen: Bell (3/4) 14', 37', 65'	Report	Try: Watson 6' m Pen: Ford (2/2) 44', 50'

Welford Road Attendance: 22,530 Referee: JP Doyle

Round 6

4 December 2015 19:45

Gloucester	23–19	Sale Sharks (1 BP)
Try: Cook 2' m Kalamafoni (2) 54' m, 60' c Con: Laidlaw (1/2) Pen: Twelvetrees (2/2) 24', 27'	Report	Try: Edwards (2) 10' m, 48' m Pen: Cipriani (3/3) 16', 41', 69'

Kingsholm Stadium Attendance: 11,583 Referee: JP Doyle

5 December 2015 15:00

(1 BP) Harlequins	38–7	London Irish
Try: Visser (3) 32' c, 57' c, 69' c Care 47' c Clifford 78' c Con: N. Evans (4/4) Botica (1/1) Pen: N. Evans (1/1) 6'	Report	Try: Aulika 79' c Con: Brophy-Clews (1/1)

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 14,800 Referee: Luke Pearce

5 December 2015 15:00

Worcester Warriors	20–29	Leicester Tigers (1 BP)
Try: Olivier 13' c Cox 21' c Con: Heathcote (2/2) Pen: Heathcote (2/3) 6', 61'	Report	Try: Kitchener 36' c Veainu 51' m penalty try 72' c McCaffrey 79' c Con: O. Williams (3/4) Pen: O. Williams (1/1) 68'

Sixways Stadium Attendance: 10,157 Referee: Wayne Barnes

5 December 2015 15:15

(1 BP) Bath	11–13	Northampton Saints
Try: Rokoduguni 62' m Pen: Ford (2/3) 42', 50'	Report	Try: Burrell 46' c Con: Hanrahan (1/1) Pen: Hanrahan (2/2) 23', 72'

The Recreation Ground Attendance: 13,506 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

5 December 2015 17:30

Wasps	27–41	Exeter Chiefs (1 BP)
Try: Halai 39' c Johnson 43' c Cittadini 51' c Con: Gopperth (3/3) Pen: Gopperth (2/2) 20', 27'	Report	Try: Waldrom (3) 12' m, 34' m, 56' c Nowell 22' c Lees 30' c Low 71' c Con: Steenson (4/6) Pen: Steenson (1/1) 4'

Ricoh Arena Attendance: 10,304 Referee: Greg Garner

6 December 2015 15:00

Newcastle Falcons	3–38	Saracens (1 BP)
Pen: Catterick (1/1) 24'	Report	Try: Vunisa 9' c Tompkins 61' c Hodgson 78' m B. Vunipola 80' c Con: Hodgson (2/3) Goode (1/1) Pen: Hodgson (4/4) 18', 40', 54', 73'

Kingston Park Attendance: 6,020 Referee: Andrew Small

Round 7

26 December 2015 14:30

London Irish	25–23	Northampton Saints (1 BP)
Try: Narraway 9' m Maitland 32' c penalty try 77' c Con: Noakes (1/2) Geraghty (1/1) Pen: Noakes (2/2) 28', 50'	Report	Try: K. Pisi 36' m North 45' m Fotuali'i 62' c Con: Myler (1/3) Pen: Myler (2/3) 25', 55'

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 9,842 Referee: Ian Tempest

26 December 2015 15:00

(1 BP) Exeter Chiefs	33–17	Sale Sharks
Try: Waldrom 14' m Chudley (2) 19' m, 48' m Short 67' c Johnson 77' m Con: Steenson (1/5) Pen: Steenson (1/1) 54' Hooley (1/1) 80'	Report	Try: Addison 24' c Beaumont 46' c Con: Cipriani (2/2) Pen: Cipriani (1/1) 9'

Sandy Park Attendance: 12,425 Referee: Dean Richards

26 December 2015 15:00

Leicester Tigers	22–10	Newcastle Falcons
Try: Veainu 29' c Betham 42' c Pearce 73' m Con: Burns (2/3) Pen: Burns (1/1) 23'	Report	Try: Latu 14' c Con: Willis (1/1) Pen: Willis (1/1) 5'

Welford Road Attendance: 21,564 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

27 December 2015 14:00

Wasps	16–26	Saracens
Try: Halai 76' c Con: Gopperth (1/1) Pen: Gopperth (2/2) 31', 54' Daly (1/2) 44'	Report	Try: Taylor 57' c Farrell 61' c Con: Farrell (2/2) Pen: Farrell (4/5) 1', 8', 46', 71'

Ricoh Arena Attendance: 24,053 Referee: JP Doyle

27 December 2015 14:30

Bath	21–14	Worcester Warriors (1 BP)
Try: Devoto 9' c Agulla 40' m Con: Priestland (1/2) Pen: Priestland (3/4) 18', 43', 68'	Report	Try: Vuna 31' m Pen: Heathcote (2/3) 12', 45' Mills (1/1) 20'

The Recreation Ground Attendance: 13,499 Referee: Thomas Foley

27 December 2015 16:30

(1 BP) Harlequins	39–39	Gloucester (1 BP)
Try: Yarde 15' m Care 34' c Easter 52' c R. Chisholm (2) 54' c, 76' c Con: N. Evans (4/5) Pen: N. Evans (2/2) 12', 70'	Report	Try: Thrush 6' c Hook 30' c Trinder (2) 47' c, 56' m Cook 68' c Con: Laidlaw (4/5) Pen: Laidlaw (2/3) 20', 60'

Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 70,718 Referee: Wayne Barnes

Round 8

1 January 2016 15:00

Northampton Saints	8–3	Exeter Chiefs (1 BP)
Try: Haywood 17' m Pen: Hanrahan (1/2) 31'	Report	Pen: Steenson (1/1) 73'

Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 15,430 Referee: JP Doyle

2 January 2016 15:00

Gloucester	27–14	London Irish
Try: Kvesic 66' c Burns 70' m Con: Hook (1/2) Pen: Hook (5/5) 2', 12', 42', 50', 59'	Report	Try: Hearn 6' c Lewington 31' c Con: Noakes (2/2)

Kingsholm Stadium Attendance: 16,115 Referee: Thomas Foley

2 January 2016 15:00

Newcastle Falcons	19–14	Bath (1 BP)
Try: Vickers 20' c Con: Willis (1/1) Pen: Willis (4/7) 12', 36', 69', 80'	Report	Try: Garvey 5' m Pen: Priestland (3/4) 27', 45', 57'

Kingston Park Attendance: 7,075 Referee: Matthew Carley

2 January 2016 15:15

(1 BP) Saracens	26–6	Leicester Tigers
Try: penalty try (3) 11' c, 54' c, 66' c George 42' m Con: Hodgson (2/3) Farrell (1/1)	Report	Pen: Burns (2/2) 5', 22'

Allianz Park Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Greg Garner

2 January 2016 17:30

Sale Sharks	15–9	Wasps (1 BP)
Pen: Cipriani (4/4) 5', 56', 64', 74' Drop: Cipriani (1/2) 77'	Report	Pen: Gopperth (2/2) 31', 70' Drop: Daly (1/1) 40'

AJ Bell Stadium Attendance: 7,619 Referee: Luke Pearce

3 January 2016 15:00

(1 BP) Worcester Warriors	20–24	Harlequins
Try: Mama 48' m penalty try 60' c Dowson 69' m Con: Mills (1/3) Pen: Heathcote (1/2) 15'	Report	Try: Walker (2) 2' c, 43' c Wallace 27' c Con: N. Evans (3/3) Pen: N. Evans (1/1) 33'

Sixways Stadium Attendance: 9,035 Referee: Andrew Small

Round 9

8 January 2016 19:45

Bath	P–P[17][lower-alpha 6]	Sale Sharks

The Recreation Ground

9 January 2016 15:00

Exeter Chiefs	19–10	Gloucester
Try: Waldrom (2) 5' c, 9' m Woodburn 22' c Con: Steenson (2/3)	Report	Try: Sharples 68' c Con: Burns (1/1) Pen: Laidlaw (1/1) 45'

Sandy Park Attendance: 12,600 Referee: Ian Tempest

9 January 2016 15:00

Harlequins	29–23	Saracens (1 BP)
Try: Buchanan 21' m Clifford 39' c Horwill 79' m Con: N. Evans (1/2) Pen: N. Evans (1/1) 32' Botica (3/3) 61', 67', 73'	Report	Try: De Kock 9' c B. Vunipola 26' c Con: Farrell (2/2) Pen: Farrell (3/4) 44', 52', 64'

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 14,800 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

9 January 2016 15:15

Leicester Tigers	30–27	Northampton Saints (1 BP)
Try: Smith 1' c McCaffrey 19' c O. Williams 22' c Con: O. Williams (3/3) Pen: Burns (3/3) 53', 57', 80'	Report	Try: Harrison 37' c North 43' c Gibson 65' c Con: Hanrahan (2/2) Myler (1/1) Pen: Hanrahan (1/2) 29' Myler (1/1) 75'

Welford Road Attendance: 25,849 Referee: Wayne Barnes

10 January 2016 13:00

London Irish	20–15	Newcastle Falcons (1 BP)
Try: Lewington 41' c Ojo 44' c Con: Geraghty (2/2) Pen: Noakes (2/3) 7', 26'	Report	Try: Latu 54' m Watson 66' c Con: Goode (1/1) Pen: Goode (1/1) 60'

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 5,558 Referee: JP Doyle

10 January 2016 14:00

(1 BP) Wasps	32–22	Worcester Warriors
Try: Myall 48' c Thompson 68' c Halai 78' m Tagicakibau 80' c Con: Gopperth (3/4) Pen: Gopperth (2/2) 36', 43'	Report	Try: Vuna 31' c Con: Symons (1/1) Pen: Symons (5/5) 10', 26', 54', 62', 65'

Ricoh Arena Attendance: 13,040 Referee: Matthew Carley

Round 10

29 January 2016 19:45

Northampton Saints	11–24	Wasps
Try: Dickinson 72' m Pen: Myler (2/2) 27', 42'	Report	Try: Robson 15' c Miller 24' c Bassett 28' c Con: Gopperth (3/3) Pen: Gopperth (1/2) 4'

Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 14,889 Referee: Thomas Foley

30 January 2016 14:30

(1 BP) Sale Sharks	38–10	London Irish
Try: Mujati 4' m Ioane 19' c James 41' c Edwards (2) 54' c, 60' m Tuitupou 68' c Con: Cipriani (3/5) Ford (1/1)	Report	Try: penalty try 37' c Con: Geraghty (1/1) Pen: Geraghty (1/2) 2'

AJ Bell Stadium Attendance: 6,461 Referee: Greg Garner

30 January 2016 15:00

(1 BP) Gloucester	18–19	Leicester Tigers
Try: Hook 21' c Morgan 22' m Con: Hook (1/2) Pen: Hook (2/2) 36', 72'	Report	Try: Ayerza 29' c Veainu 68' m Mulipola 78' c Con: Burns (1/2) Bell (1/1)

Kingsholm Stadium Attendance: 16,115 Referee: JP Doyle

30 January 2016 15:15

Saracens	19–13	Bath (1 BP)
Try: Brits 70' c Con: Hodgson (1/1) Pen: Hodgson (4/5) 45', 48', 73', 77'	Report	Try: T. Homer 12' c Con: Priestland (1/1) Pen: Priestland (2/4) 4', 40'

Allianz Park Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Dean Richards

31 January 2016 15:00

Newcastle Falcons	26–19	Harlequins (1 BP)
Try: Lawson 10' c Vickers 77' c Con: Willis (1/1) Goode (1/1) Pen: Willis (1/1) 19' Goode (3/3) 59', 61', 68'	Report	Try: Walker (2) 38' c, 45' c Ward 43' m Con: N. Evans (2/3)

Kingston Park Attendance: 6,539 Referee: Luke Pearce

31 January 2016 15:00

Worcester Warriors	15–30	Exeter Chiefs (1 BP)
Pen: Heathcote (5/6) 10', 21', 30', 37', 45'	Report	Try: Short 2' m Whitten 28' c Waldrom 58' c Armand 68' m Con: Steenson (2/4) Pen: Steenson (2/2) 42', 74'

Sixways Stadium Attendance: 8,215 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

Round 11

5 February 2016 19:45

(1 BP) Bath	11–15	Gloucester
Try: Day 11' m Pen: T. Homer (2/2) 19', 47'	Report	Pen: Hook (5/8) 27', 44', 51', 55', 64'

The Recreation Ground Attendance: 13,104 Referee: Matthew Carley

6 February 2016 14:00

(1 BP) Harlequins	23–27	Northampton Saints
Try: Merrick 7' c R. Chisholm 23' c Con: N. Evans (2/2) Pen: N. Evans (2/2) 43', 49' Botica (1/1) 73'	Report	Try: Day 12' c Burrell 30' c Foden 80' c Con: Myler (2/2) Hanrahan (1/1) Pen: Myler (1/2) 4' Hanrahan (1/1) 71'

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 14,800 Referee: Greg Garner

6 February 2016 14:00

Wasps	9–8	Newcastle Falcons (1 BP)
Pen: Gopperth (3/4) 22', 53', 75'	Report	Try: Latu 47' m Pen: Goode (1/3) 25'

Ricoh Arena Attendance: 12,392 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

6 February 2016 15:00

(1 BP) Leicester Tigers	3–10	Sale Sharks
Pen: Burns (1/3) 31'	Report	Try: Beaumont 61' c Con: Cipriani (1/1) Pen: Cipriani (1/6) 11'

Welford Road Attendance: 22,737 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

7 February 2016 13:00

(1 BP) Exeter Chiefs	11–14	Saracens
Try: Short 12' m Pen: Steenson (2/2) 3', 29'	Report	Try: Vunisa 38' m Pen: Hodgson (3/3) 52', 66', 74'

Sandy Park Attendance: 12,450 Referee: Thomas Foley

7 February 2016 13:00

London Irish	20–13	Worcester Warriors (1 BP)
Try: Hearn 16' c Fenby 54' c Con: Geraghty (2/2) Pen: Geraghty (2/3) 32', 73'	Report	Try: Heem 46' m Rapava-Ruskin 69' m Pen: Mills (1/1) 22'

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 5,837 Referee: Wayne Barnes

Round 12

12 February 2016 19:45

Newcastle Falcons	26–14	Leicester Tigers
Try: Hammersley 15' c Powell 35' c Con: Goode (2/2) Pen: Goode (3/5) 26', 30', 50' Willis (1/1) 80'	Report	Try: Pearce 64' m Pen: Burns (3/3) 2', 14', 21'

Kingston Park Attendance: 6,207 Referee: Greg Garner

13 February 2016 14:30

Sale Sharks	23–17	Exeter Chiefs (1 BP)
Try: Leota 15' m Edwards 23' m Haley 38' c Con: Cipriani (1/3) Pen: Cipriani (2/4) 49', 71'	Report	Try: Yeandle 46' c Lewis 67' c Con: Steenson (2/2) Pen: Steenson (1/2) 79'

AJ Bell Stadium Attendance: 4,236 Referee: Andrew Small

13 February 2016 15:00

Gloucester	28–6	Harlequins
Try: Hook 2' c Morgan 28' c McColl 76' m Con: Hook (2/3) Pen: Hook (3/5) 14', 17', 37'	Report	Pen: N. Evans (2/2) 9', 20'

Kingsholm Stadium Attendance: 12,782 Referee: Wayne Barnes

13 February 2016 15:00

(1 BP) Northampton Saints	35–7	London Irish
Try: Craig 17' c penalty try 22' c A. Waller 37' c Elliott 45' c Dickson 47' c Con: Myler (5/5)	Report	Try: Paice 77' c Con: Geraghty (1/1)

Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 15,227 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

13 February 2016 15:00

(1 BP) Worcester Warriors	14–16	Bath
Try: Vuna 13' c O'Callaghan 24' c Con: Heathcote (2/2)	Report	Try: Evans 50' c Con: T. Homer (1/1) Pen: T. Homer (3/4) 6', 29', 67'

Sixways Stadium Attendance: 8,618 Referee: JP Doyle

14 February 2016 16:00

Saracens	23–64	Wasps (1 BP)
Try: Vunisa 23' c Hamilton 54' c Con: Hodgson (2/2) Pen: Hodgson (3/3) 11', 30', 40'	Report	Try: C. Piutau (2) 2' m, 51' c Young 4' c Robson (2) 7' c, 67' c Hughes (2) 27' m, 31' c Gopperth 42' c Con: Gopperth (6/8) Pen: Gopperth (2/2) 47', 52' Daly (1/1) 75' Lozowski (1/1) 77'

Allianz Park Attendance: 8,742 Referee: Ian Tempest

Round 13

19 February 2016 19:45

Harlequins	25–19	Leicester Tigers (1 BP)
Try: Yarde 74' c Con: Botica (1/1) Pen: Botica (6/7) 8', 24', 30', 45', 52', 66'	Report	Try: Thacker 55' c Con: Burns (1/1) Pen: Bryant (3/3) 6', 22', 27' Burns (1/2) 77'

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 14,800 Referee: JP Doyle

20 February 2016 15:00

Saracens	25–12	Gloucester
Try: Ransom 2' c Con: Hodgson (1/1) Pen: Hodgson (6/7) 26', 33', 54', 62', 70', 76'	Report	Pen: Hook (4/4) 23', 30', 42', 56'

Allianz Park Attendance: 8,432 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

20 February 2016 15:00

Worcester Warriors	31–23	Sale Sharks (1 BP)
Try: Kirwan 8' m Hougaard 27' c Pennell 44' c Con: Heathcote (2/3) Pen: Heathcote (4/4) 3', 34', 40', 51'	Report	Try: Seymour 36' m Taylor 42' m Haley (2) 60' m, 78' m Pen: Cipriani (1/1) 15'

Sixways Stadium Attendance: 7,156 Referee: Greg Garner

20 February 2016 15:15

(1 BP) Bath	18–24	Wasps
Try: T. Homer 65' c Mafi 80' m Con: T. Homer (1/2) Pen: Priestland (2/2) 33', 40'	Report	Try: Halai (2) 28' m, 47' m McIntyre 61' m Pen: Daly (1/2) 5' Jackson (1/2) 42' Gopperth (1/1) 69'

The Recreation Ground Attendance: 13,322 Referee: Thomas Foley

21 February 2016 15:00

(1 BP) London Irish	15–22	Exeter Chiefs
Try: Treviranus 10' c Ojo 62' m Con: Brophy-Clews (1/2) Pen: Brophy-Clews (1/1) 44'	Report	Try: Lewis 49' c Con: Steenson (1/1) Pen: Steenson (5/5) 20', 40', 47', 59', 74'

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 5,892 Referee: Dean Richards

21 February 2016 15:00

Newcastle Falcons	26–25	Northampton Saints (1 BP)
Try: Tait 6' c Harris 29' c Con: Goode (2/2) Pen: Goode (4/4) 21', 39', 46', 49'	Report	Try: Gibson 12' m Dickson (2) 52' c, 67' c Con: Hanrahan (2/2) Pen: Myler (2/2) 18', 26'

Kingston Park Attendance: 7,218 Referee: Wayne Barnes

Round 14

27 February 2016 13:00

(1 BP) Sale Sharks	36–36	Saracens (1 BP)
Try: James 7' c Leota 10' m Arscott (2) 15' m, 79' m Ioane 70' m Con: Cipriani (1/5) Pen: Cipriani (3/3) 48', 53', 58'	Report	Try: Hamilton 20' c Wyles (2) 30' m, 38' c Tompkins 60' c Ellery 66' c Con: Hodgson (1/2) Spencer (3/3) Pen: Hodgson (1/2) 24'

AJ Bell Stadium Attendance: 5,824 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

27 February 2016 14:45

(1 BP) Northampton Saints	38–18	Worcester Warriors
Try: Mallinder 30' m Collins (3) 36' c, 41' m, 65' c Dickson 57' c G. Pisi 77' c Con: Myler (3/5) Hanrahan (1/1)	Report	Try: Rapava-Ruskin 28' m Olivier 39' c Con: Heathcote (1/2) Pen: Heathcote (2/2) 10', 52'

Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 14,246 Referee: Matthew Carley

27 February 2016 15:00

(1 BP) Gloucester	32–6	Newcastle Falcons
Try: Meakes 8' c Hook 20' c Moriarty 33' m Savage 73' c Con: Hook (2/3) Twelvetrees (1/1) Pen: Hook (2/4) 3', 26'	Report	Pen: Willis (2/2) 31', 40'

Kingsholm Stadium Attendance: 11,095 Referee: Dean Richards

28 February 2016 13:00

Exeter Chiefs	26–17	Bath
Try: Whitten 34' c Horstmann 76' c Con: Steenson (2/2) Pen: Steenson (4/6) 11', 17', 27', 64'	Report	Try: Mafi (2) 39' c, 41' c Con: T. Homer (2/2) Pen: T. Homer (1/1) 71'

Sandy Park Attendance: 12,612 Referee: Greg Garner

28 February 2016 15:00

(1 BP) Leicester Tigers	47–20	London Irish
Try: Thompstone (2) 3' m, 69' c Thacker 15' c McCaffrey 30' c Kitto 39' c Croft 51' c De Villiers 66' c Con: Burns (5/6) Bell (1/1)	Report	Try: Paice 57' m Trayfoot 72' c Fenby 80' m Con: Geraghty (1/3) Pen: Brophy-Clews (1/1) 10'

Welford Road Attendance: 23,173 Referee: Ian Tempest

28 February 2016 15:15

(1 BP) Wasps	42–10	Harlequins
Try: Cooper-Woolley 22' c Wade 28' c Hughes 34' c Young 61' c S. Piutau 66' c Macken 80' c Con: Gopperth (5/5) Lozowski (1/1)	Report	Try: Wallace 31' m Walker 55' m

Ricoh Arena Attendance: 14,638 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

Round 15

4 March 2016 19:45

(1 BP) Newcastle Falcons	14–15	Worcester Warriors
Try: Vickers 72' m Pen: Goode (3/4) 15', 31', 53'	Report	Try: Potgieter 38' c Heem 60' m Con: Heathcote (1/2) Pen: Heathcote (1/2) 46'

Kingston Park Attendance: 6,353 Referee: Wayne Barnes

5 March 2016 14:30

Sale Sharks	29–23	Harlequins (1 BP)
Try: Ioane 47' c Addison 61' c Con: Ford (1/1) Cipriani (1/1) Pen: Ford (3/3) 3', 13', 26' Cipriani (2/2) 59', 67'	Report	Try: Visser 35' c Egerton 78' c Con: Botica (2/2) Pen: Botica (3/3) 8', 33', 51'

AJ Bell Stadium Attendance: 7,562 Referee: Ian Tempest

5 March 2016 15:00

Gloucester	13–10	Wasps (1 BP)
Try: Hibbard 17' c Con: Laidlaw (1/1) Pen: Laidlaw (2/4) 3', 56'	Report	Try: Wade 42' c Con: Gopperth (1/1) Pen: Gopperth (1/1) 20'

Kingsholm Stadium Attendance: 13,766 Referee: Luke Pearce

5 March 2016 15:15

(1 BP) Bath	25–17	London Irish
Try: Banahan (2) 11' m, 23' c Rokoduguni 37' m Houston 60' m Con: Priestland (1/4) Pen: Priestland (1/1) 7'	Report	Try: Lewington 80' m Pen: Brophy-Clews (3/4) 10', 20', 28' Tonks (1/1) 79'

The Recreation Ground Attendance: 13,500 Referee: JP Doyle

5 March 2016 15:15

(1 BP) Saracens	15–20	Northampton Saints
Pen: Spencer (3/3) 16', 29', 52' Goode (2/2) 37', 71'	Report	Try: Myler 34' c Dickson 42' c Con: Myler (2/2) Pen: Myler (2/2) 63', 76'

Allianz Park Attendance: 9,877 Referee: Thomas Foley

6 March 2016 15:00

(1 BP) Leicester Tigers	31–27	Exeter Chiefs (1 BP)
Try: penalty try 29' c Tuilagi 31' c Betham 45' c Thompstone 48' c Con: Burns (4/4) Pen: Burns (1/1) 15'	Report	Try: Lewis 56' c Whitten 59' c Horstmann 80' c Con: Steenson (3/3) Pen: Steenson (2/2) 17', 40'

Welford Road Attendance: 20,173 Referee: Matthew Carley

Round 16

11 March 2016 19:45

(1 BP) Harlequins	35–28	Bath (1 BP)
Try: Sloan 3' m Walker (2) 39' c, 41' c Horwill 44' c Con: Botica (3/4) Pen: Botica (3/3) 2', 12', 35'	Report	Try: Mafi 65' m Williams 69' c Rokoduguni 72' c Con: T. Homer (2/3) Pen: T. Homer (3/3) 10', 14', 80'

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 14,800 Referee: Dean Richards

12 March 2016 13:45

(1 BP) Wasps	36–24	Leicester Tigers
Try: C. Piutau (2) 8' m, 28' c Wade 24' c Halai 41' c Hughes 62' c Con: Gopperth (3/4) Lozowski (1/1) Pen: Gopperth (1/2) 2'	Report	Try: Betham 22' c Veainu 47' c Goneva 76' c Con: Burns (3/3) Pen: Burns (1/1) 20'

Ricoh Arena Attendance: 22,241 Referee: Greg Garner

12 March 2016 14:00

(1 BP) Northampton Saints	26–11	Sale Sharks
Try: Haywood 37' c K. Pisi 45' c Collins 48' c Hanrahan 77' m Con: Myler (3/3)	Report	Try: Evans 19' m Pen: Cipriani (1/2) 23' Arscott (1/1) 27'

Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 14,337 Referee: JP Doyle

12 March 2016 14:00

Worcester Warriors	28–20	Gloucester
Try: Heem (2) 1' c, 36' m Hougaard 52' c Con: Heathcote (2/3) Pen: Heathcote (3/4) 25', 61', 70'	Report	Try: Meakes 17' c Hook 65' c Con: Hook (2/2) Pen: Hook (2/3) 29', 55'

Sixways Stadium Attendance: 10,124 Referee: Ian Tempest

12 March 2016 15:00

(1 BP) Exeter Chiefs	32–17	Newcastle Falcons
Try: Waldrom 44' c Dollman 52' c S. Hill 73' m Taione 78' c Con: Steenson (3/4) Pen: Steenson (2/2) 8', 69'	Report	Try: Takulua 48' c Latu 57' c Con: Delany (2/2) Pen: Delany (1/2) 29'

Sandy Park Attendance: 9,170 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

12 March 2016 15:00[lower-alpha 7]

London Irish	16–26	Saracens
Try: Lewington 18' c Con: Tonks (1/1) Pen: Tonks (3/4) 8', 24', 58'	Report	Try: Goode 15' c Tompkins 78' c Con: Spencer (1/1) Goode (1/1) Pen: Goode (4/4) 45', 48', 54', 68'

Red Bull Arena, New Jersey, United States Attendance: 14,811 Referee: Luke Pearce

Round 17

18 March 2016 19:45

Bath	21–19	Newcastle Falcons (1 BP)
Try: Rokoduguni (2) 30' c, 37' m Con: T. Homer (1/2) Pen: T. Homer (3/4) 54', 68', 72'	Report	Try: Vickers 12' c Con: Delany (1/1) Pen: Delany (4/6) 48', 57', 60', 65'

The Recreation Ground Attendance: 12,811 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

19 March 2016 15:00

(1 BP) Harlequins	15–21	Worcester Warriors
Pen: Botica (5/6) 3', 13', 36', 66', 73'	Report	Try: Olivier 19' m Van Velze 28' c Con: Heathcote (1/2) Pen: Heathcote (3/4) 7', 12', 71'

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 12,955 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

20 March 2016 13:00

Exeter Chiefs	20–12	Northampton Saints
Try: Woodburn 51' m Pen: Steenson (5/5) 11', 56', 68', 73', 78'	Report	Try: Dickson 13' m K. Pisi 33' c Con: Hanrahan (1/2)

Sandy Park Attendance: 9,822 Referee: Greg Garner

20 March 2016 14:00

(1 BP) Wasps	39–12	Sale Sharks
Try: C. Piutau 1' c Miller 6' m Johnson 40' c Gopperth 57' c Wade 69' c Con: Gopperth (3/4) Jackson (1/1) Pen: Gopperth (2/2) 21', 31'	Report	Try: Seymour 45' c Briggs 52' m Con: Cipriani (1/2)

Ricoh Arena Attendance: 12,823 Referee: Dean Richards

20 March 2016 15:00

London Irish	23–18	Gloucester (1 BP)
Try: Aulika 8' c Cowan 69' c Con: Tonks (2/2) Pen: Tonks (3/4) 16', 50', 75'	Report	Try: Ludlow 37' c Trinder 55' m Con: Hook (1/2) Pen: Hook (2/3) 12', 53'

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 17,752 Referee: Matthew Carley

20 March 2016 15:15

Leicester Tigers	21–13	Saracens
Try: Burns 45' c Goneva 51' m Con: Burns (1/2) Pen: Burns (2/2) 15', 31' Drop: Burns (1/1) 75'	Report	Try: Goode 64' c Con: Goode (1/1) Pen: Goode (2/3) 12', 70'

Welford Road Attendance: 22,282 Referee: JP Doyle

Round 18

26 March 2016 15:15

(1 BP) Saracens	36–18	Exeter Chiefs
Try: Goode 17' c B. Vunipola 32' m Farrell 52' c Wray 66' c Wyles 74' c Con: Farrell (3/4) Goode (1/1) Pen: Farrell (1/2) 70'	Report	Try: Waldrom (2) 58' m, 80' c Con: Hooley (1/1) Pen: Steenson (2/2) 39', 40'

Allianz Park Attendance: 9,749 Referee: Matthew Carley

26 March 2016 17:30

(1 BP) Gloucester	12–17	Bath
Pen: Laidlaw (4/4) 3', 8', 16', 55'	Report	Try: Cook 13' c Rokoduguni (2) 43' m, 75' m Con: Ford (1/3)

Kingsholm Stadium Attendance: 16,115 Referee: Wayne Barnes

26 March 2016 17:30

Worcester Warriors	12–6	London Irish (1 BP)
Pen: Heathcote (4/4) 27', 29', 54', 75'	Report	Pen: Tonks (2/2) 69', 77'

Sixways Stadium Attendance: 9,234 Referee: Greg Garner

27 March 2016 13:00

Sale Sharks	27–20	Leicester Tigers (1 BP)
Try: Neild 21' c Edwards 29' c Cipriani 69' c Con: Cipriani (3/3) Pen: Cipriani (2/2) 2', 43'	Report	Try: Bell 38' c Goneva 61' c Con: O. Williams (2/2) Pen: Burns (1/1) 12' O. Williams (1/1) 24'

AJ Bell Stadium Attendance: 7,687 Referee: Thomas Foley

27 March 2016 15:00

Newcastle Falcons	20–34	Wasps (1 BP)
Try: Vea 40' c McGuigan 65' c Con: Delany (2/2) Pen: Delany (2/2) 14', 49'	Report	Try: Smith 26' c Robson (2) 29' m, 54' m Young (2) 56' c, 78' c Con: Gopperth (3/5) Pen: Gopperth (1/1) 22'

Kingston Park Attendance: 6,725 Referee: JP Doyle

27 March 2016 15:15

(1 BP) Northampton Saints	29–23	Harlequins (1 BP)
Try: A. Waller 12' m Lawes 23' c Foden 54' c Mallinder 73' c Con: Myler (3/4) Pen: Myler (1/2) 46'	Report	Try: Visser 32' c Clifford 41' c Con: Botica (2/2) Pen: Botica (3/5) 8', 18', 79'

Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 15,249 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

Round 19

1 April 2016 19:45

Bath	10–30	Saracens (1 BP)
Try: Houston 62' c Con: Ford (1/1) Pen: Ford (1/1) 40'	Report	Try: Fraser 5' c Ellery 31' m Ashton (2) 54' m, 69' c Con: Farrell (2/4) Pen: Farrell (2/3) 11', 27'

The Recreation Ground Attendance: 13,518 Referee: Greg Garner

2 April 2016 15:00

(1 BP) Exeter Chiefs	50–12	Worcester Warriors
Try: Waldrom (3) 18' m, 58' m, 71' c Short 23' c Woodburn (3) 24' m, 62' c, 77' c Atkins 41' c Con: Steenson (2/5) Slade (3/3)	Report	Try: Vuna 34' m Symons 38' c Con: Heathcote (1/2)

Sandy Park Attendance: 11,168 Referee: Thomas Foley

2 April 2016 15:00

(1 BP) Harlequins	46–25	Newcastle Falcons
Try: Visser (2) 5' c, 72' m Clifford 13' c Gray 36' c Marchant 47' c Yarde 80' c Con: Botica (5/6) Pen: Botica (2/2) 63', 66'	Report	Try: Watson 49' m Latu (2) 56' c, 60' c Con: Delany (2/3) Pen: Delany (2/2) 4', 8'

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 14,267 Referee: Matthew Carley

2 April 2016 15:00

London Irish	15–30	Sale Sharks
Try: Maitland 15' m Williams 64' c Con: Tonks (1/2) Pen: Tonks (1/3) 8'	Report	Try: Haley 36' c Ioane 71' c Cipriani 76' c Con: Cipriani (3/3) Pen: Cipriani (3/4) 6', 25', 62'

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 5,541 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

2 April 2016 15:15

(1 BP) Leicester Tigers	35–30	Gloucester (1 BP)
Try: Veainu 7' m Tuilagi (2) 11' m, 46' c Betham 66' m Goneva 73' c Con: O. Williams (2/5) Pen: O. Williams (2/2) 40', 54'	Report	Try: McColl 27' c Trinder 30' c McAllister 36' c Con: Laidlaw (3/3) Pen: Laidlaw (3/3) 3', 18', 65'

Welford Road Attendance: 22,223 Referee: JP Doyle

3 April 2016 15:00

Wasps	28–6	Northampton Saints
Try: Miller (2) 21' c, 66' c Stevenson 78' m Con: Gopperth (2/3) Pen: Gopperth (1/2) 17' Daly (2/3) 48', 75'	Report	Pen: Myler (2/2) 2', 51'

Ricoh Arena Attendance: 17,422 Referee: Luke Pearce

Round 20

15 April 2016 19:45

Gloucester	16–9	Exeter Chiefs (1 BP)
Try: Thorley 44' c Con: Laidlaw (1/1) Pen: Laidlaw (3/3) 61', 68', 71'	Report	Pen: Steenson (3/3) 41', 47', 64'

Kingsholm Stadium Attendance: 13,390 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

16 April 2016 15:00

(1 BP) Worcester Warriors	35–54	Wasps (1 BP)
Try: Hougaard 20' c Vuna 33' m Symons 45' m Van Velze 58' m Heem 66' m Kirwan 75' m Con: Heathcote (1/5) Pen: Mills (1/1) 1'	Report	Try: Halai 7' c Wade (6) 15' c, 24' c, 29' m, 36' c, 48' c, 54' c Lozowski 71' c Con: Daly (3/4) Jackson (3/3) Lozowski (1/1)

Sixways Stadium Attendance: 10,727 Referee: JP Doyle

16 April 2016 15:15

Saracens	22–12	Harlequins
Try: Ashton (2) 12' m, 38' c Kruis 29' c Con: Hodgson (2/3) Pen: Farrell (1/1) 74'	Report	Pen: Botica (4/5) 4', 16', 33', 46'

Wembley Stadium Attendance: 80,650 Referee: Greg Garner

16 April 2016 17:30

(1 BP) Northampton Saints	24–30	Leicester Tigers
Try: Harrison 23' c G. Pisi 53' m Con: Myler (1/2) Pen: Myler (3/3) 19', 40', 61' Hanrahan (1/1) 76'	Report	Try: Thacker 12' c Goneva 26' c Burns 63' c Con: Burns (3/3) Pen: Burns (3/3) 10', 45', 58'

Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 15,241 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

17 April 2016 14:30

(1 BP) Sale Sharks	29–17	Bath
Try: Cobîlaș 9' c Addison 19' c Seymour 72' m Easter 78' c Con: Cipriani (3/4) Pen: Cipriani (1/3) 37'	Report	Try: Rokoduguni 50' m Pen: Ford (4/6) 14', 34', 40', 56'

AJ Bell Stadium Attendance: 6,278 Referee: Luke Pearce

17 April 2016 15:00

Newcastle Falcons	13–6	London Irish (1 BP)
Try: Watson 24' c Con: Delany (1/1) Pen: Delany (1/2) 11' Socino (1/1) 43'	Report	Pen: Tonks (2/2) 8', 18'

Kingston Park Attendance: 7,756 Referee: Wayne Barnes

Round 9 rescheduled match

23 April 2016 15:15

(1 BP) Bath	32–26	Sale Sharks (2 BP)
Try: Devoto 1' c Ewels 11' c Rokoduguni 57' m W. Homer 71' c Con: Ford (3/4) Pen: Ford (2/2) 15', 53'	Report	Try: Leota (2) 42' c, 80' c Ostrikov 47' c Ioane 77' m Con: Cipriani (2/2) Ford (1/2)

The Recreation Ground Attendance: 12,684 Referee: Ian Tempest

This match – originally scheduled to be held during Round 9, on 8 January 2016 – was postponed due to a European Rugby Champions Cup fixture rearrangement that occurred as a result of the Paris terrorist attacks in November 2015.^[17] It was further rescheduled from 13 April 2016, after Sale Sharks were eliminated from the European Rugby Challenge Cup.^[18]

Round 21

29 April 2016 19:45

(1 BP) Sale Sharks	11–12	Gloucester
Try: Leota 54' m Pen: Cipriani (2/2) 16', 40'	Report	Pen: Laidlaw (4/4) 1', 30', 69', 76'

AJ Bell Stadium Attendance: 7,352 Referee: Thomas Foley

30 April 2016 15:00

(1 BP) Leicester Tigers	31–17	Worcester Warriors
Try: Goneva 13' c Fonua 25' c Veainu 38' c Evans 62' c Con: O. Williams (4/4) Pen: O. Williams (1/1) 69'	Report	Try: Heem 16' c Symons 36' c Con: Heathcote (2/2) Pen: Mills (1/1) 8'

Welford Road Attendance: 21,682 Referee: Greg Garner

30 April 2016 15:15

Northampton Saints	15–14	Bath (1 BP)
Try: Harrison 56' m Haywood 72' c Con: Myler (1/2) Pen: Myler (1/1) 61'	Report	Try: Williams (2) 10' c, 19' c Con: Priestland (2/2)

Franklin's Gardens Attendance: 15,249 Referee: Wayne Barnes

1 May 2016 13:00

Exeter Chiefs	24–3	Wasps
Try: Woodburn 26' c Dollman 57' c Nowell 70' c Con: Steenson (3/3) Pen: Steenson (1/2) 43'	Report	Pen: Daly (1/1) 33'

Sandy Park Attendance: 12,407 Referee: Matthew Carley

1 May 2016 15:00

(1 BP) London Irish	25–32	Harlequins (1 BP)
Try: Narraway 30' m Tikoirotuma 36' c Paice 56' c Con: Brophy-Clews (2/3) Pen: Brophy-Clews (2/2) 13', 65'	Report	Try: Walker (2) 10' c, 19' c R. Chisholm 21' m Sinckler 69' c Con: Botica (2/3) N. Evans (1/1) Pen: Botica (1/1) 40' N. Evans (1/1) 67'

Madejski Stadium Attendance: 9,016 Referee: JP Doyle

1 May 2016 15:15

Saracens	23–14	Newcastle Falcons
Try: Wray (2) 46' m, 52' c Itoje 68' m Con: Hodgson (1/3) Pen: Hodgson (2/4) 17', 57'	Report	Try: Watson (2) 20' c, 38' c Con: Willis (2/2)

Allianz Park Attendance: 9,744 Referee: Ian Tempest

Round 22

7 May 2016 15:30

(1 BP) Bath	38–27	Leicester Tigers (1 BP)
Try: Rokoduguni (2) 2' c, 54' c Devoto 41' c Louw 51' c Williams 78' c Con: Ford (5/5) Pen: Ford (1/1) 19'	Report	Try: Balmain 15' c Betham 26' c Tait 35' m Evans 65' m Con: O. Williams (2/4) Pen: O. Williams (1/1) 47'

The Recreation Ground Attendance: 13,515 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

7 May 2016 15:30

Gloucester	20–28	Northampton Saints
Try: L. Evans 32' c Moriarty 37' c Con: Laidlaw (2/2) Pen: Laidlaw (2/3) 1', 23'	Report	Try: G. Pisi 15' m North (2) 40' c, 47' c Con: Myler (2/3) Pen: Myler (3/3) 24', 50', 53'

Kingsholm Stadium Attendance: 16,115 Referee: JP Doyle

7 May 2016 15:30

Harlequins	24–62	Exeter Chiefs (1 BP)
Try: Care 40' c Sinckler 54' c Stanley 71' c Con: N. Evans (1/1) Botica (2/2) Pen: N. Evans (1/1) 3'	Report	Try: Short (2) 8' m, 49' c Nowell (3) 12' m, 42' m, 53' c Ewers 20' c Dollman 58' c Chudley 64' c Slade 66' m Salvi 73' c Con: Steenson (6/10)

Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 14,800 Referee: Wayne Barnes

7 May 2016 15:30

(1 BP) Newcastle Falcons	15–21	Sale Sharks
Try: Latu (3) 16' m, 34' m, 47' m	Report	Try: Seymour 9' m James 23' c Con: Cipriani (1/2) Pen: Cipriani (1/1) 13' Ford (2/2) 51', 71'

Kingston Park Attendance: 7,089 Referee: Matthew Carley

7 May 2016 15:30

(1 BP) Wasps	38–12	London Irish
Try: Young 24' m C. Piutau 33' m Wade 38' m Robson 61' c Bassett 65' m Johnson 68' m Con: Gopperth (1/3) Pen: Jackson (2/2) 2', 18'	Report	Try: Williams 21' c Lewington 59' m Con: Brophy-Clews (1/2)

Ricoh Arena Attendance: 16,902 Referee: Thomas Foley

7 May 2016 15:30

Worcester Warriors	19–43	Saracens (1 BP)
Try: Symons 2' c Vuna (2) 17' c, 75' m Con: Heathcote (2/2)	Report	Try: De Kock 6' c Ashton (3) 24' m, 39' c, 50' c Vunisa 37' c Ransom 64' c Con: Hodgson (5/6) Pen: Hodgson (1/2) 31'

Sixways Stadium Attendance: 9,722 Referee: Luke Pearce

Play-offs

Semi-finals

As with previous seasons, the top four teams contested the semi-finals in a 1st v 4th, 2nd v 3rd format.

21 May 2016 12:30

Saracens	44–17	Leicester Tigers
Try: Fraser 3' c Wyles (2) 19' c, 39' c Ashton (2) 24' c, 71' c Con: Farrell (4/4) Hodgson (1/1) Pen: Farrell (1/2) 32' Hodgson (2/2) 61', 69'	Report	Try: Veainu 41' c Barrow 50' c Con: O. Williams (2/2) Pen: O. Williams (1/2) 44'

Allianz Park Attendance: 9,932 Referee: JP Doyle

21 May 2016 15:15

Exeter Chiefs	34–23	Wasps
Try: Whitten 21' c penalty try (2) 38' c, 79' c Ewers 46' c Con: Steenson (4/4) Pen: Steenson (2/2) 3', 11'	Report	Try: Festuccia 16' c Robson 31' c Con: Gopperth (2/2) Pen: Gopperth (3/3) 45', 52', 67'

Sandy Park Attendance: 12,604 Referee: Greg Garner

Final

28 May 2016 15:00

Saracens	28–20	Exeter Chiefs
Try: Taylor 33' c Wyles 36' c Goode 75' m Con: Farrell (2/2) Pen: Farrell (3/3) 2', 9', 26'	Report	Try: Yeandle 52' c Nowell 72' c Con: Steenson (2/2) Pen: Steenson (2/2) 22', 40'

Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 77,109 Referee: Wayne Barnes

FB 15 Alex Goode RW 14 Chris Ashton OC 13 Duncan Taylor  73' IC 12 Brad Barritt (c) LW 11 Chris Wyles FH 10 Owen Farrell  67' SH 9 Richard Wigglesworth  67' N8 8 Billy Vunipola OF 7 Will Fraser  70' BF 6 Michael Rhodes  51' RL 5 George Kruis LL 4 Maro Itoje TP 3 Petrus du Plessis  51' HK 2 Schalk Brits  51' LP 1 Mako Vunipola  65' Substitutions: HK 16 Jamie George  51' PR 17 Richard Barrington  65' PR 18 Juan Figallo  51' LK 19 Jim Hamilton  70' FL 20 Jackson Wray  51' SH 21 Neil de Kock  67' FH 22 Charlie Hodgson  67' CE 23 Marcelo Bosch  73' Coach: Mark McCall

FB 15 Phil Dollman RW 14 Jack Nowell OC 13 Henry Slade IC 12 Ian Whitten  67' LW 11 Olly Woodburn  54' FH 10 Gareth Steenson SH 9 Will Chudley  64' N8 8 Don Armand  64' OF 7 Julian Salvi  60'  64' BF 6 Dave Ewers RL 5 Geoff Parling  63' LL 4 Mitch Lees TP 3 Harry Williams  46' HK 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie  46'  67'  73' LP 1 Ben Moon  46' Replacements: HK 16 Jack Yeandle  46'  67'  73' PR 17 Alec Hepburn  46' PR 18 Tomas Francis  46' LK 19 Damian Welch  63' FL 20 Kai Horstmann  60' SH 21 Dave Lewis  64' CE 22 Michele Campagnaro  67' WG 23 James Short  54' Coach: Rob Baxter

Man of the Match: Alex Goode (Saracens) Touch judges: JP Doyle Luke Pearce Television Match Official: Sean Davey

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.

Top points scorers [1] Rank Player Club Points 1 Gareth Steenson Exeter Chiefs 258 2 Jimmy Gopperth Wasps 185 3 Danny Cipriani Sale Sharks 182 4 Stephen Myler Northampton Saints 173 5 Charlie Hodgson Saracens 154 6 Nick Evans Harlequins 153 7 Tom Heathcote Worcester Warriors 143 8 Ben Botica Harlequins 129 9 Owen Farrell Saracens 122 10 James Hook Gloucester 118

Top try scorers [2] Rank Player Club Tries 1 Thomas Waldrom Exeter Chiefs 13 2 Semesa Rokoduguni Bath 12 Christian Wade Wasps 4 Chris Ashton Saracens 11 5 Charlie Walker Harlequins 10 6 Frank Halai Wasps 9 Nili Latu Newcastle Falcons James Short Exeter Chiefs Telusa Veainu Leicester Tigers Tim Visser Harlequins Cooper Vuna Worcester Warriors

Season attendances

By club

• Attendances do not include the final at Twickenham.

Club	Home Games	Total	Average	Highest	Lowest	% Capacity
Bath	11	145,537	13,231	13,562	12,684	98%
Exeter Chiefs	12	133,912	11,159	12,612	7,130	89%
Gloucester	11	152,738	13,885	16,115	11,095	84%
Harlequins	11	212,376	19,307	70,718	12,157	95%
Leicester Tigers	11	239,469	21,770	25,849	17,510	86%
London Irish	11	130,167	11,833	42,680	5,541	37%
Newcastle Falcons	11	71,191	6,472	7,756	5,049	63%
Northampton Saints	11	170,215	15,474	20,034	14,246	94%
Sale Sharks	11	67,667	6,152	7,687	4,236	51%
Saracens	12	214,969	17,914	80,650	7,231	88%
Wasps	11	165,557	15,051	24,053	10,093	46%
Worcester Warriors	11	99,458	9,042	10,727	7,156	75%

^[19]

Highest attendances

Home club	Away club	Stadium	Attendance
Saracens	Harlequins	Wembley Stadium	80,650
Harlequins	Gloucester	Twickenham Stadium	70,718
Saracens London Irish	Worcester Wasps	Twickenham Stadium	42,680
Leicester	Northampton	Welford Road	25,849
Wasps	Saracens	Ricoh Arena	24,053
Leicester	London Irish	Welford Road	23,173
Leicester	Sale	Welford Road	22,737
Leicester	Bath	Welford Road	22,530
Leicester	Saracens	Welford Road	22,282
Leicester	Gloucester	Welford Road	22,223
Wasps	Leicester	Ricoh Arena	22,241
Leicester	Worcester	Welford Road	21,682
Leicester	Newcastle	Welford Road	21,564
Leicester	Exeter	Welford Road	20,173
Northampton	Newcastle	Stadium mk	20,034
Leicester	Wasps	Welford Road	19,746
London Irish	Gloucester	Madejski Stadium	17,752
Leicester	Harlequins	Welford Road	17,510
Wasps	Northampton	Ricoh Arena	17,422
Wasps	London Irish	Ricoh Arena	16,902
Gloucester	London Irish	Kingsholm Stadium	16,115
Gloucester	Leicester	Kingsholm Stadium	16,115
Gloucester	Bath	Kingsholm Stadium	16,115
Gloucester	Northampton	Kingsholm Stadium	16,115

Notes

1. Harlequins also played 1 home game at Twickenham Stadium, Greater London on 27 December 2015.
2. Welford Road's capacity was limited to 22,500 until the 3,100 capacity West Stand was completed – which brought Welford Road up to 25,800 – this date was originally for the start of the season but was withheld until December 2015.^[13]
3. London Irish also played 1 home game at Twickenham Stadium, Greater London on 28 November 2015, and 1 home game at the Red Bull Arena, New Jersey, United States on 12 March 2016
4. Northampton Saints also played 1 home game at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes on 24 October 2015.
5. Saracens also played 1 home game at Twickenham Stadium, Greater London on 28 November 2015 and 1 home game at Wembley Stadium, Greater London on 16 April 2016.
6. Due to the terrorist attacks that took place in Paris on 13 November 2015, matches in the European Rugby Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup were postponed to a later date – later announced to take place on the weekend of 8–10 January 2016. This meant the fixtures that featured those teams in their respective domestic leagues, were postponed to a later date.
7. Kick off time local to New Jersey; 20:00 GMT in England.

References

1. "Top Points Scorers: 2015–16". Premiership Rugby. Premier Rugby. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
2. "Top Try Scorers: 2015–16". Premiership Rugby. Premier Rugby. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
3. De Menezes, Jack (28 May 2016). "Aviva Premiership final live: Saracens vs Exeter Chiefs — Sarries win the double after sealing Twickenham victory". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
4. Pilnick, Brent (28 May 2016). "Premiership final: Saracens 28-20 Exeter Chiefs". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
5. Rees, Paul (28 May 2016). "Saracens Premiership champions after Alex Goode ends Exeter fightback". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
6. Meagher, Gerard (28 May 2016). "Saracens beat Exeter 28-20 to claim Premiership title – as it happened". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
7. Godwin, Hugh (28 May 2016). "Aviva Premiership final report: Saracens crowned champions of England as defeat of Exeter completes double success". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
8. Williams, Adam (2 May 2016). "London Irish: What next for club following Premiership relegation?". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
9. Law, James (25 May 2016). "Championship play-off final: Bristol 32-34 Doncaster (Agg 60-47)". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
10. "Salary Cap changes confirmed" (Press release). Premiership Rugby Limited. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
11. "Salary Cap". Premiership Rugby Limited. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
12. Scott, Ged (27 May 2015). "Worcester 30–30 Bristol (Agg 59–58)". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
13. "About The New Stand". Leicester Tigers. 26 October 2015.
14. Twitter Permalink, @PremRugby
15. Premiership Rugby – London Double Header 2015 confirmed
16. "London Irish to play Saracens in New York Premiership match". BBC Sport. 27 October 2015.
17. "Postponed European matches rescheduled for second weekend of January 2016". EPCRugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
18. "Bath Rugby v Sale Sharks – Confirmation of date for their rescheduled Aviva Premiership Rugby match". Aviva Premiership. Premier Rugby. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
19. "Aviva Premiership 15/16 Home attendance". Rugby Statbunker. 21 May 2016.

External links

• Official website