The London Double Header ran between 2004 and 2017 and typically opened the season of Premiership Rugby (currently known as the Gallagher Premiership due to sponsorship), the top rugby union league in England.
Two games were played consecutively at Twickenham Stadium, originally involving the 'big four' London origin teams of the Premiership, Harlequins, London Irish, Wasps (London Wasps until the 2014–15 season) and Saracens. Harlequins were relegated from the premiership at the end of the 2004–05 season and thus for the 2005–06 season Leeds Tykes were included instead. The same applied to London Irish in 2016 who were replaced. The matches form part of the regular season fixtures, with one team nominated as the home side for each match. Since 2008 (2016 being an exception) and the inception of The Big Game, Harlequins only compete in the double header as an away side in order to reduce the number of home games they play away from the Stoop.
From 2015 and following Wasps' relocation to Coventry, the direction of the series changed. Two London teams (normally London Irish and Saracens) acted as the hosts, with the away teams being any of the other 10 Premiership Rugby teams. In 2016, Harlequins hosted due to London Irish's relegation from the premiership. In 2015, 2016 and 2017 the series featured a newly promoted team. The Double Header did not take place in 2018 due to redevelopment works at Twickenham Stadium and did not return in 2019 or 2020.
At other times of year Twickenham is also used for regular season Premiership fixtures, such as The Big Game hosted by Harlequins at Christmas time, The Clash hosted by Bath and the Premiership Final in June, as well as international fixtures including those by the Barbarians, plus inter-armed forces and varsity matches.
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
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65
16
48
2009
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Scorers:
- Tries: Jackson, Saull
- Conversions: Jackson
- Pens: Jackson 2
Scorers:
- Try: Stowers
- Pens: Lamb 2, D Armitage
- Man of the Match: Glen Jackson
London Wasps 26 – 15 Harlequins
- Half Time: 16 – 15
Teams:
- Wasps: Mark Van Gisbergen, Tom Varndell, Ben Jacobs, Steve Kefu, David Lemi, Danny Cipriani, Joe Simpson, Tim Payne, Rob Webber, Gabriel Bocca, George Skivington, Richard Birkett, John Hart, Serge Betsen (capt), Dan Ward-Smith
Replacements: Joe Ward, Ben Broster, Tom French, Dan Leo, Hugo Ellis, Warren Fury, Dave Walder, Lachlan Mitchell.
Scorers:
- Tries: Varndell 2
- Conversions: Van Gisbergen
- Penalties: Van Gisbergen 3
- Harlequins: Ugo Monye, David Strettle, Gonzalo Tiesi, Jordan Turner-Hall (YC), Gonzalo Camacho, Nick Evans, Danny Care, Ceri Jones, Gary Botha, Mark Lambert, James Percival, George Robson (RC),[1] Chris Robshaw, Will Skinner (capt), Nick Easter
Replacements: Tani Fuga, Aston Croall, John Andress, Jim Evans, Tom Guest, Steve So'oialo, Rory Clegg, George Lowe.
Scorers:
- Tries: Monye, Camacho
- Conversions: Evans
- Penalties: Evans
Key:
- YC = Yellow Card
- RC = Red Card
- Man of the Match: Serge Betsen
2010
4 September 2010 14:00 |
| London Irish | 33 – 16 | Saracens |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Twickenham Attendance: 75,112 Referee: Andrew Small |
2011
3 September 2011 14:00 |
| London Irish | 24 – 29 | Harlequins |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Twickenham Attendance: 55,437 Referee: Greg Garner |
3 September 2011 16:30 |
| Saracens | 15 – 20 | London Wasps |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Twickenham Attendance: 55,437 Referee: JP Doyle |
2012
1 September 2012 14:00 |
| London Wasps | 40 – 42 | Harlequins |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Twickenham Attendance: 63,102 Referee: Greg Garner |
1 September 2012 16:30 |
| Saracens | 40 – 3 | London Irish |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Twickenham Attendance: 63,102 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
2013
7 September 2013 14:00 |
| London Irish | 20–42 | (BP) Saracens |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Low 37' c Yarde 69' c Con: Humphreys (2/2) Pen: Humphreys (2) 13', 62' | Report | Try: George (2) 9' c, 35' m Vunipola 63' c Ashton 81' m Con: Farrell (2/4) Pen: Farrell (6) 4', 27', 39', 41', 51', 72' |
7 September 2013 16:30 |
| London Wasps (BP) | 15–16 | Harlequins |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Launchbury 0' c Palmer 80' m Con: Goode (1/2) Pen: Goode (1) 13' | Report | Try: Dickson 70' c Con: Evans (1/1) Pen: Evans (3) 12', 45', 49' |
2014
6 September 2014 14:00 |
| Saracens (BP) | 34 – 28 | (BP) Wasps |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Ashton 6' c Strettle (3) 20' c, 62' c, 78' c Con: Hodgson (2/2) Farrell (2/2) Pen: Hodgson (2/3) 13', 18' | Report | Try: Hughes 43' c Wade (2) 53' m, 59' c Con: Goode (2/3) Pen: Goode (3/3) 10', 16', 26' |
6 September 2014 16:30 |
| London Irish (BP) | 15 – 20 | Harlequins |
|---|---|---|
| Pen: Geraghty (5/6) 24', 33', 42', 54', 66' | Report | Try: Monye 10' c Lindsay-Hague 34' c Con: Evans (2/2) Pen: Evans (2/6) 7', 27' |
2015
The 2015 London Double Header was moved from its traditional Round 1 position, to Round 5, in order to accommodate the 2015 Rugby World Cup knock-out stage matches being played at Twickenham Stadium. It was also the first time since 2005 that Saracens, Harlequins, London Irish and Wasps have not all taken part in the event. Harlequins chose not to take part due to the proximity of The Big Game 8 and were therefore replaced by Worcester Warriors. There had been suggestions that Wasps would not take part, following their move to the Ricoh Arena, however they were announced as one of the away teams for the event at the fixture launch on 3 July 2015.
28 November 2015 15:15 |
| Saracens (BP) | 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' |
28 November 2015 17:30 |
| London Irish | 15–33 | (BP) Wasps |
|---|---|---|
| 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' |
2016
The 2016 London Double Header returned to its traditional Round 1 position. London Irish were relegated from the Premiership and therefore would not take part. Home teams were confirmed on 28 June, with away teams confirmed at fixture launch on 7 July.
2017
The 2017 London Double Header would take place in its traditional Round 1 position. London Irish return after being promoted back into the Premiership. Home teams were confirmed on 22 June, with the away teams confirmed at the Premiership fixture launch on 7 July.[2]
2 September 2017 14:00 |
| (BP) Saracens | 55–24 | Northampton Saints |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Barritt 8' m Wigglesworth 11' c Maitland (3) 20' m, 31' m, 34' m Lozowski 28' c Koch 37' c Brits 51' c Spencer 67' c Con: Lozowski (5/9) 12', 29', 38', 52', 68' | Report | Try: Ludlam 43' c Wood (2) 55' c, 64' c Con: Mallinder (3/3) 44', 56', 64' Pen: Mallinder (1/2) 24' |
2 September 2017 16:45 |
| (BP) London Irish | 39–29 | Harlequins (BP) |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Ojo 23' c Bell 30' m Treviranus 56' m McKibbin 78' c Con: Bell (2/4) 24', 79' Pen: Bell (5/6) 4', 7', 37', 52', 75' | Report | Try: Marchant 34' c Yarde 63' c Care 72' m Walker 77' c Con: M. Smith (1/1) 34' Catrakilis (2/3) 64', 77' Pen: M. Smith (1/1) 15' |
References
- ^ "'Head-butt' compounds Quins woes". BBC Sport. 5 September 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- ^ [1] Premiership fixtures confirmed for 2017-18 season.