The 1997âÂÂ98 Premiership 1 was the eleventh season of the top tier of the English rugby union league system, currently known as Premiership Rugby, and the first to be sponsored by Allied Dunbar, having previously been sponsored by Courage Brewery. The end of the previous season had seen a wide scale restructuring of the old league system, with the two leagues (formerly National Division 1 and 2) being renamed as Premiership 1 and Premiership 2, with Allied Dunbar agreeing to sponsor the top two divisions for ã7,500,000. Wasps were defending champions and Richmond and Newcastle Falcons the promoted sides.
Newly promoted Newcastle Falcons finished as league champions for the first time in their history, just one point clear of runners up Saracens. Only one side was relegated this season, with Bristol enduring a nightmare season and dropping down to the 1998âÂÂ99 Premiership 2, in what would be their first season outside of the top flight since the leagues began.
Each side played one another twice, in a round robin system, home and away, to make a total of twenty-two matches for each team. The bottom side would be automatically relegated to Premiership 2 (formerly known as National Division 1).
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 did not earn international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.
Source:
Source: