It’s time to finally sort the big kahunas from the small fries, as we apply science to separate the current Gallagher Premiership sides by size.
Assessing the size of a rugby club isn’t simple. You can’t get the tape measure out and determine whether your club is reasonably Danny Care-sized or a whopping Martin Bayfield.
To determine the relative size of each current Gallagher Premiership club, we’ve taken into account five varied factors.
Namely: honours/history, stadium size/quality, fanbase, iconic players, current squad and, of course, financial clout.
Each section is scored out of five and the 13 clubs are ranked by their total tallies. Simple, so let us begin…
13. Worcester Warriors – 18/40
- Honours: Championship (2003–04, 2010–11, 2014–15) – 0.5
- Years in the top flight: 14 (2005–2010, 2012–2014, 2016–2020) – 2.5
- Stadium size/quality/atmosphere: Sixways (11,499) – 2.5
- Fanbase: Facebook – 40k, Twitter – 51k – 2.5
- No. of England players produced: Dylan Hartley, Matt Mullan, Tom Wood, Matt Kvesic, Chris Pennell, Ben Te’o, Ted Hill, Jack Singleton (8) – 2
- Iconic players: Aleki Lutui, Chris Horsman, Andy Goode, Ben Te’o, Sateki Tuipulotu – 3
- Current players: Matt Kvesic, Francois Hougaard, Ted HIll, Duncan Weir, Chris Pennell – 3
- Financial clout: Jed McCrory – 2
12. London Irish – 22.5/40
- Honours: Anglo-Welsh Cup 2001–02 – 1
- Years in the top flight: 25 (1992–1994, 1997–2016, 2018, 2020-) – 3
- Stadium size/quality/atmosphere: Madejski Stadium – 2
- Fanbase: Facebook – 87k, Twitter – 50k – 2.5
- No. of England players produced: Geoff Appleford, Peter Richards, Shane Geraghty, Topsy Ojo, David Paice, Delon Armitage, Riki Flutey, Nick Kennedy, Alex Corbisiero, Jonathan Joseph, Marland Yarde, Anthony Watson, Joe Cokanasiga (13) – 3
- Iconic players: Topsy Ojo, Mike Catt, Alex Corbisiero, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph – 3.5
- Current players: Sean O’Brien, Waisake Naholo, Adam Coleman, Paddy Jackson, Nick Phipps – 3.5
- Financial clout: Mick Crossan – 4
11. Newcastle Falcons – 23.5/40
- Honours: Premiership (1997–98), Anglo-Welsh Cup (1975–76, 1976–77, 2000–01, 2003–04) – 2.5
- Years in the top flight: 22 (1994, 1998–2012, 2014–2019, 2020–) – 3
- Stadium size/quality/atmosphere: Kingston Park (12,000) – 3
- Fanbase: Facebook – 37k, Twitter – 45k – 2
- No. of England players produced: Jamie Noon, Michael Stephenson, Dave Walder, Hugh Vyvyan, Matthew Tait, Toby Flood, Tom May, Dave Wilson, Phil Dowson, Geoff Parling, Lee Dickson, Mark Wilson (12) – 3
- Iconic players: Jonny Wilkinson, Doddie Weir, Pat Lam, Rob Andrew, Va’aiga Tuigamala – 5
- Current players: Toby Flood, Sinoti Sinoti, Mark Wilson, Gary Graham, George McGuigan – 3
- Financial clout: Semore Kurdi -2
10. Sale Sharks – 25/40
- Honours: Premiership (2005-06), Challenge Cup (2001–02, 2004–05) – 3
- Years in the top flight: 27 (1988, 1995–2020) – 3.5
- Stadium size/quality/atmosphere: AJ Bell Stadium (12,000) – 2
- Fanbase: Facebook – 46k, Twitter – 55k – 3
- No. of England players produced: Charlie Hodgson, Alex Sanderson, Chris Jones, Mark Cueto, Duncan Bell, Magnus Lund, Dean Schofield, Richard Wigglesworth, Ben Foden, Henry Thomas, Tom Curry, Denny Solomona (12) – 3
- Iconic players: Jason Robinson, Charlie Hodgson, Mark Cueto, Sebastien Chabal, Steve Hanley – 4
- Current players: Faf de Klerk, Lood de jager, Tom Curry, Denny Solomona, Marland Yarde – 4.5
- Financial clout: Simon Orange – 2
9. Bristol Bears – 25.5/40
- Honours: Championship (1998–99, 2004–05, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18), Anglo-Welsh Cup (1982-83) – 1
- Years in the top flight: 22 (1988–1998, 2000–2003, 2006–2009, 2017, 2019–2020) – 3
- Stadium size/quality/atmosphere: Ashton Gates (27,000) – 4
- Fanbase: Facebook – 40k, Twitter – 76k – 3
- No. of England players produced: Phil Christophers, Michael Lipman, Paul Hodgson, Dave Attwood, Mako Vunipola, Ellis Genge (6) – 2
- Iconic players: Gavin Henson, Mark Regan, Gareth Llewellyn, Tusi Pisi, Tom Varndell – 3
- Current players: Kyle Sinckler, Charles Piutau, Steve Luatua, Nathan Hughes, Semi Radradra – 5
- Financial clout: Stephen Lansdown – 5
