The 2020–21 Gallagher Premiership was the 34th season of the top flight English domestic rugby union competition and the third one to be sponsored by Gallagher. The reigning champions entering the season were Exeter Chiefs, who had claimed their second title after defeating Wasps in the 2020 final. Newcastle Falcons had been promoted as champions from the 2019–20 RFU Championship at the first attempt.
The competition was broadcast by BT Sport for the eighth successive season and with five games also simulcast free-to-air on Channel 5. Highlights of each weekend's games were shown on Channel 5 for the final time, with extended highlights on BT Sport.
Summary
Harlequins won their second title after defeating Exeter Chiefs in the final at Twickenham after having finished fourth in the regular season table. No team was relegated this season after a moratorium was agreed.
Due to changes to the global rugby calendar implemented this year and the COVID-19 pandemic prolonging the 2019–20 Premiership Rugby season, this edition featured a later start and later finish and would take place over a reduced timeframe of 32 weeks.[1]
New regulations were introduced this season for games cancelled as a result of the pandemic or otherwise. A brief outline of the new regulations are:
All fixtures will be treated equally.
No round 1 - 22 fixtures will be postponed unless within the same weekend.
When cancellation is as a result of COVID-19 points will be awarded as follows.
2 points awarded to the team responsible for cancellation.
4 points will be awarded to the team who wasn't responsible.
The match result will be deemed to be 0–0
There are also changes to the regulations allowing the Testing Oversight Group to cancel matches.
Regulations for the semi-finals and final will be published later in the year.[3]
This season also includes a moratorium on relegation due to the effects of the pandemic.[4]
This season is the last under the current regulations before changes are made next season and again before 2024–25.[5]
Teams
Twelve teams compete in the league – the top eleven teams from the previous season and Newcastle Falcons who were promoted from the 2019–20 RFU Championship after a top flight absence of one year. They replaced Saracens who were relegated after twenty five years in the top flight following two large points deductions during the season.
Source: Premiership Rugby Rules for classification: Games cancelled due to COVID-19 will recorded as 0–0 but a win and 4 points will be awarded if a club was able to field a team and a loss and 2 points if they were not. Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 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 (C) Champions; (RU) Runners-up; (SF) Losing semi-finalists Notes:
Cancelled Fixture: Bristol Bears 4pts; London Irish 2pts
Fixtures
Fixtures for the season were announced by Premiership Rugby on 29 September 2020 - this was delayed from July due to the previous season being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.[7]
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 26 June 2021.
The following received Player of the Month awards during the 2020–21 season, as selected by a panel of media commentators, in addition to monthly public polls.
^Due to a number of positive COVID-19 tests on the Tigers' team, they are unable to field a team and therefore forfeit. Newcastle Falcons awarded a win
^Harlequins have several players being forced to self-isolate and are therefore unable to field a side. Worcester Warriors awarded a win.
^Due to a number of positive COVID-19 tests on the Saints' team, they are unable to field a team and therefore forfeit. Leicester Tigers awarded a win.
^Due to Newcastle returning a number of positive COVID-19 tests, they are unable to field a team and therefore the match has been cancelled.[9] Northampton Saints awarded a win.
^Newcastle Falcons returned a number of positive COVID-19 tests and are therefore unable to field a team. Worcester Warriors awarded a win.