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, Saracens and Wasps (London Wasps until the 2014–15 season). 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 Twickenham 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 has not returned.
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
edit| 4 September 2004 14:00 |
| London Irish | 18–12 | Harlequins |
| Report |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 51,000 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
2005
edit| 3 September 2005 16:20 |
| Leeds Tykes | 11–27 | London Irish |
| Report |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 35,000 Referee: Sean Davey |
2006
edit| 2 September 2006 16:20 |
| Saracens | 19–21 | London Wasps |
| Report |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 51,960 Referee: Roy Maybank |
2007
edit| 15 September 2007 15:30 |
| Harlequins | 35–27 | London Irish |
| Report |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 39,400 Referee: Ashley Rowden |
| 15 September 2007 18:00 |
| London Wasps | 19–29 | Saracens |
| Report |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 39,400 Referee: Sean Davey |
2008
edit| 6 September 2008 14:30 |
| London Irish | 26–14 | London Wasps |
| Report |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 52,087 Referee: Andrew Small |
| 6 September 2008 17:00 |
| Saracens | 21–24 | Harlequins |
| Report |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 52,087 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
2009
edit| 5 September 2009 14:30 |
| Saracens | 18–14 | London Irish |
| Try: Jackson Saull Con: Jackson Pen: Jackson (2) | Report | Try: Stowers Pen: Lamb (2) D. Armitage |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 67,684 Referee: Dave Pearson |
| 5 September 2009 17:15 |
| London Wasps | 26–15 | Harlequins |
| Try: Varndell (2) Con: Van Gisbergen Pen: Van Gisbergen 3 | Report | Try: Monye Camacho Con: Evans Pen: Evans |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 67,684 Referee: Dean Richards |
2010
edit| 4 September 2010 14:00 |
| London Irish | 33–16 | Saracens |
| Report |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 75,112 Referee: Andrew Small |
| 4 September 2010 16:30 |
| London Wasps | 29–29 | Harlequins |
| Report |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 75,112 Referee: Chris White |
2011
edit| 3 September 2011 14:00 |
| London Irish | 24–29 | Harlequins |
| Report |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 55,437 Referee: Greg Garner |
| 3 September 2011 16:30 |
| Saracens | 15–20 | London Wasps |
| Report |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 55,437 Referee: JP Doyle |
2012
edit| 1 September 2012 14:00 |
| London Wasps | 40–42 | Harlequins |
| Report |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 63,102 Referee: Greg Garner |
| 1 September 2012 16:30 |
| Saracens | 40–3 | London Irish |
| Report |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 63,102 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
2013
edit| 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' |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 62,637 Referee: Greg Garner |
| 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' |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 62,637 Referee: Tim Wigglesworth |
2014
edit| 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' |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 66,164 Referee: Andrew Small |
| 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' |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 66,164 Referee: Greg Garner |
2015
editThe 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' |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 42,680 Referee: Ian Tempest |
| 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' |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 42,680 Referee: Wayne Barnes |
2016
editThe 2016 London Double Header returned to its traditional Round 1 position. London Irish had been relegated from the Premiership and therefore did not take part. Home teams were confirmed on 28 June, with away teams confirmed at fixture launch on 7 July.
2017
editThe 2017 London Double Header took 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.[1]
| 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' |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 56,532 Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys |
| 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' |
| Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 56,532 Referee: Tom Foley |