1997–98 Premiership 1
| 1997–98 Premiership 1 | |
|---|---|
| Countries | England |
| Date | 23 August 1997 – 17 May 1998 |
| Champions | Newcastle Falcons (1st title) |
| Runners-up | Saracens |
| Relegated | Bristol |
| Matches played | 132 |
| Attendance | 823,446 (average 6,238 per match) |
| Highest attendance | 19,764 – Saracens v Newcastle (19 April 1998) |
| Lowest attendance | 1,500 – London Irish v Bristol (20 February 1998) |
| Top point scorer | 279 – Michael Lynagh (Saracens) |
| Top try scorer | 17 – Dominic Chapman (Richmond) |
The 1997–98 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 £7,500,000. 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 1998–99 Premiership 2, in what would be their first season outside of the top flight since the leagues began.