The end of an era for Saracens, as the curtain finally fell on Mark McCall’s 17-year tenure, and the beginning of a new one for their fierce rivals Exeter Chiefs, whose new-look side stormed into the Prem play-offs with this comprehensive victory.
Just a year ago, Rob Baxter’s side finished in ninth place, forcing him to fast-track his development of a new XV. Now his side will travel to Bath on Saturday hoping to book their place in the Prem final six years after their last title.
Baxter’s ability to rebuild yet another side in such a short space of time is remarkable, yet it was one of his veterans that stole the show, with Henry Slade almost single-handedly leading the charge and finishing the game as man-of-the-match thanks to a 17-point haul.
Slade was magnificent, turning back the years with an all-court performance that could see him force himself back into contention for an England spot. His last cap was against Argentina last November.
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) June 6, 2026IT JUST HAS TO BE HENRY SLADE 😍🔥
On the counter attack Len Ikitau find Henry sle, who draws the man and realises Cameron Ridl, who pops it to Olly Woodburn who finds Slade on the inside to score for @ExeterChiefs
Will this be it now? 👀
📺 Watch live on @TNTSports and… pic.twitter.com/sWdp6icja1
“I see him every day and I know what he’s capable of,” said Dave Walder, Exeter’s attack coach. “He’s doing everything you would expect of a player who’s not picked [by England] by playing well week-in, week-out on both sides of the ball. I’m sure he’s in their thoughts.”
There was to be no fairy-tale finish for McCall, Baxter’s great rival, who is standing down at the end of the season after a remarkable career that included guiding Saracens to six Premiership titles and three Champions Cup triumphs, as well bringing through both players and coaches for England.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to experience the highs and the lows I suppose and to come to this club at the time that I did and get to work with the people that I’ve worked with,” said McCall. “I’m absolutely blessed to have done that for as long as I’ve done so I think I can, yeah, I feel lucky.
“I remember Brendan Venter’s first team talk back in 2009 and he told them that we’re going to try and do things a bit differently, that we were going to keep a group together, we were going to make memories on and off the field and that’s what happened.
“I’ve got so many memories on and off the field, so many relationships which I’ve built over the years. Like I said, I was fortunate to come to the club and get to experience what I experienced, good and bad.
“I think probably [I will miss] the coaches’ room the most. A lot of nonsense talked in there but it’s a place of trust and a place of loyalty. I’ve worked with a lot of them for a very long time and I love them to death and I’m going to miss them.”
McCall’s side had kept their hopes of reaching the play-offs alive by winning their last five games, but they were outgunned in a one-sided second half.
The game turned deep into added-on time at the end of the first half, when Saracens attempted to build on their 5-3 lead by kicking a penalty to the corner, only to lose possession and cough up a couple of penalties themselves as Exeter counter-attacked. Slade’s break forced Charlie Bracken to deliberately knock on his pass, with Campbell Ridl outside him. Bracken was sent to the sin-bin and from the subsequent line-out, Max Norey powered over for a try.
Saracens, who had looked the more dangerous side despite playing into a stiff breeze in the first half with the impressive Tobias Elliott finishing a fine move, looked composed as they attempted to run down the clock in Bracken’s absence. But from a loose turnover ball at a breakdown, Slade spotted a midfield mismatch and took off, and, after an exchange between Ridl and Ollie Woodburn, then finished off the move in style.
Moments later, Slade turned the screw with a penalty to establish a 13-point lead and the burst of scoring sapped all confidence from Saracens, with Fergus Burke losing his composure by throwing a forward pass and then kicking a restart dead.
McCall brought on Owen Farrell to rescue the game but Exeter were now in their pomp, with Slade and Len Ikitau dominating the midfield, and their forwards taking control of the set-piece.
Andrea Zambonin powered over from a tapped penalty for his side’s third try and although Nick Isiekwe reduced the deficit by crossing for a try, the Sandy Park crowd’s celebrations went into overdrive when Stephen Varney finished off a break-away attack that had begun deep in the Exeter half.
Match details
Scoring sequence: 0-5 Elliott try, 3-5 Slade pen, 8-5 Norey try, 13-5 Slade try, 15-5 Slade con, 18-5 Slade pen, 23-5 Zambonin try, 25-5 Slade con, 25-10 Isiekwe try, 25-12 Farrell con, 30-12 Varney try, 32-12 Slade con.
Exeter: O Woodburn; P Brown-Bampoe, H Slade, L Ikitau (Z Wimbush 74), C Ridl; H Skinner, S Varney; S Sio (E Burger 62), M Norey (J Dweba 62), J Iosefa-Scott (B Tchumbadze 62), D Jenkins (R Tuima 72), A Zambonin, T Hooper, C Tshiunza, E Roots (K James 47).
Saracens: M Malins; T Elliott, N Tompkins, O Hartley, R Segun (N Caluori 54); F Burke (O Farrell 54), C Bracken (I van Zyl 66); E Mawi (R Carre 45), J George (T Dan 54), M Street (M Riccioni 40), M Itoje, H Tizard (N Michelow 66), T McFarland (N Isiekwe 54), B Earl, T Willis.
Sin-bin: C Bracken.
Referee: Karl Dickson.
Thanks for joining us!
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That brings our coverage of the final day of the regular Prem season to an end, as Exeter clinched a play-off place with victory over Saracens and Bath secured second with a win over Leicester. Here are the resulting play-off fixtures we have to enjoy:
- Semi-final one: Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers - Friday, 12 June (19:45 BST)
- Semi-final two: Bath vs Exeter Chiefs - Saturday, 13 June (15:00)
- Final: Saturday, 20 June (15:00) - Twickenham
Thanks for joining us!
Parling ‘frustrated but proud’
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Leicester Tigers head coach Geoff Parling speaking to TNT Sports: “Frustrated at the end result but really proud of the players efforts.
“We’ll move on pretty sharpish. It’s a short week and we’ll focus our attentions on Friday now”.
‘Leicester are such a formidable side’ - Du Toit
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Bath’s hat-trick scorer Thomas du Toit spoke to TNT Sports shortly after full-time: “We know every time we play Leicester Tigers they are such a formidable side - they are rock hard.
“It was brilliant. We were joking before the closest I came to scoring a hat-trick was scoring in three games in a row.
“We are just so grateful to play at home. It doesn’t make it any easier - we know Exeter are a great side - but we are up for the challenge”.
End of an era
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Defeat today means Mark McCall’s 17-year tenure at Saracens has come to an end.
Baxter ‘emotional’ after win
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Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter speaking to TNT Sports: “I’m feeling pretty emotional about the whole thing. When you go through some of the things we went through last season and then you get a day like today, the highs and lows of sport are incredible.
“I don’t think I’ve enjoyed two minutes of rugby as much as I enjoyed the two minutes after Varney scored for a long, long time. That was the only time we could relax, Sarries were looking like here we go, they’re going to get back to one score, and all of a sudden we’re breaking.
“It’s a great feeling seeing a group of lads who have worked as hard as these guys have to achieve something. Now we’ve got to get our feet on the ground as quickly as we can and make sure we’re competitive, ready to go next week.
“It would have felt disappointing if we lost today although we’ve had a good season, now it will feel disappointing if we lose next season and we’ve had a good season. Still a lot to go.”
Semi-final line-up
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Friday: Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers
Saturday: Exeter Chiefs vs Bath
‘It’s a really good feeling’ - Slade on reaching play-offs
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Henry Slade to TNT Sports on reaching the play-offs: “It’s a really good feeling, we got used to it a while back, you don’t know how much you miss something until you haven’t got it, its been five, six years since we’ve been in the play-offs.
“It’s awesome to have done it especially after last season, boys came into pre-season with the bit between their teeth. The boys have been fantastic.”
On whether it meant more because it wads Saracens: “Of course it did.”
On what has changed this year: “Rob (Baxter) set it out for us at the start of the year, that we want to be a hard team to beat. We’ve got to fight for everything and that’s what we’ve been doing.”
“We’ve worked hard for each other and when you work hard you get your rewards.”
Watch: Slade’s second-half score
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— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) June 6, 2026IT JUST HAS TO BE HENRY SLADE 😍🔥
On the counter attack Len Ikitau find Henry sle, who draws the man and realises Cameron Ridl, who pops it to Olly Woodburn who finds Slade on the inside to score for @ExeterChiefs
Will this be it now? 👀
📺 Watch live on @TNTSports and… pic.twitter.com/sWdp6icja1
Harlequins miss out on Champions Cup despite win over Saints
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Tom Lawday snatched a late win for Harlequins against Northampton in his final appearance for the club but the 38-31 victory was not enough to secure Champions Cup qualification.
In a rollercoaster match, there were four changes of lead in the second half alone. Northampton led 31-24 with ten minutes to go after Toby Thame and Jonny Weimann profited from a loose Will Porter kick and then a Marcus Smith intercept. However Alex Dombrandt, the game’s outstanding player, were Harlequins level following a short range lineout. Then in the last play of the game - which featured a potential forward pass by Marcus Smith - Harlequins flew down the right hand touchline with Cassius Cleaves inside pass being finished by back-rower Lawday in a hugely popular score in an otherwise miserable season at the Stoop.
Northampton have secured a record number of points in a ten-team league and will now face Midlands rivals Leicester in the Prem Rugby play-offs on Friday night at Franklin’s Gardens.
Final standings
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Northampton had already sealed top spot, Bath hold onto their spot in second, Exeter climb up to third, Leicester drop to fourth and Saracens miss out.
- Northampton
- Bath
- Exeter Chiefs
- Leicester
- Saracens
- Bristol
- Sale
- Gloucester
- Harlequins
- Newcastle
Full-time results:
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- Bath 24 Leicester 22
- Exeter 32 Saracens 12
- Gloucester 54 Newcastle 21
- Harlequins 38 Northampton 31
- Sale 38 Bristol 17
Full time: Exeter Chiefs 32 Saracens 12
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The clock ticks into the red and Exeter can bring this contest to an end, securing the place in the play-offs. A brilliant second-half display from the hosts.
Full time: Bath 24 Leicester 22
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Madness at the end from the Tigers, who had to attack from their own 22 to clinch a home play-off. With the clock in the red, Van Poortvliet attempted a chip over.
Bath recovered possession, Ojomoh booted the ball out and the hosts have their home play-off. Chessum was absolutely furious with his scrum-half at full-time.
TRY! Exeter seal victory with classy Varney finish
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Exeter Chiefs 32 Saracens 12 (Varney) Exeter are heading to the play-offs!
Varney kicks the ball into the Saracens half and it’s the Exeter man who wins the chase before nudging the ball towards the line and diving on it to seal victory for the hosts.
The conversion is there and the lead is back up to 20, with two minutes on the clock.
TRY! Pearson crosses but Bailey misses conversion
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Bath 24 Leicester 22 (Pearson) There is late drama! Pearson goes over from a Perese offload, but Bailey’s conversion hits the post. We have a minute to play...
78 mins: Bath 24 Leicester 17
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Is there a late twist to come here? Three minutes to play, Leicester camped on the Bath line, and Cokanasiga has just been sin-binned for an accumulation of penalties...
75 mins: Exeter Chiefs 25 Saracens 12
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Hooper sells Dan with a wonderful step but his pass out wide falls just short of Ikitau. Wonderful feet from the Exeter forward, though.
TRY! Saracens reduce deficit with slick move
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Exeter Chiefs 25 Saracens 12 (Isiekwe) Saracens stop the rot and set up a potentially tense ending at Sandy Park.
The visitors produce a really slick passing move from right to left, working the ball out to Isiekwe, who crosses in the corner.
Farrell keeps his cool to make the conversion from out wide and Saracens are back to within two scores.
They couldn’t, could they?
73 mins: Bath 24 Leicester 17
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Just under 10 minutes to go here at the Rec and Bath hold their seven-point lead. It would require something remarkable here for Leicester to thwart the hosts from clinching a home semi-final.
71 mins: Exeter Chiefs 25 Saracens 5
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Saracens intercept the line-out and break with pace down their right but Tompkins’ decision to go for the grubber-kick is a poor one, wasting a good position and giving Exeter an easy way out of a tricky situation.
70 mins: Exeter Chiefs 25 Saracens 5
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Hooper forces the turnover and Sandy Park celebrates. They know they are nearly there. Slade’s kick isn’t his finest work but it finds touch down the home side’s right.
TRY! Zambonin crosses as Exeter pull clear
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Exeter Chiefs 25 Saracens 5 (Zambonin) Exeter go for the tap-and-go after winning the penalty and they are pushing for the line down their right.
They are wearing Saracens down and eventually it’s Zambonin who makes the decisive surge over the line.
Slade makes the kick and the home side are 20 points clear with just 15 minutes to play.
64 mins: Exeter Chiefs 18 Saracens 5
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Saracens defend the maul following the line-out really well, with Itoje making a big intervention, and they earn the scrum just in front of their line.
But Exeter then win the penalty at the set-piece and will go for the tap and go, a couple of metres short.
Latest scores
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- Bath 24 Leicester 17
- Exeter 18 Saracens 5
- Gloucester 49 Newcastle 14
- Harlequins 24 Northampton 24
- Sale 33 Bristol 12
62 mins: Exeter Chiefs 18 Saracens 5
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Exeter are looking to put this one to bed now, with some really slick passing taking them up to the Saracens 22. But the visitors, who are visibly tiring, do manage to force the turnover.
However, there was a tackle off the ball from Tizard and Exeter will have the penalty on their right. Slade kicks for the corner, finding touch within five metres of the line.
60 mins: Exeter Chiefs 18 Saracens 5
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Henry Slade has turned back the years here, almost single-handedly taking this game away from Saracens. Just as Saracens looked to be running down the clock on Bracken’s yellow card, Slade launched a thrilling counter-attack from a turnover, and after an exchange between Ridl and Ollie Woodburn, then finishes off the move.
Moments later Slade turns the screw with a penalty to establish as 13-point lead. Saracens fly-half Fergus Burke looked to have lost his head, throwing a forward pass and then kicking a restart dead, and McCall has brought on Owen Farrell to rescue the game.
59 mins: Exeter Chiefs 18 Saracens 5
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With Leicester trailing at the Rec, Exeter are climbing up to third as things stand, above Geoff Parling’s side.
Itoje is penalised at the line-out and there are celebrations among the home players.
57 mins: Exeter Chiefs 18 Saracens 5
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Owen Farrell, Nick Isiekwe and Noah Caluori are all on for Saracens. Can they turn things around here?
Play gets back underway with a Saracens scrum inside their own 22.
Penalty! Slade edges Exeter further ahead
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Exeter Chiefs 18 Saracens 5 (Slade) Exeter earn the penalty at the breakdown and Slade has the simple task of kicking through the posts from close range.
Burke then sends his restart straight into touch and it’s all going wrong for Saracens at the moment.
TRY! Du Toit hat-trick as Bath clinch lead and bonus point
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Bath 24 Leicester 17 (Du Toit) It’s a hat-trick for Du Toit! The big tighthead, again, driving his way over from a metre out.
A hint of a double movement? Perhaps, but the try was given, and frankly, it felt inevitable. Bath take a one-score advantage and have one leg in a home play-off.
TRY! Slade extends Exeter’s lead on counter
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Exeter Chiefs 15 Saracens 5 (Slade) How big could that be? With Saracens still down to 14, Exeter score their second try of the day.
Saracens come forward with purpose but the hosts force the turnover and can break with pace down their left.
There is some great last-ditch defending from the visitors but Exeter have the overload and time their passing well, freeing Slade to cross for a crucial try.
The conversion is there and the lead is up to 10.
46 mins: Exeter Chiefs 8 Saracens 5
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Saracens get the decision at the scrum and they can find touch down their left flank. A reminder that the visitors are down to 14 at the moment following Bracken’s yellow on the brink of half-time.
44 mins: Exeter Chiefs 8 Saracens 5
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Exeter produce a wonderful move from left to right but Ridl spills the final pass slung out to him on the flank by Slade. A huge opportunity missed by the hosts, the wing had green grass in front of him.
41 mins: Exeter Chiefs 8 Saracens 5
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We are back underway at Sandy Park, with Saracens kicking things off. As things stand, Exeter are six points ahead of the London side and clinching a play-off spot. That can all change in the next 40 minutes.
Gloriously tense game at Sandy Park
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So far it has been a gloriously tense do-or-die game. The conditions have made it tricky for both sides to win their line-out ball, but overall Saracens would have been happier with their performance. Playing into the wind, they looked more dangerous with their possession, with Exeter’s handling at times letting them down.
And yet the last twist of the half may have just swung the momentum to Rob Baxter’s side. Saracens will have the conditions after the interval, but having surrendered the lead, must chase the game without their scrum-half Charlie Bracken while he is in the sin bin. This one looks like it will go to the wire.
Away from the battle for the top four...
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The main point of interest from the other matches is who will secure the final Champions Cup spot. Gloucester lead Newcastle Red Bulls 35-14 at half-time so look to have sewn up eighth in the table as Harlequins are drawing 12-12 with Northampton Saints. In the other game, Sale lead Bristol 26-12 at the break.
Games getting back underway
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The play-off shoot-out at Sandy Park will be the last game to get back underway, given the first half went well beyond 40 minutes.
But the other fixtures are starting to kick off for their second periods, including at the Rec.
Half-time scores
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- Bath 17 Leicester 17
- Exeter 8 Saracens 5
- Gloucester 35 Newcastle 14
- Harlequins 12 Northampton 12
- Sale 26 Bristol 12
Harlequins level with Saints
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Jamie Benson’s try on the stroke of half-time has drawn Harlequins level with Prem Rugby leaders Northampton Saints at a sodden Stoop.
Northampton have dominated so many aspects of this game, making almost twice as many carries and passes. However Harlequins, led by Will Evans and Jack Kenningham, have run riot at the breakdown, winning a staggering nine turnovers.
When Saints’ handling has clicked, it was beautiful to watch with Fraser Dingwall initiating a lovely exchange of passes with James Ramm that resulted in Jonny Weimann’s opening try. Alex Dombrandt, one of very few players to enhance their reputation this season for Harlequins, replied with a short-range effort from a five-metre scrum but JJ van der Mescht also rumbled over from a couple of metres out.
Harlequins had plenty of entries into the 22 but their suspect handling and line-out security were preventing them from capitalising until Marcus Smith and Cameron Anderson moved the ball quickly for Benson to bring the scores level at 12-12.
Big swing at Sandy Park
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What a swing in the game with the final play of the half. Saracens had been in control, opting to kick a penalty to the corner with the half in added on time.
But then after conceding a penalty at the breakdown, Exeter counter-attacked, and after Charlie Bracken deliberately knocked on a pass by Henry Slade to Campbell Ridl, the Saracens scrum-half was shown a yellow card.
Exeter kicked to the corner and from the line-out Max Norey scampered over for a try. Saracens now have to manage playing the opening 10 minutes of the second half without their scrum half.
Half-time around the grounds
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That try from Norey is the final action of this tense opening period at Sandy Park, with all four of the other fixtures already at the break.
TRY! Norey crosses to give Exeter lead
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Exeter Chiefs 8 Saracens 5 (Norey) Right at the end of this opening period, Exeter have the lead!
The line-out is really tidy from the hosts, and with everyone expecting Exeter to maul for the line, the ball is popped to Norey, who bursts over in the corner.
The conversion goes wide from Slade but Exeter move ahead for the first time this afternoon.
43 mins: Exeter Chiefs 3 Saracens 5
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There is late drama at Sandy Park! Slade is bursting into space down Exeter’s right but just before he pops it to Ridl, Bracken knocks the ball out of his grasp.
There is a TMO check, with Exeter really unhappy, and the decision is deliberate knock-on, meaning Bracken is in the bin, but there was enough cover to avoid the penalty try.
Exeter will have a line-out in the corner as they look to land a late blow in this first half.
TRY! Van Poortvliet draws Leicester level
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Bath 17 Leicester Tigers 17 (Van Poortvliet) The tit-for-tat nature of the game has continued - and we are even! A fabulous Leicester maul looked as if it would barge its way over but it came up just short; Van Poortvliet, however, is able to dart over to level up the scores. And that is the half at the Rec.
41 mins: Exeter Chiefs 3 Saracens 5
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Saracens win a late penalty and can kick for the corner down their left, but they lose their line-out for the third time this afternoon.
Exeter immediately win a penalty of their own and they will have one last attack as the clock ticks into the red.
38 mins: Exeter Chiefs 3 Saracens 5
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Massive moment here at Sandy Park, as after a review, a try by Rotimi Segun is ruled out after it reveals he loses possession after a tackle by Henry Slade in the left-hand corner. It came after a fine break by Fergus Burke. Still, Saracens are enjoying a purple patch and still hold the lead despite playing into the wind.
TRY! Cokanasiga crosses for Bath
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Bath 17 Leicester Tigers 10 (Cokanasiga) The hosts have just started to get the upper hand at the scrum which can often be the difference in these conditions.
Off the back of a scrum penalty, Cokanasiga crosses in the corner after a lovely Ojomoh pull-back.
It’s a nice try but, again, it remains a one-score game as the conversion goes wide.
33 mins: Exeter Chiefs 3 Saracens 5
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Saracens keep the pressure on after Exeter’s clearance and Burke makes a wonderful line-breaking run to get into the home side’s 22.
The fly-half slings a pass out to Segun on the left and the wing shows great pace to just about squeeze over in the corner.
But there is going to be a TMO check, with Slade’s last-ditch tackle potentially causing a problem. And replays show the Saracens man just lost control of the ball before he slid over the line, so no try! A huge intervention from Slade.
30 mins: Exeter Chiefs 3 Saracens 5
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Saracens earn another line-out down their right flank in the Exeter 22 but again the passing is sloppy and the home side can gather and clear.
Penalty! O’Connor reduces Bath’s advantage
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Bath 12 Leicester Tigers 10 (O’Connor) Barbeary flies off his feet at a Leicester ruck and O’Connor has the easiest kick to reduce the deficit to two off the tee. It’s really nip and tuck here.
Latest scores
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- Bath 12 Leicester Tigers 7
- Exeter Chiefs 3 Saracens 5
- Gloucester 7 Newcastle Red Bulls 14
- Harlequins 7 Northampton Saints 12
- Sale Sharks 26 Bristol Bears 0
23 mins: Exeter Chiefs 3 Saracens 5
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Skinner takes a heavy knock from Earl at the breakdown. He is back on his feet but one to keep an eye on.
Saracens then earn a penalty at the breakdown and they can kick for touch down their right. The visitors shift it inside following the line-out but the move breaks down at the crucial moment and Varney can clear.
Penalty! Slade reduces deficit from tee
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Exeter Chiefs 3 Saracens 5 (Slade) Exeter win the penalty at the breakdown, and opt to kick for the posts from a central position. Slade steps up for the home side and it’s straight down the middle from the England man.
TRY! Du Toit double gives Bath lead
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Bath 12 Leicester Tigers 7 (Du Toit) It’s a second for Du Toit from close range, again from a driving maul, but that try belonged to Spencer who, from inside his own half, put a penalty punt onto the Leicester five-metre line.
The scrum battle is already heating up; despite the rain, this is already a slobberknocker. Carreras makes the conversion this time.
TRY! Du Toit provides swift response for Bath
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Bath 5 Leicester Tigers 7 (Du Toit) A swift response from the hosts, after a Liebenberg deliberate knock-on gave them field position.
Like Leicester, Bath kept it tight, Barbeary came close from the driving maul before Du Toit surged over. How many times has the South African breezeblock done that?
Carreras can’t add the extras but this game already has an even, quarter-final feel.
11 mins: Exeter Chiefs 0 Saracens 5
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A big statement by Saracens, who open the scoring with a try by Tobias Elliot. It has been a nervy opening by Exeter, the try was a result of a mistake by Harvey Skinner, who kicked a goal-line drop out straight into touch, giving Saracens a five-metre scrum under the posts. After several pick and drives, Max Malins put Elliot over in the right hand corner.
TRY! Elliott gives Saracens crucial advantage
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Exeter Chiefs 0 Saracens 5 (Elliott) First blood to Saracens! It’s great patience from the visitors after being gifted a five-metre scrum and eventually it’s Elliott who crosses in the corner.
With Saracens pushing for the line, a couple of metres short, some slick passing from Malins releases Elliott on their right on two occasions, and the second time he has the space to finish the move off.
The conversion is wayward from Burke, so the lead remains at five.
TRY! Bailey gives Leicester early lead
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Bath 0 Leicester Tigers 7 (Bailey) Leicester strike the first blow at the Rec.
Arundell is caught offside so the Tigers kick to the corner. The visitors, in the inclement weather, choose to keep it tight before O’Connor flashes to the short side, feeds Bailey, and the centre scores against his old club.
O’Connor converts and it’s the perfect start for Leicester.
5 mins: Exeter Chiefs 0 Saracens 0
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Exeter are sloppy at the lint-out and Saracens can clear down the field. Bracken charges down a kick, causing a moment of panic in the hosts’ 22 but Skinner can sweep up and cleae the danger.
3 mins: Exeter Chiefs 0 Saracens 0
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It’s a strong start from the home side and they win an early penalty at the breakdown, with Elliott at fault.
Skinner kicks for the corner down Exeter’s left and they’ll have an early opportunity with to get on the board at the line-out.
1 min: Exeter Chiefs 0 Saracens 0
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We are underway around the grounds, including at Sandy Park, where Exeter’s Skinner kicks things off, with the hosts going from right to left in the opening period.
Sandy Park pays its respects
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There is a moment of silence at Sandy Park to pay respects to the three members of the Royal Navy who died in a helicopter crash during a training exercise in Devon on Wednesday.
Here we go...
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The teams are making their way onto the pitches around the grounds and we are just a couple of moments away from getting underway.
Have your say
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We are less than five minutes away from kick-off in the Prem’s final round of fixtures in the regular season. Who do you think will come out on top at Sandy Park?
McCall’s last dance?
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Mark McCall standing in the middle of the pitch, alone with his thoughts, watching his players warming up. Is this going to be his last game in charge of Saracens after 17 years?
Saracens’ late surge for the line
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Saracens have found form at the right time this season, having won each of their last five Prem fixtures to put themselves in play-off contention on this final day.
Mark McCall’s side have beaten Sale, Leicester, Bristol, Gloucester and Harlequins in their last five outings.
‘Great for the neutral’ - Van Graan on final day battles
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Ahead of the visit of Leicester, Bath head coach Johann van Graan said: “It’s great for the neutral. It could come down to the final play, and this is why we coach and play. It’s not about pressure, it’s about enjoying the moment.
“I’m loving it, the players are loving it. The Prem is in such a great place and we should enjoy that because it wasn’t like this a few years ago”.
Baxter on Saracens rivalry
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Discussing Exeter and Saracens’ rivalry this week, Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “The two of us fighting out for top four in the end of the season shows it’s back on and these games are loaded and now it’s up to us to take our opportunities more than Saracens take their opportunities.”
Battle to avoid bottom two
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A reminder that at the other end of the table, Sale, Gloucester and Harlequins are battling for the final two Champions Cup spots (7th and 8th).
Wet conditions to play in Leicester’s favour
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Nice weather for ducks? Dolphins, more like. Since my arrival in Bath just after midday, the heavens have yet to close. Shoes in tatters; if anyone knows a trenchfoot specialist in the South West, send them my way.
Both teams are out warming up and, despite Leicester’s newfound desire to shift the ball to their swift wings, it feels as though this weather might suit them. In a do-or-die battle, the Tigers will fancy their chances at going toe to toe with Bath’s front five.
McCall has ‘massive respect for Exeter’
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Saracens head coach Mark McCall, ahead of what will be his final game for the club if they are beaten, said this week: “I have massive respect for Exeter, especially for what they have done this year.”
Speaking to BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly, he added: “They came off a really tough season last season and to turn it around in the manner they have, you can only applaud them for that.
“They are a great club. There is obviously a rivalry, but we have been enjoying the last couple of months a lot and our motivation is much more internal to be honest. And I think there is another level we can go to.”
This afternoon’s fixtures
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All five matches in this final round of fixtures of the regular season are kicking off at 3:15 this afternoon:
- Bath vs Leicester Tigers
- Exeter Chiefs vs Saracens
- Gloucester vs Newcastle Red Bulls
- Harlequins vs Northampton Saints
- Sale Sharks vs Bristol Bears
Our rugby experts predict what the Prem play-off line-up will be
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With Saracens and Exeter battling for the final play-off spot, the latter still in contention for a third-placed finish, and Leicester and Bath tussling it out for second, our experts have given their predictions on how the top four will look this evening.
Chief Rugby Correspondent Gavin Mairs says: “Saracens have been playing knockout rugby since April and have kept alive outside hopes of reaching the play-offs and extending McCall’s last season after 17 years in charge by winning their last five league matches.
“The fear for Saracens is that they have expended a lot of mental and physical reserves in doing so. Baxter has rebuilt his squad in after a tough season, and Exeter, with the benefit of home support, should edge it.”
Check out the full set of predictions here.
The skipper has spoken
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We are less than 45 minutes away from kick-off in this afternoon’s five fixtures. Maro Itoje was seen a few moments earlier delivering his Saracens side an onfield team-talk ahead of their crunch match with Exeter at Sandy Park.
Exeter despise Saracens, and the Prem is all the better for it
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Hate is a strong word, but Exeter really do not like Saracens. The dislike stems from the Chiefs believing that they were “cheated” out of three Prem titles, between 2016 and 2019, when Saracens defeated them in the final only for salary-cap breaches to be discovered and retrospectively punished.
Exeter’s victory in the 2017 semi-final at Sandy Park, with Henry Slade’s extraordinary touch-finder setting up the winning finish, remains an aberration for the Chiefs in knockout matches during that era.
A British summer
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A weather update from Telegraph Sport’s Charles Richardson at the Rec earlier today...
It might end up as one for the purists in Bath today… if you have tickets in an uncovered stand, bring a poncho (and a canoe)! pic.twitter.com/8u2XAEVdpv
— Charles Richardson (@CharlesRTel) June 6, 2026
Harlequins vs Northampton Saints line-ups
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Harlequins: Benson; Anderson, Murley, Bradley, Cleaves; Smith, Porter; Hobson, Riley, Streeter; Green, Lewies, Kenningham, W Evans, Dombrandt (capt).
Replacements: Staples, Wenger, Delgado, Treadwell, Petti, Lawday, Townsend, Bellamy.
Northampton: Pater; Martin, Litchfield, Dingwall (capt), Ramm; Belleau, Weimann; Fischetti, Langdon, Kundiona; Lockett, Van der Mescht, Kemeny, Pearson, Graham.
Replacements: Wright, West, Tonga’uiha, Munga, Chick, James, Thame, Hendy.
Gloucester vs Newcastle Red Bulls line-ups
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Gloucester: Redshaw; Loader, Llewellyn, S Atkinson (capt), Thorley; C Atkinson, Englefield; Rapava Ruskin, Blake, Fasogbon; Clark, Alemanno, Thomas, Trenholm, Ventor.
Replacements: Innard, Bleuler, Knight, Gwynne, Clement, Austin, Knight, Edwards-Giraud.
Newcastle: E Grayson; H Obatoyinbo, Hearle, Arnold, E Obatoyinbo; Connon, Benítez Cruz; Hancock, McGuigan (capt), McCallum, Hodgson, Scott, Leatherbarrow, Christie, Lockwood.
Replacements: Fletcher, Clark, Palframan, Cardall, Parsons, Elliott, Healy, Wade.
Sale Sharks vs Bristol Bears line-ups
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Sale: Carpenter; O’Flaherty, Roebuck, Ma’asi-White, Reed; Ford, Quirke; Opoku-Fordjour, Jibulu, Harper, van Rhyn (capt), Bamber, Dugdale, Kelly, T Curry.
Replacements: Longstaff, McEachran, Bell, Andrews, Logan, Warr, James, Wills.
Bristol: Lane; Heward, Bates, J Jenkins, Boshoff; Worsley, Randall (capt); Woolmore, Gwilliam, Lahiff, Dun, Taylor, Owen, Thacker, Batley.
Replacements: Hill, Grahamslaw, Chawatama, Halliwell, K Jenkins, Wolstenholme, Pepper, Harris.
Those teams in full
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Bath: De Glanville; Cokanasiga, Lawrence, Ojomoh, Arundell; Carreras, Spencer (capt); Obano, Tuipulotu, Du Toit; Hill, Ewels, Bayliss, Underhill, Barbeary.
Replacements: Frost, Van Wyk, Sela, Molony, Richards, Carr-Smith, Redpath, Reid.
Leicester Tigers: Pearson; Radwan, Wand, Bailey, Hamer-Webb; O’Connor, Van Poortvliet; Smith, Blamire, Heyes; Henderson, Chessum (capt), Liebenberg, Reffell, Cracknell.
Replacements: Clare, Van der Flier, Hurd, Martin, Watson, Bemand, Kata, Perese.
Leicester team news - O’Connor returns
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James O’Connor returns at fly-half for Leicester Tigers, while Ollie Hassell-Collins is replaced by Gabriel-Hamer-Webb.
Cameron Henderson and Olly Cracknell also come into the side.
Bath team news - Russell remains out
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With Finn Russell still sidelined with a tight calf, Santi Carreras moves to 10 with Tom de Glanville coming in at full-back.
Josh Bayliss replaces Ethan Staddon, while Alfie Barbeary starts in place of Guy Pepper.
Those teams in full
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Exeter: Woodburn; Brown-Bampoe, Slade, Ikitau, Ridl; Skinner, Varney; Sio, Norey, Iosefa-Scott, Jenkins (capt), Zambonin, Hooper, Tshiunza, Roots.
Replacements: Dweba,Burger, Tchumbadze,Tuima, James, Cairns, Wimbush, Hammersley.
Saracens: Malins; Elliott, Tompkins, Hartley, Segun; Burke, Bracken; Mawi, George, Stree, Itoje (capt), Tizard, McFarland, Earl, Willis.
Replacements: Dan, Carre, Riccioni, Isiekwe, Michelow, Van Zyl, Farrell, Caluori.
Saracens team news - McFarland comes in
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Mark McCall brings Theo McFarland into the Saracens team for what could be the pair’s final game for the club, with the forward replacing Nick Isiekwe.
Rotimi Segun returns on the wing after being out with a knee injury.
Exeter team news - Feyi-Waboso out
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Exeter are without Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who has undergone surgery for a facial injury suffered last week, and is replaced by Paul Brown-Bampoe.
Christ Tshiunza comes into the team in Rob Baxter’s only other change, replacing Greg Fisilau, who also has a facial injury.
Exeter host Saracens in play-off shoot-out; Bath and Leicester battle for second
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Good afternoon and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live coverage of the final day of the Prem’s regular season, with all 10 teams kicking off at 3:15pm.
The key fixture this afternoon is at Sandy Park, where Exeter Chiefs host Saracens in a shoot-out for the final play-off spot, while Leicester Tigers travel to Bath in a battle for second and a home semi-final next week.
Exeter start the day in fourth, three points ahead of Saracens and knowing they will be in the play-offs if they can avoid defeat against the London outfit, while they could climb to third with victory, depending on the outcome at the Rec.
Mark McCall’s side, meanwhile, will clinch fourth-place with a win unless they do so without a bonus point, with Exeter claiming two losing bonus points. Should the two sides finish level on points, which could only happen with a Saracens victory, the visitors would sneak through with an extra win to their name this season.
There is an injury blow for the hosts, with England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso sidelined having undergone surgery for a facial injury suffered last week. Mark McCall brings Theo McFarland into the Saracens team for what could be the pair’s final game for the club.
In a repeat of last season’s final, Bath and Leicester meet at the Rec this afternoon, with the visitors starting the day two points behind the defending champions, but both teams knowing victory will secure a second-placed finish.
Elsewhere, Northampton Saints, who have already secured top spot, travel to Harlequins, Gloucester host Newcastle Red Bulls, and Sale Sharks take on Bristol Bears. Sitting from seventh to ninth, respectively, Sale, Gloucester and Harlequins are battling for the final two Champions Cup berths.