Northampton qualify for semi-finals while Bath secure Champions Cup rugby

Beno Obano scores one of Bath's tries - Action Images
Beno Obano scores one of Bath's tries - Action Images
  • Northampton secure fourth place

  • Bath take sixth and Champions Cup slot with dramatic late win

  • Sale (7th) can qualify for Champions Cup if La Rochelle finish in top six in France tonight

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Premiership semi-finals confirmed

Exeter Chiefs vs Northampton Saints

Saracens vs Gloucester

6:28PM

That's it for the live blog

All six match reports on the way from around the country. A wild finish to the season.

6:27PM

The killer moment for Quins

Heart goes out to Lang.

6:24PM

Quiet night ahead for Bristol...

Charles Piutau and Siale Piutau of Bristol BEARS - Credit: getty images
Charles Piutau and Siale Piutau of Bristol BEARS Credit: getty images

6:23PM

Nice touch by the Warriors

6:23PM

Cracking finish by Solomona

6:15PM

Final table confirmed

table
table

6:11PM

Now, Sale can still get Champions Cup rugby

If La Rochelle finish in the top six in France tonight, the Premiership will get another Champions Cup slot for the seventh-placed side (Sale).

La Rochelle are currently sixth, with a five-point buffer on seventh-placed Montpellier ahead of facing Lyon away tonight.

6:09PM

ALL FULL-TIME SCORES

Exeter 40-21 Northampton
Leicester 31-32 Bath
Newcastle 12-19 Bristol
Sale 46-41 Gloucester
Wasps 27-25 Quins
Worcester 31-29 Saracens

6:08PM

FULL-TIME: Leicester 31-32 Bath

Utterly bonkers. Bath are in the Champions Cup, Sale miss out.

6:07PM

TRY!!! Leicester 31-32 Bath

I do not believe it. Van Rooyen goes over and Priestland converts for the one-point lead - Bath will finish sixth as it stands. Bonus-point try at the death!

6:05PM

You'll be missed, Newcastle

6:05PM

Table (Leicester-Bath still to finish)

table
table

6:03PM

FULL-TIME: Wasps 27-25 Quins

Agonising end to the season for Harlequins. Lang's kick was so close. They miss out on the top four.

6:02PM

FULL-TIME: Exeter 40-21 Northampton

Chiefs top the table. Northampton well beaten but in the play-offs.

6:01PM

It's short! Harlequins lose, Northampton are fourth

Great effort from Lang but the kick is just short. Saints are in the semi-finals for the first time since 2015.

5:59PM

Penalty to Quins

Lang to hit it. This is huge. Get it and Harlequins take fourth.

5:56PM

TRY! Wasps 27-25 Harlequins

After a disastrous Dombrandt drop, Quins come back and Elia scores. Tight! Quins must win for fourth place.

5:52PM

PEN Wasps 27-18 Harlequins

Bad news for Harlequins as Sopoaga stretches the gap to nine points for Wasps.

5:52PM

Ten minutes left at Welford Road

Sixth not secured yet for Sale, who need Leicester to beat Bath.

5:51PM

TRY! Exeter 40-21 Northampton

Chiefs put a bow on it. Cowan-Dickie burrows over.

5:50PM

FULL-TIME: Sale 46-41 Gloucester

Sharks edge a crazy game. As it stands, with Bath losing at Leicester, they will finish sixth.

5:50PM

FULL-TIME: Newcastle 12-19 Bristol

The Bears end an impressive first season back in the Prem with another win, their ninth of the season.

5:50PM

PENS Sale 46-41 Gloucester, Leicester 31-25 Bath

MacGinty for Sale and Priestland for Bath.

5:49PM

FULL-TIME: Worcester 31-29 Saracens

Weir's late penalty clinches the win for the Warriors!

5:48PM

TRY! Newcastle 12-19 Bristol

Williams gets one back for Newcastle.

5:48PM

As it stands

4 Northampton

5 Quins

6 Sale

7 Bath

5:42PM

TRIES! Worcester 28-29 Saracens, Newcastle 7-19 Bristol

Tight at Sixways! Adams in his farewell outing for Worcester gets a score.

Gary Graham has crossed for the Falcons too, no whitewash for them.

5:40PM

PEN Wasps 24-18 Harlequins

Not over yet. Lang adds three more points, Harlequins within a score now. If they win, with Northampton losing, Harlequins would finish fourth.

5:37PM

TRY! Sale 43-41 Gloucester, PEN Worcester 21-29 Saracens

Sale have the lead again!! On track for over 100 points at the AJ Bell after Solomona gets in on the action.

Whiteley knocks over a fifth penalty for Saracens.

No try for Hutchinson, a slight knock-on in the act of scoring.

5:36PM

TRY! Wasps 24-15 Harlequins

Danny Care claws one back for Harlequins.

Meanwhile, Hutchinson might have scored a magic try for Northampton. TMO checking.

5:33PM

TRIES! Exeter 33-21 Northampton, Sale 38-41 Gloucester

Lineout over the top and Dennis coming around the corner runs a hard line to score for Exeter!

MacGinty has one back for Sale against Gloucester too.

5:32PM

PEN Sale 31-41 Gloucester

Lloyd Evans adds another three for Gloucester.

5:31PM

Scores after (roughly) 60 minutes

Exeter 26-21 Northampton

Leicester 33-22 Bath

Newcastle 0-19 Bristol

Sale 31-38 Gloucester

Wasps 24-8 Harlequins

Worcester 21-26 Saracens

 Joe Simpson of Wasps  - Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Credit: GETTY IMAGES

5:27PM

TRIES! Wasps 24-8 Harlequins, Leicester 31-22 Bath

Is that it for Quins' top four hopes? Joe Simpson has a second for Wasps!

On-loan Clayton Blommetjies has scored meanwhile for Leicester, who have a big lead over Bath.

5:25PM

TRY! Worcester 21-26 Saracens

A chip and chase for Bosch, Saracens' back ahead at Sixways.

5:21PM

TRIES! Sale 31-38 Gloucester, Wasps 17-8 Harlequins, Leicester 26-22 Bath, Exeter 28-21 Northampton

Gloucestertake the lead through Vellacott's second, while Wasps get a massive score, Joe Simpson on his farewell appearance giving Harlequins a mountain to climb.

Beno Obano is over for Bath, as they try to catch up with Leicester.

And Kvesic gets Exeter's fourth try, bursting through a maul to score.

5:19PM

TRY! Worcester 21-19 Saracens

Ted Hill scores for the Warriors! Conversion from Weir means Worcester take the lead.

Leicester down to 14 men with a man in the bin.

5:16PM

TRY! Newcastle 0-19 Bristol

Falcons going down with a whimper. Jack Lam powers over for the visitors in his final game for the club.

5:14PM

Reinach down for Northampton

Hope that's not serious, he's such a sensational season. The Premiership's current top try scorer with 12.

Back up now, looks as though he'll continue.

5:13PM

PEN Worcester 14-19 Saracens

Whiteley's fourth of the afternoon as Saracens stretch their lead.

5:13PM

All games now into the second half

Exeter-Saints a bit behind.

5:11PM

TRIES! Sale 31-31 Gloucester, Newcastle 0-12 Bristol

What is happening up there. Coetzer scores what sounds like an absolute screamer on debut for Gloucester, tied at 31-31.

Bristol have doubled their lead at Newcastle, O'Conor going over.

5:05PM

TRY! Sale 31-26 Gloucester

Try number five for the Sharks! Byron McGuigan is over.

5:05PM

As it stands

Northampton will finish fourth.

Sale will finish sixth.

4:57PM

All half-time scores

Exeter 21-21 Northampton

Leicester 26-15 Bath

Newcastle 0-5 Bristol

Sale 24-26 Gloucester

Wasps 10-8 Harlequins

Worcester 14-16 Saracens

Apologies, missed a couple of penalties at Welford Road with all that madness in Devon.

4:56PM

TRY! Exeter 21-21 Northampton

What just happened. 

Reinach is magic. Exeter - who have two more men in the scrum - go wide left. White on the switch move and Reinach intercepts to run it in from 95 metres out! Sensational. No one will catch him. We're tied at half-time in Devon!

4:55PM

Half-time scores (apart from Exeter-Northampton)

Leicester 23-12 Bath

Newcastle 0-5 Bristol

Sale 24-26 Gloucester

Wasps 10-8 Harlequins

Worcester 14-16 Saracens

4:52PM

Nearly all games at half-time

Scores to follow, Exeter with a scrum five metres from Northampton's line, looking for the bonus point (against a pack missing Lawes).

Another Chiefs penalty, another scrum.

And repeat, this time with a yellow card for Waller. Saints down to 13!

4:48PM

TRY! Exeter 21-14 Northampton

Another short-range classic from Exeter, the centurion Armand this time. Northampton with work to do, Exeter attack again and they lose Lawes to the bin.

4:45PM

TRY! Sale 24-26 Gloucester, PEN Leicester 23-12 Bath

Bonkers game in Salford. Lewis Ludlom has Gloucester's fourth try and the lead again.

Another penalty for Ford meanwhile gives Leicester a useful 11-point buffer.

4:42PM

TRY! Exeter 14-14 Northampton, PEN Worcester 14-16 Saracens

No stopping Exeter that time. England prop Ben Moon burrows over from a couple of metres out.

Third three-pointer from Whiteley puts Saracens back ahead at Worcester.

No score for a while from Newcastle, but here's Charles Piutau in action.

Charles Piutau - Credit: ACTION IMAGES
Credit: ACTION IMAGES

4:41PM

TRY! Worcester 14-13 Saracens

That Saracens lead didn't last long. Josh Adams combines with Chris Pennell to put the Worcester full-back over.

4:40PM

TRIES! Sale 24-21 Gloucester, Worcester 7-13 Saracens

Bonus-point score for Sale! Chris Ashton has it for the Sharks. And Saracens now lead at Worcester thanks to Nick Tompkins.

No try for Exeter, Ewers somehow denied from short range.

4:35PM

TRY! Leicester 20-12 Bath, (PEN) Wasps 10-8 Harlequins

Try given to O'Connor! TMO had to check the grounding but it's confirmed.

Might be a try for the Chiefs, TMO there having a look.

Penalty for Wasps puts them ahead against Harlequins.

Ellis Genge of Leicester Tigers - Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Credit: GETTY IMAGES

4:31PM

TRIES! Sale 19-21 Gloucester, Exeter 7-14 Northampton

Some turnaround in Salford! Matt Banahan, on his 200th appearance, is over for Gloucester. Ahead with the conversion.

And there goes Hutchinson! Super counter by Northampton, Reinach with a mazy run before Northampton recycle and Hutchinson cuts past Armand to finish. Huge score.

4:29PM

Leicester 13-12 Bath

Another Ford penalty puts Leicester ahead.

4:27PM

TRY! Sale 19-14 Gloucester

The Cherry and Whites hit back, Ben Vellacott scoring having been set up by Polledri.

4:26PM

Worcester 7-6 Saracens

Second penalty for Whiteley at Sixways, Saracens now within a point of the lead.

4:24PM

Latest scores after 20 minutes

Exeter 7-7 Northampton

Leicester 10-12 Bath

Newcastle 0-5 Bristol

Sale 19-7 Gloucester

Wasps 7-8 Harlequins

Worcester 7-3 Saracens

Josh Bassett of Wasps scores his side's first try - Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Josh Bassett of Wasps scores his side's first try Credit: GETTY IMAGES

4:18PM

TRIES! Sale 19-7 Gloucester, Wasps 7-8 Harlequins

Rob Webber over for the Sharks off the driving maul. Here's Curry scoring their first. And now it's two for the Sharks! Sam James has scored, that's three tries inside 20 minutes for Sale.

ale Sharks Tom Curry - Credit: ACTION IMAGES
Credit: ACTION IMAGES

Joe Marchant has powered his way over in Coventry to put Harlequins into the lead.

4:16PM

TRIES! Leicester 10-14 Bath, Wasps 7-3 Quins

Cokanasiga is in for Bath! The visitors' back three getting in on the scoresheet. Josh Bassett has also gone over for Wasps.

That potential Exeter score for Woodburn has been ruled out for a forward pass.

4:16PM

Possible Exeter score

Super solo score by Woodburn! Exeter have turned it around at home and now lead Northampton. Was there a blocking line? TMO checking.

4:14PM

TRIES! Worcester 7-3 Saracens, Exeter 7-7 Northampton, Leicester 10-7 Bath, Newcastle 0-5 Bristol

Fatialofa is over for the Warriors to give them the lead and Slade cuts through to draw Exeter level against Saints!

Ellis Genge has scored too for Leicester, Tigers now leading Bath which is good news for Sale, while Charles Piutau has also scored for Bristol.

4:11PM

Sale 7-7 Gloucester, Wasps 0-3 Harlequins, Worcester 0-3 Saracens

Young wing Tom Seabrook brings Gloucester level at the AJ Bell. Marcus Smith as put Harlequins ahead at Wasps, as has Tom Whiteley for Saracens at Worcester.

4:08PM

Leicester 3-7 Bath

Penalty from George Ford against his old side to get the Tigers on the board.

4:08PM

That opening Northampton score

Brief stoppage in Devon as Rhys Marshall gets treatment.

4:05PM

TRY! Leicester 0-7 Bath

Watson caps off his 100th appearance for the club with a score!

4:04PM

TRIES! Exeter 0-7 Northampton, Sale 5-0 Gloucester

Shock lead for Northampton! Waller down as Saints go wide, inside ball from Gibson to Tuala, Northampton recycle and Francis goes over.

Tom Curry's crossed in the second minute for Sale too against Gloucester, super set-play off the lineout involving De Klerk, MacGinty and both Curry brothers.

4:01PM

Kick-off!

Six games all underway. Do not go anywhere.

4:00PM

Teams are out

At least, in the two games I have on my screen. Rousing reception for Don Armand on his 100th game for the Chiefs.

3:57PM

Big try in the second Pro14 semi-final

Leinster with a foot in the final against Glasgow?

3:49PM

So how will this all play out?

The obvious outcome would be Exeter to beat Saints - at home, strong side, sell-out crowd - and for Quins to win up at Wasps. That said, it's been a weird all season. Ten minutes to go, get set.

All comments welcome at the bottom or tweet @bencoles_

3:48PM

Another centurion I managed to miss earlier

3:41PM

Bar a miracle, a final game in Wasps colours for this trio

Dai Young, speaking to BT, admits it has been a sad week and hard for him personally. Last games today for Elliot Daly, Joe Simpson and Nathan Hughes.

3:35PM

One of the finds of Northampton's season

Rory Hutchinson's breakout campaign has been a treat, one of those young players to really thrive at Saints under Chris Boyd since his arrival last summer. Dan Schofield sat down with him.

3:26PM

Bath - what will we get next season?

Blackadder leaving, Hooper taking over - it's been 23 years since Bath last won the Premiership and you can imagine supporters might be getting a little twitchy. I've spoken to both the departing and incoming directors of rugby, plus England back-row Zach Mercer, to understand what's going on with the club.

3:20PM

What a debut season for Alex Dombrandt

The impressive young Quins back-row has sat down with Mick Cleary to discuss his breakout campaign.

Alex Dombrandt - Credit:  John Nguyen/JNVisuals
Credit: John Nguyen/JNVisuals

3:15PM

Ben Te'o's goodbye

But will he be missed at Sixways? This excellent piece by Charlie Morgan dissects the England international's time with Worcester.

Te'o
Te'o

3:08PM

A late change at Sixways

3:07PM

Obviously most of the attention will be on on Northampton and Wasps...

But we'll bring you news of all the tries as they happen across the six games.

Quick reminder of the six nominees for Premiership player of the season. Very good to see Kvesic in there after an outstanding second season in Devon.

Players
Players

3:03PM

The table as it stands before kick-off

3:00PM

Sixth place (Champions Cup qualification)

Bath currently occupy sixth place on 51 points and require a win at Welford Road to make sure of that position.

Sale however can move into sixth if Bath lose and the Sharks defeat third-placed Gloucester at home.

However, Sale (50 points) have won 10 games to Bath's nine so far, meaning should the two teams finish level on league points, Sale would take sixth place.

Todd Blackadder takes charge of his final game for Bath - Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Todd Blackadder takes charge of his final game for Bath Credit: GETTY IMAGES

2:55PM

Fourth place (semi-finals)

Exeter, Saracens and Gloucester are already through to next week's semi-finals, while Saints (56 points) will join them if they beat the Chiefs at Sandy Park.

If Northampton do not topple Exeter, though, Quins (55 points) can move into fourth by beating Ricoh Arena hosts Wasps.

Luther Burrell will leave Northampton at the end of the season - Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Luther Burrell will leave Northampton at the end of the season Credit: GETTY IMAGES

2:53PM

A slightly different rugby live blog for the final day of the season

Hi everyone. Six matches, all playing at one from 4pm, with the battles for the last spot in the semi-finals and also for sixth place and Champions Cup rugby coming down to the final day.

Permutations for those games coming up, but here are some other tidbits of information before we get going.

  • Victory for Exeter can secure first place

  • Manu Vunipola makes a first Premiership start for Saracens

  • Newcastle's final game before relegation to the Championship

  • Matt Smith starts at 13 in his final game for Leicester Tigers

  • Matt Banahan makes his 200th Premiership appearance, Joe Launchbury and Don Armand reach 100 for Wasps and Exeter respectively

Oh, and a late change to the Bath side. Sam Underhill is out through illness and replaced by Francois Louw. That's a blow for their hopes away at Leicester.