George Hendy's quick-fire double secures Northampton Saints' second Premiership title in three years

Match summary

Northampton Saints edged a physical, error-strewn Premiership final to defeat Exeter Chiefs 26-17 in front of 82,500 at Twickenham. The victory delivered the club's second domestic crown in three seasons and third overall, capping a campaign in which they had been the standout side.

Decisive second half

The contest swung on two yellow cards. Josh Kemeny was sin-binned for head contact on Dafydd Jenkins after 51 minutes, and Jenkins crossed immediately to give Exeter a 17-14 lead. Six minutes later Jenkins himself was carded for a similar tackle on George Furbank. With the extra man, Northampton struck twice through George Hendy in the 64th and 67th minutes, Fin Smith adding both conversions to seal a 26-17 victory.

Hendy's heroics

The 23-year-old wing, uncapped by England, repeated his match-influencing turn from the 2024 final when he set up the winning score. His club captain Furbank, playing his last game for Saints before joining Harlequins, called him a player who can score tries "potentially no one else in the league and potentially in the world can score." England's Nations Championship squad is named on Monday, and Hendy's two-try display in the final quarter puts him firmly in the conversation.

“He's a pretty special player. He scores tries that potentially no one else in the league and potentially in the world can score. He's someone you want on your team.”

Emotional farewells

Furbank lifted the trophy in his final appearance, describing a "mix of relief, happiness and sadness all merged into one." Man of the match Henry Pollock, the England flanker, said winning was "something you dream of as a little kid." BBC Radio Northampton commentator Graham McKechnie was visibly moved, noting that "it means so much for Northampton, it means so much for Northamptonshire."

Reaction

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter praised the officials' handling of head-contact incidents and refused to criticise his side, though he conceded the lineout was "not at the level it needs to be." His captain Jenkins acknowledged Northampton had been the superior side over the season. The final was the centrepiece of a weekend that also saw Leinster claim the United Rugby Championship and the Hurricanes put 60 points on the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific.

“I thought the ref was great around head contact today. The first thing you have to do in a final is to congratulate the opposition. The reality is that Northampton have had a great season.”