The Ruck

Northampton Saints beat Exeter Chiefs in compelling final

Northampton Saints are the champions of England!They beat Exeter Chiefs 26-17 in the final to be crowned champions for the second time in three years.Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe and Charlie Morgan look back on the match and ask what does it mean for Northampton? Does this cement them as the latest dynasty in English rugby?Will Exeter be able to bounce back from this defeat? And, why is it that the Prem final always delivers such a great occasion? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can Exeter upset Saints to win the Prem?

Northampton Saints will play Exeter Chiefs in the Prem final on Saturday.Alfie and Will are at Sandy Park in Devon as they look ahead to the match and chat to Exeter's Director of Rugby Rob Baxter and winger Olly Woodburn.They discuss whether Northampton Saints will win a second title in three years or whether Exeter are about to finish a remarkable run to the title.Baxter chats about his pride in getting the club back to the final and what they have learnt from their previous trips to Twickenham. Whilst Olly Woodburn discusses last minute drop goals and celebratory ski goggles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prem semi-final drama! Why didn't Bath kick a drop goal?

Northampton will face Exeter in the Prem final!Charlie Morgan and Will Kelleher join Alfie Reynolds to look back on the semi-final weekend which produced two excellent matches as Northampton beat rivals Leicester and Exeter produced a comeback to win away against Bath.Despite all their success under Rob Baxter, was this one of Exeter's great days? They became only the 7th team in Prem history to win away from home in a semi-final.Have they played their final already? Or can they produce another remarkable result?Northampton will look to cement themselves as the dominant side in England when they make the trip to Twickenham next weekend. How impressive is it for them to be back in the final again?Plus, could Maro Itoje really miss England's matches this summer?***Allianz Future Fund | Allianz Insurance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are these the most evenly matched Prem semi-finals ever?

The Prem rugby semi-final line-up is confirmed: Northampton hosts rivals Leicester and Bath play Exeter.Alfie Reynolds, Alex Lowe and Charlie Morgan preview the semi-finals and ask is this the hardest season to predict who will make the final?Could an away side get a rare victory? They also discuss the teams near the bottom of the league. Who had the most disappointing campaign? And who has reasons to be optimistic?Plus, Andy Farrell has signed a contract extension to remain Ireland head coach until 2031. How big a blow is that to England and the RFU? And what does it say about the appeal of the England head coach job? ***Allianz Future Fund | Allianz Insurance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who will qualify for the play-offs!?

With one week of the regular season remaining Alfie, Will and Elgan look ahead to the final weekend in the Prem.They chat about the crunch fixtures as Bath host Leicester and Exeter play Saracens and ask who will make it into the play-offs? With Bristol now out of the running for the top four they ask what next for the club? Is this another season of underachievement? And, have Sale hit rock bottom following their last-gasp defeat away to lowly Newcastle?Plus, Saracens and England full-back Elliot Daly chats to Will and Elgan about his latest injury set-back, the departing Mark McCall and Saracens' push for the play-offs.And, Worcester have won the Champ, Jo Yapp will be the first coach of the British & Irish Lions women's team and is Shaun Edwards departing France?***Allianz Future Fund | Allianz Insurance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.