Gallagher Premiership Rugby FInal 2022

OFFICIAL SOUVENIR 

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME | £10 

LEICESTER TIGERS 

v SARACENS 

TWICKENHAM STADIUM 

SATURDAY 18 JUNE 2022 

KICK-OFF 3PM 

ARACENSSARA 

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E 

GA M ITS TOP OF 

ISK Y 

NO.1 W H U K’ S 

PROUD SPONSOR OF 

THE SPIRIT OF RUGBY

LEICESTER TIGERS V SARACENS 

WELCOME FROM 

PREMIERSHIP 

RUGBY 

On behalf of everyone at 

Premiership Rugby, I take 

great pride in welcoming 

you all to Twickenham 

Stadium for this 

unmissable 2022 Gallagher 

Premiership Rugby Final 

between Leicester Tigers 

and Saracens. 

This moment is an extremely poignant 

one for everyone at Premiership Rugby 

given the disruption the sport has 

experienced over the last three years. 

Twelve months ago, only 10,000 fans were 

able to attend one of the greatest Finals 

ever so the prospect of seeing the stands 

full of fans again will be a special moment 

for all involved and a perfect occasion to 

end this very special season. 

And what a season it has been. It is one 

of the most competitive we have ever 

had: with almost 50% of matches falling 

within a seven-point margin, a record 

1,038 tries, and an unpredictable narrative 

that has seen three new teams qualify for 

the semi-finals. It is a season where we 

have seen record broadcast figures and 

loyal fans return to our stadiums over two 

million times to watch the sport they love. 

We believe that Gallagher Premiership 

Rugby is now one of the great sporting 

competitions and our vision is to ensure 

the Final elevates to the national sporting 

moment it deserves. We have looked to 

broaden the audience this year by putting 

the game on free-to-air television for the 

first time with ITV to amplify the worldclass 

coverage BT Sport provides. We are 

also looking to augment today’s quality 

rugby with some sparkling entertainment 

in the West Fan Village with acts from The 

Feeling, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and after the 

match DJ Ryan Arnold. Our partners have 

also joined us with a myriad of games and 

activities in the same area to keep you 

entertained. 

Today wouldn’t be possible without our 

partners whose support throughout the 

last few years has been exceptional. BT 

Sport continue to set new standards for 

quality rugby broadcasting, and we are 

extremely grateful for their unwavering 

commitment to both domestic but also 

European rugby. A big thank you also 

to Sunset & Vine who produce the live 

matches, to ITV and 3 Rock who create 

the ever-popular Sunday evening free-toair 

highlights programme which rounds 

off each weekend’s action. 

And as we enter our second term with 

our title partner, our relationship with 

Gallagher has become far more than the 

action on the pitch. It is very clear how 

passionately Gallagher employees feel 

about rugby and how they want to make 

a difference in the game. I was honoured 

to be at the StoneX stadium earlier in the 

season when we welcomed our 75,000th 

new player onto the Project Rugby 

Programme which we run with England 

Rugby and Gallagher, with many of their 

staff volunteering at the events. We also 

welcome a group of Gallagher cyclists 

who have cycled with the trophy from 

Newcastle to Twickenham Stadium today 

raising money for the Wooden Spoon. 

Thank you also to our new partners 

Ticketmaster and London Pride who are 

just completing their first full season 

with us, The Famous Grouse who have 

added a huge amount since joining the 

Premiership Rugby family in November 

2020 and our long-standing partners 

Gilbert and Land Rover who are part of 

the Premiership Rugby fabric now. 

A number of our partners are also 

involved in Premiership Rugby’s 

community work and today we host more 

than 100 players from Project Rugby 

on the hallowed turf at half-time while 

hundreds more from the Land Rover 

Premiership Rugby Cup tournaments, that 

we have held this season, parade around 

the pitch. 

Premiership Rugby wouldn’t exist in its 

current form of course without our Club 

Owners. Many of them have been with us 

for 20 years or longer and their unstinting 

support not only of their clubs but of 

the community around those clubs is 

often unrecognised but is inspiring and 

hugely appreciated by those who work 

in the game. Equally, I’d like to thank our 

investors CVC who have been a positive 

influence over this period and we look 

forward to working with them over the 

coming years to grow the game. 

Finally congratulations to our finalists 

Leicester Tigers and Saracens, who 

last played together in a Premiership 

Final in 2011, when Saracens emerged 

22-18 winners. Both teams have had an 

exceptional season and we look forward 

to seeing how they play today. I hope 

everyone enjoys the occasion and best of 

luck to both teams. 

Best Wishes, 

Simon Massie-Taylor 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE, PREMIERSHIP RUGBY 

/premrugby /PremiershipRugby /premrugby /PremiershipRugby 

3

GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP RUGBY FINAL 2022 


It’s massively exciting for everyone at the club to be back at 

Twickenham today for the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final. 

Looking back over the season there have been a number of 

highlights, not least The Showdown 2 at Tottenham Hotspur 

Stadium which was a huge event for the whole club and it was 

a very proud moment to see us run out at such an iconic venue. 

It has been a huge group effort all season to get us to this 

point and I am incredibly grateful to all our players and staff for 

all of their efforts and for making this year so enjoyable. 

We face a Leicester Tigers team today who have had a superb 

season, and huge credit must go to Steve Borthwick and his 

coaching team. Steve was a great captain for our club and it is 

no surprise that he is having such a huge impact as a coach. 

We are also bidding farewell to a number of players this 

afternoon and I would like to thank them for everything they 

have done for the club. 

Tim Swinson, Richard Barrington, Vincent Koch, Elliott 

Obatoyinbo, Sean Reffell, Janco Venter, Tom Mills and Charlie 

Watson have all been fantastic for us and we wish them and 

their families well for the future. 

The support that we have received this season from our fans 

has been remarkable and we cannot thank them enough. There 

is something special building at StoneX Stadium and we hope 

to give our supporters another reason to cheer today as we 

head towards the break in the summer. 

We have had a very enjoyable week and can’t wait to get out 

there today for this fantastic occasion. 

Today is an exciting day for everybody at Leicester Tigers. 

Whether you are a player, coach, staff member, supporter, sponsor – 

we have reached this season’s Final on the back of all of your efforts. 

We have not been here for a long time and, after recent seasons 

where the club was not been taking part in big games like today’s at 

Twickenham, I am sure it feels even more special. 

The challenge is a big one, an exciting one, against a formidable 

team in Saracens. We know that and we are looking forward to it. 

The focus for us has not changed from Round 1 of this season’s 

Gallagher Premiership Rugby; every single week we have gone out 

with the intention of delivering a performance that will make our 

supporters, our families and our friends proud. 

As a group, we are still very early on in our journey together and 

have experienced plenty of highs and lows in a short space of time 

alongside one another. But, from all of them, we have grown tighter 

and we have learned something to help carry the club forward. 

Today is another step on the journey, a big step, and the players 

have worked tirelessly to be prepared to deliver on making 

everyone at Leicester Tigers proud with their performance. 

The bond between the club and our supporters feels stronger every 

day and I hope that you, the fans, can see how much your support 

means to us. 

Since fans were allowed back in the stands, Leicester Tigers 

supporters have flooded through the gates at Mattioli Woods 

Welford Road and throughout away venues in England and Europe, 

which has helped us compete on the pitch with the incredible 

support behind us. 

The pandemic showed everybody not only how much our game 

needs supporters in the stands, but also how privileged we are to 

have the competition, the backing and the occasions – like today – 

as part of what we do. 

Thank you to everybody who got our game through that time and 

have made this season such an exciting, entertaining and enjoyable 

one for all who are a part of Gallagher Premiership Rugby. 

Finally, to everybody at Leicester Tigers, thank you for helping us be 

here today. 

/premrugby /PremiershipRugby /premrugby /PremiershipRugby /premrugby /PremiershipRugby /premrugby /PremiershipRugby 




OFFICE ADDRESS 

Premiership Rugby 

7th Floor, Regal House 

70 London Road 

Twickenham 

Middlesex 

TW1 3QS 

T: 020 8831 7900 

F: 020 8831 7901 

E: info@premiershiprugby.com 


Media enquiries 

E: communications@ 

premiershiprugby.com 

SOCIAL MEDIA 

@premrugby 

/PremiershipRugby 

@premrugby 

/PremiershipRugby 

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 

Editor: Paul Morgan 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

Getty Images 

THANKS TO 

Gary Sherrard, Sam Williamson, 

Oli Shapley, Andy Baber, Josh 

Graham, Charlie Bennett, Jonny 

Bray, Charlotte Heywood, Harriet 

Walker, Robin Rowbottom, 

Jennifer Spink and Katie Bartlett 

WHAT’S ON TV 

Premiership Rugby will break 

new ground at this year’s 

Final, as it is the first time our 

Premiership Final has been 

shown on terrestrial TV in the 

UK. The programme on ITV4 

is simulcast with the alwaysexcellent 

coverage on BT Sport, 

which kicks off at 2.15pm. 

Around the globe a number 

of new overseas TV contracts 

takes the 2021-22 Gallagher 

Premiership Rugby season to a 

global audience of more than 

243 million households in 145 

territories. 

Today is another step 

on the journey, a big 

step, and the players 

have worked tirelessly to 

be prepared to deliver 

on making everyone at 

Leicester Tigers proud 

with their performance 

[ LEICESTER TIGERS HEAD COACH ] 

STEVE 

BORTHWICK 

All the Best 

Steve 

18 /premrugby /PremiershipRugby /premrugby /PremiershipRugby /premrugby /PremiershipRugby /premrugby /PremiershipRugby 

19 

[ SARACENS DIRECTOR OF RUGBY ] 

MARK 

McCALL 

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Designed and printed on 

behalf of Premiership Rugby by 

Ignition Sports Media. 

www.ignitionsportsmedia.com 

It has been 

a huge group 

effort all season 

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to get us to 

this point and 

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I am incredibly 

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grateful to all our 

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players and staff 

All the best! 

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+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + for all of their 

Mark 

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + efforts and for 

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + making this year 

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + so enjoyable 

54 55 

4 /premrugby /PremiershipRugby /premrugby /PremiershipRugby




9 

FREDDIE 

STEWARD 

35 

TACKLES 

1 

TRY ASSISTS 

12 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

43 

KICKS FROM 

HAND 

70 

PASSES 

MAX 

MALINS 

64 

TACKLES 

4 

TRY ASSISTS 

18 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

59 

KICKS FROM 

HAND 

73 

PASSES 

CHRIS 

HARRIS 

123 

TACKLES 

1 

TRY ASSISTS 

11 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

9 

KICKS FROM 

HAND 

48 

PASSES 

ANDRE 

ESTERHUIZEN 

218 

TACKLES 

6 

TRY ASSISTS 

16 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

18 

KICKS FROM 

HAND 

163 

PASSES 

CADAN 

MURLEY 

145 

TACKLES 

1 

TRY ASSISTS 

23 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

6 

KICKS FROM 

HAND 

32 

PASSES 

GEORGE 

FORD 

79 

TACKLES 

7 

TRY ASSISTS 

2 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

244 

KICKS FROM 

HAND 

372 

PASSES 

DANNY 

CARE 

104 

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17 

TRY ASSISTS 

11 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

288 

KICKS FROM 

HAND 

1507 

PASSES 

52 /premrugby /PremiershipRugby /premrugby /PremiershipRugby /premrugby /PremiershipRugby /premrugby /PremiershipRugby 

53 

ELLIS 

GENGE 

104 

TACKLES 

125 

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1 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

657 

METRES PER 

CARRY 

59 

PASSES 

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GEORGE 

MCGUIGAN 

180 

TACKLES 

159 

CARRIES 

7 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

777 

METRES PER 

CARRY 

68 

PASSES 

WILL 

COLLIER 

99 

TACKLES 

51 

CARRIES 

1 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

210 

METRES PER 

CARRY 

13 

PASSES 

JEAN-LUC 

DU PREEZ 

158 

TACKLES 

198 

CARRIES 

3 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

972 

METRES PER 

CARRY 

75 

PASSES 

FREDDIE 

CLARKE 

268 

TACKLES 

113 

CARRIES 

4 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

570 

METRES PER 

CARRY 

81 

PASSES 

HANRO 

LIEBENBERG 

178 

TACKLES 

131 

CARRIES 

3 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

665 

METRES PER 

CARRY 

83 

PASSES 

BEN 

EARL 

347 

TACKLES 

186 

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11 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

1355 

METRES PER 

CARRY 

89 

PASSES 

BRAD 

SHIELDS 

2022 

189 

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122 

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5 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

681 

METRES PER 

CARRY 

64 

PASSES 

84 

3 Welcome From 

Premiership 

Rugby 

7 Welcome From 

Gallagher 

9 Project Rugby 

75,000th 

13 The Story Of The 

2021-22 Season 

18 Steve Borthwick 

Leicester Tigers 

23 Leicester Tigers: 

The Story Of 


26 Meet The Squad: 


30 Leicester Tigers 

Player Feature: 

Freddie Steward 


Road To 

The Final 


Player Feature: 

George Ford 

44 HITZ Heroes 

46 Hall Of Fame 

51 Bt Sport 

Dream Team 

54 Mark Mccall 

Saracens 

59 Saracens: 

The Story Of 

Saracens 

62 Meet The Squad: 

Saracens 

66 Saracens Player 

Feature: 

Maro Itoje 

71 Saracens 

Road To 

The Final 

74 Saracens Player 

Feature: 

Owen Farrell 

78 What If It’s A Draw 

Today? 

79 Peter Deakin 

Medal 

80 End-Of-Season 

Awards 

84 Land Rover 

Premiership Cup 

86 The Road to 

Twickenham 

88 Premiership Rugby 

Cup 2021-22 

91 History Of 

The Final 

94 The Final Records 

96 Today’s Teams: 


v Saracens 


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FROM GALLAGHER 

No matter the challenges we face, you can count on the 

rugby community to rally around their teams. 

At Gallagher, we follow something called “The Gallagher 

Way.” It says that we support one another because no one 

is an island. Sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in this stadium 

today, we can all appreciate how much stronger we are 

when we are part of a community. 

Pat Gallagher at the 2018/19 season launch. 

Welcome to the Gallagher Premiership Rugby 

Final 2022. Hear that? 

That is the roar of a Twickenham Stadium once again in 

full voice. How good is that? 

Today, we have tens of thousands of fans back in the 

stadium and millions more watching at home who will get 

to see who is crowned this season’s Gallagher Premiership 

Rugby champions. 

What a remarkable season it has been! Never before have 

we seen so many teams separated by so few points as the 

battle for semi-finals approached. This season tested all of 

us, pushing our players to their limits and each round more 

hard-fought than the last. 

There’s no question that it is the fans that drives these 

teams to deliver this level of play. You are the lifeblood of 

rugby, and so it is no surprise that your return to stadiums 

up and down the country has coincided with one of the 

most hotly contested seasons ever. 

Even when you’re at the very top of your game, it’s the 

people you trust who will make you better. This is just as 

true in life as it is in rugby. Business leaders need a team of 

trusted advisers they can turn to for counsel if they want 

to perform their best. That’s why this season we launched 

the Gallagher Leaders Trust — a mentoring network for the 

directors, head coaches, and others tasked with delivering 

exceptional performance across the 13 clubs in the 

Gallagher Premiership. 

We’ve also continued to support the broader communities 

around each club and it was fantastic to see the Project 

Rugby programme reach its 75,000 participant milestone 

this season. Since its launch in 2017, this programme has 

brought confidence and a sense of belonging to thousands 

of young people who might never have otherwise picked up 

a rugby ball. That is something to celebrate and be proud of. 

Today though, it’s about who gets to pick up the Gallagher 

Premiership Rugby trophy. Here’s to a great day of play on 

the pitch and another great Twickenham experience. 

Pat Gallagher 

Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer - Gallagher 



7

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PROGRAMME HITS 

MAJOR MILESTONE 

AS 75,000TH 

PLAYER ENROLS 

Project Rugby is one of the jewels in the crown at Premiership 

Rugby and our clubs and this season it celebrated an 

incredible landmark as the community programme goes from 

strength to strength. 


9


Project Rugby, which launched in 2017, is run in 

collaboration with England Rugby and is supported 

by insurance broker and title partner of Premiership 

Rugby, Gallagher. It seeks to introduce as many 

people as possible to the benefits of rugby across 

communities up and down the country. Together, 

we aim to do this by providing more opportunities 

for people to experience rugby from within groups 

who wouldn’t have traditionally picked up a ball. 

As our 75,000th player enrolled in 

April, it was cause for celebration 

to acknowledge the positive 

impact our community teams are 

making on the local communities 

around them by bringing these 

people into the game. 

Speaking at the 75,000th 

celebration Wayne Morris, 

Community & Corporate Social 

Responsibility Director at 

Premiership Rugby, said: “Project 

Rugby succeeds because it 

stimulates a lifelong interest in 

the game, often in people who 

have never picked up a rugby ball 

before. We strongly believe that a 

person’s background should not 

be a barrier to them enjoying the 

many benefits which come from 

playing rugby and our teams work 

hard to provide opportunities for 

people to participate at a time and 

place that can be easily accessed. 

We are very proud to celebrate 

our 75,000th participant and look 

forward to welcoming many more 

people to the sport we all love.” 

Charlie Scott, Chief Financial 

Officer for Gallagher in the UK and 

a Project Rugby volunteer, added: 

“It’s incredible to see Project Rugby 

hit this major milestone of impact 

and participation, especially after 

all the challenges of the past two 



years. The clubs and community 

coaches did an extraordinary job 

in extraordinary times of keeping 

everyone engaged and enthusiastic 

for the return of on-pitch sessions 

and festivals. Now we are able to 

come together and celebrate all 

that is great about this grassroots 

rugby initiative. 

“For everyone at Gallagher, 

hearing the many individual, often 

life-changing stories about the 

difference the programme delivers 

to young people in terms of life 

skills, confidence and capabilities, 

as well as seeing thousands 

transition into community clubs, 

makes us hugely proud to be a 

part of Project Rugby.” 

LARA’S STORY 

Lara Corner, a Year 10 pupil at 

the Saracens High School, has 

experienced for herself the 

impact rugby can have after 

joining Project Rugby. 

IMPROVING 

DIVERSITY 

In March, Premiership Rugby announced 

additional investment from The Asian 

Sports Foundation and Sport England into 

Project Rugby to improve the diversity of 

women and girls playing rugby regularly. 

The investment will enable clubs to 

specifically target and engage female 

players from a range of ethnic backgrounds, 

to transition up to 200 new female players 

into local rugby clubs by summer 2022. 

One such player is 15-year-old Aqsa Zaheer 

who has fallen in love with rugby after being 

introduced to the sport at a Project Rugby 

session held at her school by Wasps Rugby. 

“I didn’t play rugby before as no-one has ever 

taught us about it. I knew almost nothing 

about the game before the session. I’m really 

enjoying playing, rugby makes me feel excited 

and gives me lots of energy. From rugby, I 

have gained more confidence and been able to 

work on my teamwork. Project Rugby showed 

me that girls like me do play rugby.” 

To find out more about Project Rugby 

and to find a session near you, visit 

www.projectrugby.co.uk 

Mike Dobson, Senior Development 

Manager at Saracens Foundation 

explains: “Lara started playing 

as part of the Project Rugby 

programme at school and has been 

a regular at training. 

“She has a huge passion for the 

game and has joined Harrow 

Rugby Club who are trying to start 

up a girls’ rugby team. She has 

encouraged other girls to take 

part and has been an excellent 

role model and leader, helping a 

Year 9 girl go on to start playing 

at Finchley Rugby Club and make 

it through to the next round of 

Middlesex Trials. Lara has taken 

part in retention sessions held at 

StoneX Stadium and went to watch 

the men’s Gallagher Premiership 

Rugby final at Twickenham last 

year where she met one of her role 

models, Shauna Brown.” 

Lara has felt the changes rugby 

has made to her life not just on the 

pitch. Those around her talk of how 

proud they are of her improved 

discipline and decision making off 

the pitch since she started playing. 

Lara sums up why she now loves 

playing saying, ‘When I play rugby 

it makes me feel free!’ 


11

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2021-22 Gallagher Premiership Rugby 

The Story Of A 

Great Season 

The first-ever Premiership Rugby campaign to be spread over 26 rounds 

certainly didn’t disappoint with thrills, spills and more than 1,000 tries to keep 

us entertained from September to June, writes Paul Eddison. 

It was a season of change 

in Gallagher Premiership 

Rugby’s 2021-22 campaign as 

a sleeping giant reawakened, 

a heavyweight returned and 

the upsets just kept coming. 

Steve Borthwick’s Leicester Tigers 

revolution saw England’s most 

successful club return to the summit 

of the game, achieving the unique feat 

of leading the table from Round 1 to 

Round 26. 

They made their intentions clear from 

the off, defeating last season’s beaten 

finalists Exeter Chiefs in their opening 

game, notching a bonus point in the 

process. 

From there, they went on a run of 12 

straight wins to begin the campaign 

and had wrapped up a spot in the semifinals 

by March. 

Midway through the season, Chris 

Ashton came in, initially on a short-term 

deal, making an immediate impression 

as he became Premiership Rugby’s 

all-time record try-scorer with a hattrick 

against Bristol Bears, breaking the 

record of former Tiger Tom Varndell. 

It was a remarkable turnaround under 

former England skipper Borthwick, 

with Leicester having gone four years 

without reaching the semi-finals and 

suffering successive 11th-placed 

finishes during that time. 

Captained by Ellis Genge, with George 

Ford pulling the strings and rising star 

Freddie Steward ruling the skies at fullback, 

Tigers established themselves as 

the team to beat, with Wasps the team 

to finally do so in January after a dream 

start to the campaign. 

Borthwick and his team got their 

revenge on the final day of the season, 

beating Wasps and clinching the top 

spot at the expense of Saracens. 

Mark McCall’s side reminded everyone 

of their pedigree on their return to the 

league following promotion from the 

Championship. 

Whether it was experienced 

campaigners like Alex Goode 

and Billy Vunipola, returning 

stars Max Malins and Ben Earl, or 

newcomers like Theo McFarland, 

they were a force once again. 

Malins ended up as the top try-scorer 

despite his England commitments, while 

Earl was recognised as the Gallagher 

Player of the Season as Saracens 

secured a home semi-final. 

That meant a London derby against the 

champions, Harlequins following up last 

year’s stunning success with another 

impressive campaign. 

The only semi-finalists from last season 

to crack the top four once again, they 

continued in the same vein that they 

ended the previous year, proving that 

no deficit was too big. 


13


Bristol Bears had suffered in that 

memorable semi-final and the first 

meeting between the sides since must 

have felt like deja vu as Quins came 

from 21-0 down to record a 52-24 win. 

While the likes of Marcus Smith, Andre 

Esterhuizen, and Danny Care caught 

the eye, despite the latter breaking the 

Premiership Rugby record for yellow 

cards in a season, Harlequins did not 

lack for steel up front under new coach 

Tabai Matson. 

Completing the top four were 

Northampton Saints, thanks to a late 

run that even coach Chris Boyd did not 

see coming. 

For a time, it seemed that European 

qualification might be the height of 

their ambitions, but 32 points from a 

possible 35 in their final seven games 

saw them sneak in at the expense of 

Gloucester Rugby. 

Despite missing out on the top four, 

it was still a promising campaign for 

the Cherry & Whites, the highlight 

no doubt their 64-0 success against 

neighbours Bath Rugby, while George 

Skivington oversaw the development 

of a rolling maul that was the envy of 

the league and which should prove a 

foundation for further growth. 

Where Saints and Gloucester improved, 

there was a step back for both Sale 

Sharks and Exeter Chiefs, who finished 

sixth and seventh respectively. 

Alex Sanderson’s side paid for a 

slow start to the campaign, leaving 

themselves too much to do despite 

finishing strongly. 

Chiefs, meanwhile, the most consistent 

English team of recent times, endured a 

down year as they missed the top four 

for the first time since 2015. It was their 

home form that proved the biggest 

disappointment, Sandy Park was not the 

fortress it has been in previous years as 

they were beaten five times there in the 

league. 

The battle for the final European spot 

went down to the wire, with London 

Irish eventually clinching it after a 

season in which they drew a remarkable 

five matches, their comeback to draw 

with Wasps in a game where they 

trailed by 25 points in the second half 

ending up the crucial result at the 

expense of Lee Blackett’s team. 

Irish narrowly missed out on silverware, 

beaten on tries scored in the final of 

the Premiership Rugby Cup as Steve 

Diamond oversaw Worcester Warriors’ 

first major title with a 25-25 draw. 

They also finished their season on a 

high with a thrilling 43-27 win over Bath 

that saw them finish 11th, just ahead of 

Newcastle Falcons – in Dean Richards’ 

final season – and their opponents on 

the day. 

Both Falcons and Bath will be hoping 

for improved campaigns in 2022/23 

with Dave Walder stepping up at 

Newcastle while Johann van Graan takes 

over at the Rec. 



GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP RUGBY 2021-22 

# Team P W L D F A Pts Diff B PTS 

1 Leicester Tigers 24 20 0 4 726 452 274 14 94 

2 Saracens 24 17 1 6 769 509 260 17 87 

3 Harlequins 24 15 0 9 647 554 93 20 80 

4 Northampton Saints 24 14 0 10 764 639 125 19 75 

5 Gloucester Rugby 24 13 1 10 685 525 160 19 73 

6 Sale Sharks 24 12 3 9 559 495 64 14 70 

7 Exeter Chiefs 24 13 0 11 584 534 50 17 69 

8 London Irish 24 9 5 10 660 666 -6 17 63 

9 Wasps 24 11 1 12 614 600 14 14 60 

10 Bristol Bears 24 8 0 16 573 718 -145 16 48 

11 Worcester Warriors 24 6 1 17 451 814 -363 9 35 

12 Newcastle Falcons 24 6 1 17 436 660 -224 8 34 

13 Bath Rugby 24 5 1 18 461 763 -302 10 34 

TOP TRY SCORERS 

# Name Team Apps Mins Tries 

1 Max Malins Saracens 13 1004 16 

2 George McGuigan Newcastle Falcons 22 1461 15 

3 Agustin Creevy London Irish 21 1189 14 

Cadan Murley Harlequins 22 1452 14 

4 Tommy Freeman Northampton Saints 13 852 12 

5 Courtnall Skosan Northampton Saints 16 1198 11 

Alex Mitchell Northampton Saints 23 1603 11 

6 Will Muir Bath Rugby 19 1377 10 

Nemani Nadolo Leicester Tigers 21 1150 10 

Ollie Hassell-Collins London Irish 18 1429 10 

Louis Lynagh Harlequins 22 1270 10 

Tom Woolstencroft Saracens 18 787 10 

TOP POINTS SCORERS 

# Name Team Apps Mins Try Conv PG DG Points 

1 Paddy Jackson London Irish 23 1759 3 35 12 0 200 

2 George Ford Leicester Tigers 18 1327 0 20 10 0 198 

3 Alex Lozowski Saracens 22 1601 1 14 16 0 178 

4 Adam Hastings Gloucester Rugby 21 1422 0 27 12 0 175 

5 Jimmy Gopperth Wasps 23 1505 1 23 19 0 172 

6 Callum Sheedy Bristol Bears 22 1478 3 34 11 0 170 

7 Dan Biggar Northampton Saints 15 1092 1 22 13 0 168 

8 Joe Simmonds Exeter Chiefs 23 1466 0 36 4 0 131 

9 Owen Farrell Saracens 8 589 0 13 9 0 115 

10 Orlando Bailey Bath Rugby 19 1113 0 12 6 0 101 


15

SARA COX 

MAKES 

HISTORY 

A huge highlight of the Gallagher Premiership 

Rugby season came in September when Sara Cox 

became the first woman to referee a Premiership 

match, in Harlequins’ 35-29 win over Worcester 

Warriors.


Today is another step 

on the journey, a big 

step, and the players 

have worked tirelessly to 

be prepared to deliver 

on making everyone at 

Leicester Tigers proud 

with their performance 



[ LEICESTER TIGERS HEAD COACH ] 

STEVE 

BORTHWICK 

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Today is an exciting day for everybody at Leicester Tigers. 

Whether you are a player, coach, staff member, supporter, sponsor – 

we have reached this season’s Final on the back of all of your efforts. 

We have not been here for a long time and, after recent seasons 

where the club was not been taking part in big games like today’s at 

Twickenham, I am sure it feels even more special. 

The challenge is a big one, an exciting one, against a formidable 

team in Saracens. We know that and we are looking forward to it. 

The focus for us has not changed from Round 1 of this season’s 

Gallagher Premiership Rugby; every single week we have gone out 

with the intention of delivering a performance that will make our 

supporters, our families and our friends proud. 

As a group, we are still very early on in our journey together and 

have experienced plenty of highs and lows in a short space of time 

alongside one another. But, from all of them, we have grown tighter 

and we have learned something to help carry the club forward. 

Today is another step on the journey, a big step, and the players 

have worked tirelessly to be prepared to deliver on making 

everyone at Leicester Tigers proud with their performance. 

The bond between the club and our supporters feels stronger every 

day and I hope that you, the fans, can see how much your support 

means to us. 

Since fans were allowed back in the stands, Leicester Tigers 

supporters have flooded through the gates at Mattioli Woods 

Welford Road and throughout away venues in England and Europe, 

which has helped us compete on the pitch with the incredible 

support behind us. 

The pandemic showed everybody not only how much our game 

needs supporters in the stands, but also how privileged we are to 

have the competition, the backing and the occasions – like today – 

as part of what we do. 

Thank you to everybody who got our game through that time and 

have made this season such an exciting, entertaining and enjoyable 

one for all who are a part of Gallagher Premiership Rugby. 

Finally, to everybody at Leicester Tigers, thank you for helping us be 

here today. 

All the Best 

Steve 


19

GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP RUGBY SEMI-FINAL 

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LEICESTER 

TIGERS 

Stuart Farmer casts his eye back on an incredible season for 

Steve Borthwick’s Leicester Tigers 

220 

20 

Prolific George Ford is 

the Gallagher Premiership 

Rugby top points scorer this 

season with 220 from 19 

appearances 

Prop Nephi Leatigaga had made 20 

appearances in Premiership Rugby 

this campaign, every one of them 

from the bench. 

GOOD STARTERS 

Tigers have conceded only 22 first half tries this 

season - the fewest of any club, whilst the 31 

they have conceded after the break is a tally only 

bettered by Harlequins and Sale. 

TALISMAN 

Harry Wells has been on the winning team more 

than any other player this season, the Tigers 

winning 21 of the 24 matches he has played in. 


23

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FREDDIE’S 

RUN 


Freddie Steward has scored a try in each of his 

last five Premiership Rugby appearances, just 

one game short of Niki Goneva’s Tigers record of 

crossing in six successive matches in 2016 

TRY-SCORER 

Giant wing Nemani Nadolo is Leicester’s top try 

scorer in the Premiership this season with ten, 

seven of those were run in during the first 22 

minutes of matches. 

211 

Dan Cole is Leicester’s most experienced 

Premiership player of all time in terms of 

appearances with 211. However, Geordan 

Murphy and Martin Corry both have more 

playing minutes. 

EIGHT IN THE BAG 

Leicester Tigers are bidding to win the Premiership 

title for the ninth time in their history. 


25


MEET THE SQUAD 

LEICESTER TIGERS 

TOMIWA AGBONGBON | BACK ROW 

DOB: 13/12/01 

Height: 1.90m 

Weight: 100kg 

CHRIS ASHTON | WING 

DOB: 01/03/87 

Height: 1.83m 

Weight: 92kg 

Honours: England 

SAM ASPLAND-ROBINSON | WING 

DOB: 03/01/97 

Height: 1.83m 

Weight: 94kg 

FREDDIE BURNS | FLY-HALF 

DOB: 13/05/90 

Height: 1.83m 

Weight: 90kg 


OLLIE CHESSUM | BACK ROW 

DOB: 06/09/00 

Height: 2.00m 

Weight: 118kg 


CHARLIE CLARE | HOOKER 

DAN COLE | PROP 

TOM COWAN-DICKIE | HOOKER 

NIC DOLLY | HOOKER 

GEORGE FORD | FLY-HALF 

DOB: 16/12/91 

Height: 1.83m 

Weight: 110kg 

DOB: 09/05/87 

Height: 1.91m 

Weight: 123kg 

Honours: Eng/Lions 

DOB: 26/05/91 

Height: 1.83m 

Weight: 110kg 

DOB: 11/06/99 

Height: 1.83m 

Weight: 103kg 


DOB: 16/03/93 

Height: 1.78m 

Weight: 86kg 


26 

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+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 


ELLIS GENGE | PROP 

CALUM GREEN | LOCK 

BRYCE HEGARTY | FULL-BACK 

CAMERON HENDERSON | LOCK 

JOE HEYES | PROP 

DOB: 16/02/95 

Height: 1.86m 

Weight: 117kg 


DOB: 15/07/90 

Height: 1.93m 

Weight: 119kg 

DOB: 28/08/92 

Height: 1.84m 

Weight: 90kg 

DOB: 13/01/00 

Height: 2.00m 

Weight: 110kg 

DOB: 13/04/99 

Height: 1.93m 

Weight: 126kg 


WILL HURD | PROP 

DOB: 29/06/99 

Height: 1.86m 

Weight: 121kg 

SEAN JANSEN | BACK ROW 

DOB: 10/05/99 

Height: 1.91m 

Weight: 117kg 

DAN KELLY | CENTRE 

DOB: 16/01/01 

Height: 1.83m 

Weight: 96kg 


NEPHI LEATIGAGA | PROP 

DOB: 09/12/93 

Height: 1.93m 

Weight: 149kg 

Honours: Samoa 

HANRO LIEBENBERG | BACK ROW 

DOB: 10/10/95 

Height: 1.97m 

Weight: 110kg 

JORDAN OLOWOFELA | WING 

GEORGE MARTIN | LOCK 

DOB: 18/06/01 

Height: 1.98m 

Weight: 118kg 


JULIÁN MONTOYA | HOOKER 

DOB: 29/10/93 

Height: 1.83m 

Weight: 113kg 

Honours: Argentina 

MATÍAS MORONI | CENTRE / WING 

DOB: 10/07/91 

Height: 1.83m 

Weight: 92kg 


KINI MURIMURIVALU | WING 

DOB: 15/05/89 

Height: 1.75m 

Weight: 83kg 

Honours: Fiji 

NEMANI NADOLO | WING 

DOB: 31/01/88 

Height: 1.96m 

Weight: 120kg 

Honours: Fiji 

GUY PORTER | CENTRE / WING 

HARRY POTTER | WING 

TOMMY REFFELL | FLANKER 

DAN RICHARDSON | PROP 

DOB: 17/04/98 

Height: 1.88m 

Weight: 92kg 

DOB: 23/01/97 

Height: 1.85m 

Weight: 96kg 

DOB: 15/12/97 

Height: 1.85m 

Weight: 95kg 

DOB: 27/04/99 

Height: 1.84m 

Weight: 103kg 

DOB: 25/03/96 

Height: 1.85m 

Weight: 119kg 


27

Visit btsport.com

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 

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OLLY ROBINSON | BACK ROW 

DOB: 21/07/91 

Height: 1.85m 

Weight: 105kg 

HOSEA SAUMAKI | WING 

DOB: 10/05/92 

Height: 1.90m 

Weight: 106kg 

Honours: Tonga 

MATT SCOTT | CENTRE 

DOB: 30/09/90 

Height: 1.85m 

Weight: 101kg 

Honours: Scotland 

HARRY SIMMONS | SCRUM-HALF 

DOB: 25/11/97 

Height: 1.81m 

Weight: 90kg 

ELI SNYMAN | LOCK 

DOB: 25/01/96 

Height: 2.01m 

Weight: 113kg 

JUAN PABLO SOCINO | CENTRE / FLY-HALF 

DOB: 30/05/88 

Height: 1.78m 

Weight: 98kg 


FREDDIE STEWARD | FULL- BACK 

DOB: 05/12/00 

Height: 1.96m 

Weight: 101kg 


JACO TAUTE | CENTRE 

DOB: 21/03/91 

Height: 1.91m 

Weight: 108kg 

Honours: S. Africa 

JACK VAN POORTVLIET | SCRUM-HALF 

DOB: 15/05/01 

Height: 1.83m 

Weight: 84kg 

MARCO VAN STADEN | BACK ROW 

DOB: 25/08/95 

Height: 1.84m 

Weight: 106kg 


FRANCOIS VAN WYK | PROP 

DOB: 30/07/91 

Height: 1.89m 

Weight: 114kg 

HARRY WELLS | LOCK 

DOB: 29/09/93 

Height: 1.96m 

Weight: 110kg 


JAMES WHITCOMBE | PROP 

DOB: 20/11/00 

Height: 1.88m 

Weight: 120kg 

JASPER WIESE | BACK ROW 

DOB: 21/10/95 

Height: 1.91m 

Weight: 110kg 


RICHARD WIGGLESWORTH | SCRUM-HALF 

DOB: 09/06/83 

Height: 1.76m 

Weight: 78kg 


BEN YOUNGS | SCRUM-HALF 

TOM YOUNGS | HOOKER 

DOB: 05/09/89 

Height: 1.79m 

Weight: 88kg 


DOB: 28/01/87 

Height: 1.75m 

Weight: 104kg 



29


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30 



SENSATIONAL 

FREDDIE STEWARD 

SET TO MAKE FINAL 

BOW AFTER RISE TO TOP 

Steward has shown what he can do at Twickenham in 

the white shirt of England and now has the chance to 

deliver at HQ for Leicester Tigers, writes Josh Graham. 

FREDDIE 

STEWARD 

Age: 21 

Born: 5 December 2000 

Birthplace: Dereham, 

Norfolk 

Club: Leicester Tigers 

England caps: 10 

Freddie Steward’s ascent 

to the top of the game 

has been so seamless and 

fast that it defies logic 

that he is still just 21 

years old. 

The Leicester Tigers full-back has 

looked at home on the big stage 

ever since he made his Gallagher 

Premiership Rugby debut as a 

replacement against Sale Sharks in 

March 2019. 

An England age-group 

international, it did not take 

long for Steward’s towering 

performances at the back to grab 

the attention of Eddie Jones. 

Steward debuted in July 2021 

against the USA and has been an 

ever-present in the No.15 jersey 

ever since, winning 10 caps. So 

much so, he was named the 

England Men’s Player of the Year 

last month. 

His outstanding consistency 

for the Tigers has helped Steve 

Borthwick’s side top the regular 

season table and beat East 

Midlands rivals Northampton 

Saints in the semi-final to make it 

here to Twickenham today. 

Steward’s level of performance 

is not merely lauded by media 

and supporters as he has 

been recognised by his fellow 

professionals having been voted 

the Rugby Players’ Association 

Young Player of the Year and 

picking up the same award from 

his Tigers colleagues. 

His physical attributes are obvious, 

standing at 6ft 5in and weighing in 

at a touch under 16 stone, but his 

desire to improve and an attitude 

that exudes a thirst for success 

is what has impressed Steve 

Borthwick most since the two 

started working together. 

“Freddie has shown enormous 

growth in his game and, for a 

young man, has a lot of maturity 

and plays with a lot of courage,” 

said the Tigers head coach. 


31


DID YOU 

KNOW? 

He idolised 

Leicester duo Matt 

Smith, the club’s 

current Tigers 

assistant coach, and 

Geordan Murphy as 

a kid 

He listens to 1980s 

music before a 

game to relax 

A product of the 


academy, Steward 

made his senior 

debut against 

Northampton Saints 

in 2019 

Steward’s safe 

hands are no 

fluke, his grandad 

Gabriel Bliss was 

a goalkeeper for 

Cambridge United 

In the Leicester 

Tigers band, 

Steward plays guitar 

with Nic Dolly and 

Matt Scott, with 

Jack van Poortvliet 

on bass while Jasper 

Wiese sings and 

Dan Kelly plays 

drums 

“His high-ball work is 

exceptional but I think there is 

much more to his game. He is 

a brilliant last line of defence 

and I have never seen him shy 

away from anything and he 

just wants to get into tackles. 

“His attacking game has really 

developed and he is becoming 

a really dangerous threat. I 

have no doubt that Freddie 

will continue to work his socks 

off every day and I have seen 

that from the moment I arrived 

here — he is a player you have 

to hold back in training. 

“A few weeks ago I asked him 

to step out of training and I 

had to come to a deal with 

him to do some of the session. 

“Some players get challenged 

and don’t move forward to 

meet it, but he will continue to 

do that and in ten years’ time 

he will be the same.” 

Steward’s versatility is another 

string to his bow and came 

into force at Mattioli Woods 

Welford Road against Saints 

on Saturday. 

An early injury to centre Dan 

Kelly saw Steward spend large 

portions of a frenetic game on 

the wing, with Freddie Burns 

slotting in from the bench. 

And it was in that position 

out on the right where he 

collected fly-half George 

Ford’s rapid cut-out ball and 

dived over to score in the 69th 

minute, to the delight of the 

deafening home fans. 

After his try helped propel 

Tigers into today’s Final, 

Steward revealed he can’t wait 

to see a sea of green, white 

and red packed into the stands 

at the home of rugby. 

At the final whistle of the 

semi-final win, he said: “It 

was a battle. It has been the 

theme for us this season, when 

games get tough like that – we 

fight for each other. 

“It was pretty close in the 

second half, we went 

down to 14 for a spell but the 

boys dug in for each other and 

that’s all you can do. I’m just so 

happy to get over the line. 

“I was in the right place at the 

right time again, I’ve been a 

bit lucky in the last few weeks 

to get on the end of a couple. 

But you score a try like that 

and there’s still a job to do, 

so it was straight back to the 

halfway line. 

“The fans were incredible, it’s 

the best I’ve seen Mattioli 

Woods Welford Road since 

I’ve been at the club, it was 

magical. Going over the 

whitewash and turning around 

to see the fans was spectacular 

and I’m so excited to see the 

green and red at Twickenham.” 

Steward combines his ‘day job’ 

with studying for an economics 

degree at Loughborough 

University and recently filed a 

3,000-word essay on the 

impact of Brexit on the 

pound. 

Luckily, despite his 

new-found fame, 

Steward admits he is 

not getting pestered in 

the library and, with a wise 

head on young shoulders, 

he knows the importance 

of working on the mental 

side of the game and the 

responsibility that comes with 

his position. 

While he may be already 

preparing for life after 

rugby, if Steward can help 

Leicester Tigers win their first 

Premiership Rugby title since 

2013, it will undoubtedly be 

his best achievement yet and 

enshrine him in the club’s 

history. 


33


LEICESTER 

TIGERS’ 

ROUTE TO THE 2021-22 

GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP 

RUGBY FINAL 

After nine years away, Tigers are ready to roar at Twickenham again, writes Alec McQuarrie. 

Not since 2013 have Leicester Tigers 

reached a Gallagher Premiership Rugby 

Final at Twickenham. 

It was a record ninth final in successive 

seasons and a 37-17 victory over 

Northampton Saints clinched a 10th 

league title. 

Few who celebrated that day could have 

imagined a nine-year wait for another 

crack at glory. It has been a long road back 

for the East Midlands giants, who suffered 

four consecutive semi-final exits and then 

four campaigns in which they failed to 

qualify for the last four. 

It’s fitting then, that a derby win against 

the Saints last Saturday has sent Tigers 

back to Twickenham after a storming 

22-point performance from George Ford 

in the semi-final. 

It has been a record-breaking comeback 

campaign for the Tigers who were 

scrapping at the wrong end of the table as 

recently as 2020. 

Head coach Steve Borthwick must take 

a lot of the credit for the dramatic 

turnaround, building on sixth spot in his 

first full season in 2020-21 to become 

league leaders in his second. 

At the start of this campaign, the 

consensus was there was plenty of room 

f 


35


TOGETHER 

WE ROAR! 

PAPA JOHNS OFFICIAL KIT PARTNERS OF LEICESTER TIGERS 

WWW.PAPAJOHNS.CO.UK 



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for improvement on a 50% record in 2020- 

21 – 11 wins and 11 losses. 

Tigers’ marked inconsistency last year 

was exemplified by the fact their longest 

winning run in the league was just two. 

But with supporters welcomed back en 

masse to Mattioli Woods Welford Road for 

the first time in 18 months, unreliability 

quickly became a distant memory for the 

10-time champions. 

Tigers kicked off the campaign with a 

bonus-point 34-19 home win over Exeter 

Chiefs, full-back Freddie Steward, fresh 

from his first England cap, getting the ball 

rolling with an early try. 

The result meant Leicester finished Round 

One top of the table, a position they 

would never relinquish. 

A trip to Gloucester Rugby brought 

another bonus-point win with newlyappointed 

skipper Ellis Genge crossing for 

his first score of the season in a to-and-fro 

contest under the lights at Kingsholm. 

It was a challenging battle and a staunch 

Tigers defence held firm in a nervy final 10 

minutes. 

But a sterner test was to follow at the 

start of October, when they hosted today’s 

opponents Saracens in a rain-soaked 

match that ended with fireworks. 

Mark McCall’s team opened up a 12-3 lead 

courtesy of four Owen Farrell penalties, 

but Ford’s 75th minute penalty set up a 

pulsating finale. 

With the clock on zero, referee Christophe 

Ridley awarded a penalty try when a maul 

edging towards the whitewash collapsed, 

sparking jubilant scenes inside Mattioli 

Woods Welford Road. 

Leicester won their next four to complete 

an unbeaten October, including a seven-try 

visit to a sold-out Saints when the bonus 

point was wrapped up before the break. 

In fact, Borthwick’s side would close 

out the calendar year with a staggering 

14 games won without defeat in all 

competitions. 

However, the Tigers’ 100% record lived 

a charmed life on Boxing Day when they 

travelled to Ashton Gate. 

Bristol narrowly led 26-23 with seven 

minutes remaining after Jasper Wiese was 

yellow-carded while attempting to charge 

down Callum Sheedy’s kick, the latter 

taking advantage of the resulting penalty. 

One last scrum was awarded to the visitors 

in added time and, after a patient buildup, 

replacement Guy Porter finally seized 

the chance to run in on the right to snatch 

the points. 

The Tigers machine rolled on in the 

opening match of 2022, posting 31 points 

without reply at home to Newcastle 

Falcons. 

But their remarkable 15-game winning 

run in all competitions came to an end the 

following week, old rivals Wasps denying 

them with a 16-13 shock victory. 

Their loss total would be doubled before 

the end of January with another away 

defeat, this time Sale Sharks putting on 

a stunning second-half display to turn a 

13-point deficit into a 35-26 win. 

The back-to-back defeats represented 

the lowest ebb of the league season for 

Borthwick’s team, with that Sale visit the 

only game they’d emerge from without 

any points. 

February saw a return to full form, with 

successive wins over Worcester Warriors, 

Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby and 

Gloucester Rugby. 

The final seven matches of the regular 

season began with a losing bonus point 

away to Saracens, cutting Leicester’s lead 

at the top. 

But successive league wins at home to 

London Irish and at Exeter Chiefs came 

before a fourth and final defeat of the 

league programme at the hands of 

defending champions Harlequins. 

Three comfortable triumphs rounded 

off the season with Leicester already 

confirmed of a semi-final berth before 

Round 24. 

And the East Midlands derby semi-final 

did not disappoint with the game finely 

poised and the score level at half-time. 

Second-half tries from Ford and Steward 

punished Saints’ wastefulness and sent 

Tigers back to Twickenham. Today, they 

hope to complete a dream campaign. 


37


GEORGE FORD 

MEANS BUSINESS AS HE 

TARGETS THE PERFECT FINAL 

SWANSONG FOR TIGERS 

A replacement used off the bench the last time 

Leicester Tigers won the final, George Ford will be 

the main man for Steve Borthwick’s men at Rugby 

HQ, writes Alec McQuarrie. 

If the 2021-22 Gallagher 


season is to be the year of 

the Tigers, no one player 

will have been more 

instrumental to their 

success than George Ford. 

Against Northampton Saints in the 

semi-final last Saturday, Ford lined 

up as one of three survivors from 

the Leicester side who defeated 

their East Midlands rivals to seal 

their last title nine years ago. 

That day he replaced injured 

captain Toby Flood in the first half 

and kicked four penalties to ensure 

breathing space was maintained in 

a 37-17 victory. 

Starting the day on the bench in 

2013, it is unthinkable that will be 

the case today. Ford’s 22-point 

man-of-the-match performance 

last weekend was instrumental 

in sealing the Tigers’ place at the 

home of rugby and epitomized his 

performance level all year. 

His head coach Steve Borthwick 

said it was evidence Ford “is a 

world-class player” and that “he 

has been outstanding all season.” 

It was November 2013 when Ford, 

freshly signed by Bath Rugby, 

last won a Gallagher Player of the 

Month award. 

He waited almost eight years for 

his next, deservedly scooping the 

October 2021 edition for playing a 

central role in the Tigers’ best start 

to a Premiership season. 

Tigers’ autumn resurgence was 

astounding, and a 55-26 derby 

win away from home on the 

day before Halloween was a 

fine example of the playmaker’s 

frightening form. 

Four conversions and three 

penalties capped with a fine 40- 

yard drop goal took his overall 

points tally to 107 – a full 45 more 

than the nearest competitor. 

The playmaker duly finished the 

season as the league’s highest 

scorer with 220 points (and 

counting), securing him the 

Gilbert Golden Boot award as 

a result. 

GEORGE 

FORD 

Club: Leicester Tigers 

International caps: 84 

2021-22 Gallagher 

Premiership tries: 2 



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+ + + + + + + + + + + 


39

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DID YOU 

KNOW? 

Ford played rugby 

league from the age 

of five, switching to 

union at 11. 

His father Mike 

was a rugby league 

legend, playing for 

clubs like Wigan, 

Castleford and 

Oldham. 

He was the first 

Englishman to win 

the World Rugby 

Junior Player of the 

Year. 

But it has been his consistency 

that has impressed the most, 

mirroring his team’s winning 

regularity. 

Seven games and seven 

wins on from that seven-try 

deconstruction of Saints and 

another Player of the Month 

was on its way to Ford’s 

mantelpiece. 

Such were his performances 

that, by the turn of the 

year, and with Borthwick’s 

steamroller showing little sign 

of stopping, Eddie Jones could 

no longer ignore the 29-yearold. 

A recall to the England squad 

for the Six Nations was the 

least Ford deserved, given his 

exceptional club form. 

The outside-half now has 84 

senior international caps since 

his debut against Wales in the 

Six Nations as a 20-year-old. 

But his first taste of club rugby 

for Tigers came in November 

2009, breaking the record as 

the youngest to make their 

professional rugby debut in 

England. 

His older brother Joe was also 

making his debut at fly-half 

and put in a man-of-thematch 

performance, scoring 

13 points. 

But George, son of former 

England defence coach 

and Tigers assistant Mike, 

grew in stature as the years 

progressed, both in terms of 

size and reputation. 

His potential was recognized 

when he won the World Rugby 

Junior Player of the Year in 

2011 and, a year later, he had 

his hands on silverware in the 

form of the Anglo-Welsh Cup. 

By the time he joined Bath in 

the summer of 2013, he was 

already regarded as having 

a mature head on relatively 

young shoulders. 

His former Bath teammate 

Dave Attwood commented 

at the time: “If you looked 

at him in the street you’d 

ID him for a packet of fags, 

but to hear him speak in 

a meeting and command 

everyone on the field, you’d 

think he was a 35-year-old 

veteran.” 

Only Harlequins’ 

Nick Evans reached 

1,500 Premiership 

points in fewer 

games. 

He has four Six 

Nations titles for 

England and started 

in the 2019 World 

Cup final. 

chance to win their first title 

for 19 years. 

His opposite number that day 

was Owen Farrell, and the two 

have been vying for supremacy 

all their careers, whether for 

the England No.10 jersey or 

the title at Twickenham today. 

Their lives have been 

intertwined ever since they 

were sent to the same 

state comprehensive in 

Hertfordshire, one which 

also saw Maro Itoje and Jack 

Singleton pass through its 

doors. 

Andy Farrell joined Saracens 

as a player to join Mike Ford 

who was the club’s coach and 

so their sons became close 

schoolmates, practising rugby 

together whenever they could 

find the time. 

“All we wanted to do was 

go outside and kick a ball 

around,” said Ford. 

“Owen used to come 

home and be like, 

‘C’mon mate, we 

need to go outside 

and have a mess 

around, do a bit of my 

homework for me’. 

“I’d be, ‘All right.’ And I’d start 

doing a bit of his French or 

whatever it was. That way we 

could go out on the front and 

kick a ball around.” 

Ford grabbed the headlines 

after the match, in which 

Leicester went down 28-17 to 

Leeds Carnegie, but on that 

occasion it wasn’t George. 

His next taste of a Twickenham 

final came at the end of his 

second campaign with Bath 

but, despite Ford’s best efforts, 

Saracens denied them a 

But Ford will certainly not be 

doing any favours for Farrell 

today as he looks to bookend 

his second spell at Tigers with 

the perfect swansong. 


41

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It was another stand out year for our 

award-winning HITZ programme as 

young people across the country were 

helped by a community programme 

that enriches and changes lives 

throughout the year 

The red carpet once again was 

rolled out for the HITZ Awards 

2021, with all our inspirational 

finalists being celebrated at 

The Twickenham Stoop at what 

was an emotional event 

The journeys and achievements 

of nine young shortlisted stars 

and three role models where 

recognised at the Awards hosted 

by former England and London 

Irish Winger Topsy Ojo. Together 

with our partners SCL Education 

Group, CVC Foundation and 

Wooden Spoon, we celebrated 

their inspirational progress and 

outstanding work on the HITZ 

programme. 

Minister for Employment, Mims 

Davies, praised their success: 

“Congratulations to all the 

winners on their very welldeserved 

awards. Their courage 

will inspire others to overcome 

life’s obstacles with great 

confidence which can often only 

be gained through sport and 

work. 

“HITZ is doing a wonderful job 

promoting this vital connection 

within communities right across 

the country, and is a huge credit 

to all of us who love the game. 

“Premiership Rugby clubs 

deserve huge praise for tackling 

difficult issues and providing 

the important support to those 

who need it, and for having 

the determination to make a 

difference.” 

HITZ is our education and 

employability programme, 

supporting young people to 

make positive life choices and 

to progress back into education, 

employment, apprenticeships 

or training. HITZ works with 

more than 2,000 14-23-yearolds 

across England every year 

and is delivered nationally 

by Premiership Rugby’s 13 

shareholder clubs. Since its 

inception in 2008, HITZ has 

supported nearly 20,000 

young people towards a 

brighter future. 

HITZ uses rugby’s core values of 

teamwork, respect, enjoyment, 

discipline and sportsmanship 

to help young people develop 

essential personal, employability 

and life skills. A strong focus 

on understanding young 

people whilst nurturing 

and encouraging learning, 

underpinned with physical 

activity, is what makes the 

programme so unique. It is 

this approach that consistently 

delivers results year after year. 



The Stats 

84% of 

participants have 

improved their 

functional Maths 

and English 

since HITZ 

started in 2008 

80% of 

participants 

report an 

improvement in 

personal, social 

and physical 

well-being 

More than 75% 

of participants 

go on to achieve 

a positive 

progression 

into further 

education, 

training or 

employment 

Scan the QR code 

to watch the 

video... 

Meet Our HITZ Award Winners 2021 

Dawda Darboe of Bristol Bears - Physical 

Activity Award Winner 

Rewarding progress and development in sport 

and physical activity 

Until Dawda (second left) joined HITZ, he was 

not in education and was a shy individual who 

was struggling with loneliness and poor mental 

health, but after taking part in the programme, 

he developed the necessary skills to secure 

employment and improve his outlook. Darboe 

is now playing rugby for Avonmouth RFC 1st 

XV while working in full-time employment for 

Molson Group as an IT apprentice. Wayne Morris, 

Premiership Rugby’s Corporate Responsibility 

Director, comments, “Dawda is now engaged fully 

in the rugby network, he’s playing regular rugby 

and is part of a team, a club and the rugby family, 

and it’s improved every aspect of his life including 

his mental wellbeing.’ 

Graham Binns of Bath Rugby - Champion 

Award Winner 

Recognising special individuals who go above and 

beyond the call of duty 

Universally popular with those who are a part 

of the scheme, Binns (left) was inspired to get 

involved after losing contact with his children. 

Now retired, he supports participants with their 

reading and writing in addition to working 

through their emotional needs. His ‘Not Giving 

Up’ session received a standing ovation after 

he shared his life challenges. Jane Howard, CVC 

Marketing and CSR Manager said “It was the 

longevity that he’s been volunteering with HITZ 

for that won him the award. For years he’s been 

helping young people get into work, supporting 

them through educational activities and 

mentoring them.” 

Callum Pope of Exeter Chiefs - Young 

Achiever Award Winner 

Rewarding the overcoming of challenges 

Having previously battled with severe social 

anxiety before joining the Chiefs’ HITZ 

programme in 2019, Pope’s (right) stellar work 

throughout the programme and his subsequent 

apprenticeship working on HITZ saw him claim 

the award. Callum says ‘HITZ was a second 

chance for me. It helped me to take responsibility 

to turn my life around.’ 

Leah Cromwell of Gloucester Rugby - 

Academic Achievement Award Winner 

Recognising significant academic progress 

Having previously obtained no qualifications 

due to her mental health struggles, HITZ allowed 

Leah (second right) to improve her confidence, 

leave an unhealthy relationship and obtain 

qualifications. She is now studying Health and 

Social Care at her local college while undergoing 

a placement at a nursery and hopes to work as 

a support worker when she finishes her studies. 

Leah on the impact of the programme on her life, 

“HITZ has been brilliant. It’s given me a path in 

life that I thought I’d lost. It gave me a reason to 

get out of bed every day, to keep positive and 

take control of my life. The staff really got me. 

They spoke to me like an equal, it was so different 

from school. I couldn’t have got to where I am 

now without them.” 

To find out more and how to enrol 

on HITZ, visit: hitzrugby.com 


45


PREMIERSHIP 

RUGBY HALL 

OF FAME 

Three more legends have been inducted into the 

Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame ahead of this year’s Final at 

Twickenham, writes Tom Masters. 

Will Greenwood, Trevor Woodman and 

Tom Varndell make up the class of 2021- 

22, with their names forever etched into 

Premiership Rugby folklore. 

Between them, the three inductees have 

won four Premiership Rugby titles, made 

over 350 appearances, and scored well 

over 100 tries. 

And the newest members are in elite 

company, joining some of the league’s 

finest ever players, with previous inductees 

including Jonny Wilkinson, Lawrence 

Dallaglio, Martin Johnson and Steve 

Thompson. 

Greenwood has been recognised for the 

part he played in Leicester Tigers winning 

back-to-back Premiership Rugby titles 

between 1998 and 2000. 

The former England and British and Irish 

Lions centre scored 34 Premiership Rugby 

tries over an illustrious career with Tigers 

and Harlequins, with whom he also lifted 

the European Challenge Cup in 2001. 

Fellow Tiger Tom Varndell is also a twotime 

Premiership Rugby winner, lifting 

titles at Twickenham in the 2006-07 and 

2008-09 seasons. 

Until recently, he was Premiership Rugby’s 

all-time top try scorer with 92 tries, 

breaking Mark Cueto’s record in 2016 for 

Bristol Bears, before Chris Ashton’s recent 

flurry saw him go top. 

A World Cup winner with Greenwood, 

Trevor Woodman made 93 appearances 

with Gloucester Rugby and Sale Sharks in a 

glittering career. 

The prop lifted the 2003 Powergen Cup 

after defeating Northampton Saints in the 

final, before going on to seal his starting 

place in the England side that lifted the 

William Webb Ellis trophy. 

As has become an annual custom before 

the silverware showpiece, Twickenham 

Stadium will welcome the newest 

inductees to the illustrious Premiership 

Rugby Hall of Fame. 

The Hall of Fame was first launched back 

in 2013 at a prestigious dinner at London’s 

Hurlingham Club. It initially included the 

leagues’ Players of the Season from the 

start in 1997-98 and the organisation’s 

Director of Rugby of the Season. 

PREVIOUS 

INDUCTEES 

2020-21 

Andy Goode 

Steve Thompson 

Christian Day 

Paul Grayson 

2018-19 

Matt Dawson 

Nick Evans 

Jason Leonard 

2017 

Steve Borthwick 

Kyran Bracken 

Nick Easter 

Ben Kay 

Jason Robinson 

2016 

Neil Back 

Mark Cueto 

Richard Hill 

Mike Tindall 

Hugh Vyvyan 

2015 

Lawrence Dallaglio 

Josh Lewsey 

Simon Shaw 

James Simpson-Daniel 

Phil Vickery 

Peter Wheeler 

Jonny Wilkinson 

2014 

Rob Baxter 

George Chuter 

Martin Johnson 

Lewis Moody 

Ed Morrison 

Tom Walkinshaw 

2013 

Mike Catt 

Martin Corry 

Warren Gatland 

Austin Healey 

Charlie Hodgson 

Kenny Logan 

Jim Mallinder 

Conor O’Shea 

Dean Richards 

Andy Robinson 

John Wells 



[ HALL OF FAME ] 

WILL GREENWOOD 

A centre with a nose for the 

try line, Will Greenwood is 

one of Premiership Rugby’s 

greatest ever players. 

Following in the footsteps of father 

Dick, who represented England in 

the back row, he began his rugby 

career at Harlequins following 

the end of his studies at the 

University of Durham. 

When professionalism came in 

1995, however, his whole career 

changed, and in 1996 he made the 

move to Leicester Tigers. 

In his first season as a Tiger, 

Greenwood helped them to 

Pilkington Cup glory and he was 

rewarded for his hot form with 

selection for the 1997 British 

and Irish Lions tour to South 

Africa, despite being uncapped at 

international level. 

Following the Lions tour, the 

1997-98 season proved to be a 

breakthrough season for the centre, 

who made his England debut 

against Australia in November at 

Twickenham. The following season 

he won his first Premiership Rugby 

title with Tigers, before repeating 

the trick in the 1999-00 campaign. 

In 2000, Greenwood made the 

move back to London to re-join 

Harlequins after a stellar four 

years at Tigers. In the famous four 

quarters, he sealed success in the 

Tetley’s Bitter Cup and was crucial 

in the club’s first European success, 

as they defeated Narbonne to 

lift the European Challenge Cup 

in 2001. 

He went on his second tour with 

The British and Irish Lions in 

Australia that summer and starred 

for England in the 2003 Rugby 

World Cup, scoring tries against 

Georgia, South Africa and Uruguay 

in the group stages, while his 

try against Wales in the Suncorp 

Stadium at the quarter-final stage 

turned the game in England’s 

favour. 

He then started in both the semifinal 

and the final as England won 

the Rugby World Cup for the first 

time. 

WILL 

GREENWOOD 

FACTFILE 

DOB: 20.10.1972 

Position: Centre 

Premiership Clubs: 

Harlequins, Leicester 

Tigers 


appearances: 96 

Premiership Rugby tries: 34 

Upon his return to Harlequins, 

Greenwood helped his side to 

Heineken Cup qualification in the 

2003-04 season but the following 

year was a disaster for Quins, as 

they suffered relegation to the 

Championship. 

Despite this, Greenwood was 

selected to go on his third British 

and Irish Lions tour, where he 

played in two Test matches. 

His final season in professional 

rugby was spent helping Harlequins 

back into the Premiership and the 

mission accomplished, he retired at 

the end of the 2005/06 season. 

In total, the legendary centre played 

in 96 Premiership Rugby matches, 

scored 34 tries and retired as 

one of the competition’s greatest 

players. 


47



TREVOR WOODMAN 

Whether it was in the cherry 

and white of Gloucester 

Rugby, the dark blue of Sale 

Sharks or the pristine white 

of England, Trevor Woodman 

was Mr. Dependable. 

Steady and consistent, the 

loosehead prop was the 

cornerstone of some of the best 

packs seen in this country – 

including England’s successful 2003 

World Cup-winning squad. 

Like his fellow inductee Greenwood, 

Woodman arrived on the scene in 

the mid-1990s and stayed for the 

next decade. 

The Cornishman spent much of his 

career in the south west, starting 

out at Bath Rugby before joining 

rivals Gloucester in 1996. 

Injuries unfortunately played their 

part in Woodman’s career but when 

he played, he made a difference, 

especially at Kingsholm. 

Woodman was at the heart 

of Gloucester’s revival at the 

beginning of the 21st century. He 

helped the Cherry & Whites to 

their best season in years in 1999- 

2000, finishing third in the table, 

while he spearheaded their Zurich 

Championship play-off run two 

years later. 

England head coach Clive 

Woodward was suitably impressed 

and handed Woodman his first Test 

start in a memorable 31-28 win 

against New Zealand in autumn 

2002, a result that gave the squad 

belief that they could win the World 

Cup. 

TREVOR 

WOODMAN 

FACTFILE 

DOB: 04.08.1976 

Position: Prop 

Premiership Clubs: Bath 

Rugby, Gloucester Rugby, 

Sale Sharks 




Woodman went from strength to 

strength, helping Gloucester to 

the top of the Premiership table 

in 2002-2003 before they suffered 

a narrow semi-final defeat to the 

sensational Wasps team of the early 

2000s at Twickenham. 

However, a few months later, his life 

changed forever. 

In a squad packed with quality 

props, including Jason Leonard and 

Julian White, Woodman started four 

matches at the 2003 World Cup, 

including the semi-final win against 

France and final success against 

Australia, as England became world 

champions for the first time. 

Back in the Premiership, Gloucester 

continued to knock on the door, 

finishing fourth in the 2003-04 

season, in what proved to be 

Woodman’s penultimate campaign 

at the club. 

By this stage, injuries had started 

to slow him down and in 2005 he 

moved north to join a Sale Sharks 

team on the rise. 

However, a long-term back injury 

restricted Woodman to just three 

appearances for his new team and 

he was forced to retire after just one 

season in Manchester aged 29. 

In all, Woodman made 93 

Premiership Rugby appearances 

and scored eight tries, and rightly 

takes his place the prestigious 

Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame. 




TOM VARNDELL 

A natural predator, 

Tom Varndell began his 

Premiership Rugby career 

with Leicester Tigers in 

2004 and to say he made 

an immediate impact is an 

understatement. 

In just his second game for the 

Tigers, Varndell scored the fastest 

hat-trick in Premiership Rugby 

history, with three tries coming 

in 13 minutes against Worcester 

Warriors. 

That early form saw him earn a first 

call-up into the England set-up, 

making his debut as a replacement 

and scoring in England’s 40-3 win 

over Samoa at Twickenham in 

November 2005. 

Varndell finished the season as the 

top Premiership try scorer with 

14, but suffered heartbreak at the 

end of the season as Tigers fell 

to a 45-20 defeat to Sale Sharks 

in the Premiership Rugby Final at 

Twickenham. 

The winger got his hands on 

silverware in the following season, 

as he played a key role in England’s 

Commonwealth Games silver medal 

in sevens, before finishing off the 

season in style as Leicester won the 

Premiership Rugby Final with a 44- 

16 win against Gloucester. 

A key cog in Leicester’s 2007- 

08 campaign, Varndell finished 

comfortably as Premiership Rugby’s 

top try scorer again with 14, his 

electric pace and brilliant finishing 

skills continuing to serve him and 

Tigers well in a golden era for the 

club, where Twickenham finals were 

almost expected, even if they didn’t 

win them. 

In 2009, Tigers lost to Wasps in 

the Final but the following season 

bounced back, with Varndell on the 

bench for the 10-9 success against 

London Irish – in what proved to be 

his last game for the club. 

Varndell moved to Wasps at the 

beginning of the 2009-10 campaign 

and watched on as the Tigers again 

ruled the land with a successful title 

defence. 

In all, he spent six seasons at Wasps 

and, while he didn’t add to his trophy 

cabinet, he continued to score tries 

aplenty. By the time he moved to 

Bristol Bears in 2015, he had moved 

up to third in the all-time Premiership 

Rugby try-scorers list. 

Breaking Mark Cueto’s record 

seemed inevitable and Varndell 

moved level with the former 

England man on 90 tries on New 

Year’s Day 2017, ironically against 

Cueto’s old team Sale Sharks, 

before breaking it a month later 

against Harlequins. 

He finished his career in 2018 with 

92 Premiership Rugby scores, 

which stood as a record until 

Chris Ashton broke it this season. 

He enters the Premiership 

Rugby Hall of Fame as one of the 

most lethal finishers in the 

competition’s history. 

TOM 

VARNDELL 

FACTFILE 

DOB: 16.09.1985 

Position: Wing 

Premiership clubs: Leicester 

Tigers, Wasps, Bristol 

Bears 





49

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DREAM TEAM 

DELIVERS A 

A SIDE WITH 

INCREDIBLE 

PLAYERS ACROSS 

THE BOARD 

It is the hardest selection of the season. But the commentary team 

at BT Sport have the job of finding best Gallagher Premiership 

Rugby player in every position as Josh Graham finds out. 

AFTER A sensational 

Gallagher Premiership 

Rugby season, the BT Sport 

Dream Team has been 

selected with representatives from 

seven clubs. 

Two of the league’s top four, Leicester 

Tigers and Harlequins, have four players 

apiece while Saracens and Gloucester 

Rugby provide two of the 2021-22 

season stars, with the final three coming 

from Sale Sharks, Wasps and Newcastle 

Falcons respectively. 

Tigers have had a phenomenal season 

under Steve Borthwick with captain 

Ellis Genge at the front of things and 

deserving of his spot in the side at 

loosehead prop. 

He is joined in the pack by clubmate 

Hanro Liebenberg who packs down 

at No.6 after an industrious campaign 

while George Ford is in at fly-half after 

rediscovering his prime playmaking 

form. 

Freddie Steward slots in at full-back 

after carrying the momentum from 

his England debut last summer into a 

superb domestic campaign. 

Evergreen Danny Care is at scrum-half 

for last year’s champions Harlequins 

and he is joined in the backline by 

winger Cadan Murley who has shown 

his eye for the tryline this season. 

The Rugby Players’ Association’s 

players’ player of the year Andre 

Esterhuizen has been the standout 12 

in the league while up front, Will Collier 

has been a rock for Quins at tighthead. 

Saracens hit the ground running on 

their return to England’s top tier with 

Max Malins excelling on the wing, 

notably scoring four tries against Wasps 

in October. 

His close friend and teammate Ben Earl 

also chipped in with valuable scores 

and turnovers while being incredibly 

effective on both sides of the ball on 

the pitch. 

Buoyed by touring South Africa with 

the British & Irish Lions last summer, 

Scotland centre Chris Harris continued 

to produce stellar performances in the 

No.13 jersey for Gloucester to bag his 

spot in the side. 

Harris’ clubmate and second row 

Freddie Clarke has also had a fantastic 

campaign in the engine room, 

one particular highlight coming at 

Twickenham against Harlequins when 

the 29-year-old showed a fantastic turn 

of pace to dot down for a terrific try. 

Newcastle Falcons’ try machine George 

McGuigan has had a terrific year at 

hooker with his performances earning 

a first England call-up to Eddie Jones’ 

latest training squad. 

Brad Shields’ tireless work rate earns the 

Wasps back row the No.8 jersey while 

Sale Sharks’ towering lock Jean-Luc 

du Preez joins him in the pack after 

another campaign of displays littered 

with brutal physicality. 


51


FREDDIE 

STEWARD 

MAX 

MALINS 

CHRIS 

HARRIS 

ANDRE 

ESTERHUIZEN 

CADAN 

MURLEY 

GEORGE 

FORD 

DANNY 

CARE 

35 

TACKLES 

1 

TRY ASSISTS 

12 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

43 

KICKS FROM 

HAND 

70 

PASSES 

64 

TACKLES 

4 

TRY ASSISTS 

18 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

59 

KICKS FROM 

HAND 

73 

PASSES 

123 

TACKLES 

1 

TRY ASSISTS 

11 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

9 

KICKS FROM 

HAND 

48 

PASSES 

218 

TACKLES 

6 

TRY ASSISTS 

16 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

18 

KICKS FROM 

HAND 

163 

PASSES 

145 

TACKLES 

1 

TRY ASSISTS 

23 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

6 

KICKS FROM 

HAND 

32 

PASSES 

79 

TACKLES 

7 

TRY ASSISTS 

2 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

244 

KICKS FROM 

HAND 

372 

PASSES 

104 

TACKLES 

17 

TRY ASSISTS 

11 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

288 

KICKS FROM 

HAND 

1507 

PASSES 



ELLIS 

GENGE 

GEORGE 

MCGUIGAN 

WILL 

COLLIER 

JEAN-LUC 

DU PREEZ 

FREDDIE 

CLARKE 

HANRO 

LIEBENBERG 

BEN 

EARL 

BRAD 

SHIELDS 

2022 

104 

TACKLES 

125 

CARRIES 

1 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

657 

METRES PER 

CARRY 

59 

PASSES 

180 

TACKLES 

159 

CARRIES 

7 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

777 

METRES PER 

CARRY 

68 

PASSES 

99 

TACKLES 

51 

CARRIES 

1 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

210 

METRES PER 

CARRY 

13 

PASSES 

158 

TACKLES 

198 

CARRIES 

3 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

972 

METRES PER 

CARRY 

75 

PASSES 

268 

TACKLES 

113 

CARRIES 

4 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

570 

METRES PER 

CARRY 

81 

PASSES 

178 

TACKLES 

131 

CARRIES 

3 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

665 

METRES PER 

CARRY 

83 

PASSES 

347 

TACKLES 

186 

CARRIES 

11 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

1355 

METRES PER 

CARRY 

89 

PASSES 

189 

TACKLES 

122 

CARRIES 

5 

CLEAN 

BREAKS 

681 

METRES PER 

CARRY 

64 

PASSES 


53


[ SARACENS DIRECTOR OF RUGBY ] 

MARK 

McCALL 

It’s massively exciting for everyone at the club to be back at 

Twickenham today for the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final. 

Looking back over the season there have been a number of 

highlights, not least The Showdown 2 at Tottenham Hotspur 

Stadium which was a huge event for the whole club and it was 

a very proud moment to see us run out at such an iconic venue. 

It has been a huge group effort all season to get us to this 

point and I am incredibly grateful to all our players and staff for 

all of their efforts and for making this year so enjoyable. 

We face a Leicester Tigers team today who have had a superb 

season, and huge credit must go to Steve Borthwick and his 

coaching team. Steve was a great captain for our club and it is 

no surprise that he is having such a huge impact as a coach. 

We are also bidding farewell to a number of players this 

afternoon and I would like to thank them for everything they 

have done for the club. 

Tim Swinson, Richard Barrington, Vincent Koch, Elliott 

Obatoyinbo, Sean Reffell, Janco Venter, Tom Mills and Charlie 

Watson have all been fantastic for us and we wish them and 

their families well for the future. 

The support that we have received this season from our fans 

has been remarkable and we cannot thank them enough. There 

is something special building at StoneX Stadium and we hope 

to give our supporters another reason to cheer today as we 

head towards the break in the summer. 

We have had a very enjoyable week and can’t wait to get out 

there today for this fantastic occasion. 

All the best! 

Mark 

54 



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It has been 

a huge group 

effort all season 

to get us to 

this point and 

I am incredibly 

grateful to all our 

players and staff 

for all of their 

efforts and for 

making this year 

so enjoyable 


55

GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP RUGBY SEMI-FINAL 

SARACENS 34 

HARLEQUINS 17 

SATURDAY 11 JUNE | STONEX STADIUM

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Saracens are at Twickenham for the first time since 2019. 

Stuart Farmer charts their progress in statistics 

1680 

The Gallagher Premiership 

Rugby Player of the Season 

Ben Earl has had more game 

time than any other Saracens 

this year, 1680 minutes. 

MAX 

POWER 

Quicksilver wing Max 

Malins is the Gallagher 


top try scorer this 

season with 16 from 14 

appearances. Eleven of 

those tries were run in 

during the 2nd half of 

matches. 

LUCKY CHARM 

Richard Barrington is Saracens good luck charm 

– Sarries have not been beaten in any of the 13 

matches he has taken part in. 

ONE 

CLUB 

MAN 

Alex Goode has appeared in 234 

Premiership matches for Saracens, 

only two other “one club” men 

have made more appearances 

for their only club in the history 

of the tournament – 238 by 

Northampton’s Alex Waller and 

237 by Wasps Simon Shaw. 


59

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OFF THE BENCH 

Over a fifth of all Saracens tries this season have 

been scored by replacements – the highest 

percentage in Premiership Rugby. 


POINTS 

MACHINE 

Owen Farrell needs just 15 more points to 

become only the third player to rack up 1500 

points for the only club they played for in 

Premiership Rugby, after Nick Evans (1656 for 

Harlequins) and Gareth Steenson (1651 for 

Exeter). 

LOOKING 

FOR SIX 

Saracens have played in 

seven previous Premiership 

finals and won five of them. 

The only two defeats were 

to Leicester in 2010 and 

Northampton in 2014. 

MAKING 

HIS MARK 

Saracens have won almost three-quarters of the 

matches that Mark McCall has been in charge - 

the best winning percentage of any head coach 

in Premiership history. 


61


MEET THE SQUAD 

SARACENS 

RALPH ADAMS-HALE | PROP 

DOB: 31/03/97 

Height: 1.83m 

Weight: 120kg 

RICHARD BARRINGTON | PROP 

ANDY CHRISTIE | BACK ROW 

ALEC CLAREY | PROP 

ELLIOT DALY | CENTRE 

ALED DAVIES | SCRUM HALF 

DOB: 24/09/89 

Height: 1.85m 

Weight: 120kg 

DOB: 08/02/94 

Height: 1.8m 

Weight: 120kg 

DOB: 08/02/94 

Height: 1.8m 

Weight: 120kg 

DOB: 08/10/92 

Height: 1.78m 

Weight: 83kg 


DOB: 19/07/92 

Height: 1.78m 

Weight: 88kg 

Honours: Wales 

62 


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RUBEN DE HAAS | SCRUM HALF 

BEN EARL | BACK ROW 

OWEN FARRELL | FLY HALF 

JAMIE GEORGE | HOOKER 


ALEX GOODE | FULL BACK 

DOB: 09/10/98 

Height: 1.83m 

Weight: 85kg 

Honours: USA 

DOB: 07/01/98 

Height: 1.88m 

Weight: 101.82kg 


DOB: 24/09/91 

Height: 1.8m 



DOB: 20/10/90 

Height: 1.8m 



DOB: 05/05/88 

Height: 1.8m 

Weight: 90kg 


ALEX LEWINGTON | WING 

ETHAN LEWIS | HOOKER 

ALEX LOZOWSKI | CENTRE 

SEAN MAITLAND | WING 

MAX MALINS | WINGER 

BEN HARRIS | WINGER 

CALLUM HUNTER-HILL | LOCK 

NICK ISIEKWE | LOCK 

MARO ITOJE | LOCK / BACK ROW 

VINCENT KOCH | PROP 

DOB: 08/09/99 

Height: 1.88m 

Weight: 100kg 

DOB: 27/02/97 

Height: 1.98m 


DOB: 20/04/98 

Height: 2.01m 

Weight: 120kg 


DOB: 28/10/94 

Height: 1.98m 

Weight: 110kg 


DOB: 13/03/90 

Height: 1.85m 

Weight: 125kg 


DOB: 20/09/91 

Height: 1.8m 


DOB: 28/03/94 

Height: 1.83m 


DOB: 30/06/93 

Height: 1.85m 



DOB: 14/09/88 

Height: 1.88m 



DOB: 07/01/97 

Height: 1.8m 



ERONI MAWI | PROP 

DOB: 02/06/96 

Height: 1.88m 


Honours: Fiji 

THEO MCFARLAND | LOCK 

DOB: 16/10/95 

Height: 1.96m 


Honours: Samoa 

DOM MORRIS | CENTRE 

DOB: 29/07/97 

Height: 1.8m 


ELLIOTT OBATOYINBO | FULL BACK 

DOB: 09/10/98 

Height: 1.83m 


KAPELI PIFELETI | HOOKER 

DOB: 01/09/99 

Height: 1.83m 


Honours: USA 


63

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MANU VUNIPOLA | FLY HALF 

SAM WAINWRIGHT | PROP 

NICK TOMPKINS | CENTRE 

IVAN VAN ZYL | SCRUM HALF 

JANCO VENTER | BACK ROW 

BILLY VUNIPOLA | BACK ROW 

MAKO VUNIPOLA | PROP 

SEAN REFFELL | BACK ROW 

MARCO RICCIONI | PROP 

ROTIMI SEGUN | WING 

TIM SWINSON | LOCK 

DUNCAN TAYLOR | CENTRE 

DOB: 04/11/98 

Height: 1.8m 


DOB: 19/10/97 

Height: 1.83m 


Honours: Italy 

DOB: 28/12/96 

Height: 1.8m 


DOB: 17/02/87 

Height: 1.93m 



DOB: 05/09/89 

Height: 1.91m 

Weight: 100kg 


DOB: 16/02/95 

Height: 1.8m 

Weight: 95kg 

Honours: Wales 

DOB: 30/06/95 

Height: 1.8m 



DOB: 19/09/94 

Height: 1.93m 

Weight: 100kg 

Honours: Namibia 

DOB: 03/11/92 

Height: 1.91m 



DOB: 14/01/91 

Height: 1.83m 



DOB: 04/05/2000 

Height: 1.8m 


DOB: 07/05/98 

Height: 1.88m 


TOM WOOLSTENCROFT | HOOKER 

DOB: 18/09/94 

Height: 1.83m 


JACKSON WRAY | BACK ROW 

DOB: 10/11/90 

Height: 1.91m 3’) 



65


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66 


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THE RISE AND RISE 

OF SUPERHUMAN 

SARACENS LOCK 

MARO ITOJE 

There are few players in the world who can match Maro 

Itoje on his day as he looks to add another trophy to his 

remarkable collection, writes Jack Lacey-Hatton. 

MARO 

ITOJE 

Club: Saracens 

International caps: 56 

2021-22 Gallagher 

Premiership tries: 2 

A talismanic figure for 

both club and country 

over the last six years, 

one club man Maro Itoje 

has become one of the 

best locks in world rugby. 

The 27-year-old has once again 

this season showed what an 

important cog he is in the 

Saracens machine as they look to 

regain the Gallagher Premiership 

Rugby title last won in 2019. 

Itoje has spent his entire senior 

club career at StoneX Stadium, 

after graduating from the club 

academy back in 2012. 

In the decade since then, there is 

very little he hasn’t achieved in 

the game and he will enter the 

Twickenham field today as one of 

the most decorated players on the 

pitch. 

It took an Anglo-Welsh cup tie 

against Cardiff Blues for ‘The Pearl’ 

to make his debut in a Saracens 

jersey in 2013, still aged only 19. 

Physicality was always a major 

feature of the England star’s 

game, which combined with his 

natural agility, make him a difficult 

opponent for any side in the 

game. 

As a schoolboy he didn’t purely 

focus on rugby, also trying his 

hand at basketball, football and 

athletics – Itoje even represented 

his country at under-17 level in the 

shot put. 

A Gallagher Premiership Rugby 

bow followed later in 2013-14 

against Leicester Tigers and it 

wasn’t long before he was a firm 

favourite in the eyes of Saracens’ 

fans, as well as catching the eye of 

the national selectors. 

2014 was something of a 

breakthrough year, with Itoje cocaptaining 

the successful England 

team at the IRB Junior World 

Championship, with a first England 

Saxons call-up coming a year later. 

At domestic level, his first 

Gallagher Premiership Rugby 


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DID YOU 

KNOW? 

The England star 

writes poetry in his 

free time and has tried 

his hand at modelling 

too, previously 

appearing on the 

cover of high-society 

magazine Tatler. 

Itoje is the cousin 

of Bath’s loosehead 

prop Beno Obano 

and contributed to 

his 2020 Amazon 

Original documentary 

Everybody’s Game. 

He is represented by 

the Roc Nation agency 

owned by rapper 

Jay-Z. 

Away from the 

pitch, Itoje relaxes 

by listening to 

podcasts and 

audiobooks, watching 

documentaries, 

chilling with friends 

and family, and 

checking out African 

art. 

His dream dinner 

party guests would 

be Muhammed Ali, 

Barack and Michelle 

Obama, Kwame 

Nkrumah, Oprah, and 

Chimamanda Adichie. 

title arrived with Itoje playing 

in a 28-16 win over Bath at 

Twickenham. 

Again he featured in the 

following season’s silverware 

showpiece, which saw his club 

retain their third title after a 

28-20 win over Exeter Chiefs. 

Itoje was also now becoming a 

central figure at national level, 

making his England debut 

against Italy during the 2016 

Six Nations. 

He then played a starring role 

in a flawless series win over 

Australia that summer, and 

has never been far from Eddie 

Jones’ plans in the years that 

have followed. 

Although in his younger 

days Itoje may not have 

been considered captain 

material, he has developed to 

be one of the real locker room 

leaders for both Saracens and 

his country. 

Even England head coach 

Eddie Jones said last 

December: “I’ve never seen 

a guy mature as much as he 

has in the last six months so 

it’s been a really good period 

for him. 

“I’ve got no doubt in the 

future he will captain England. 

Whether that’s in my time or 

someone else’s time.” 

Few in the world compare 

with the pearl around the 

breakdown or in the air. His 

ability in the lineout has 

been a staple of Saracens 

performances for much of the 

last decade. 

Although he was born and 

raised in the local area of 

Camden, the importance 

of his loyalty to the North 

London club should not be 

underestimated. 

Outside of the domestic 

game and England, Itoje has 

twice toured with the British 

& Irish Lions. 

Outstanding in the 2017 

drawn series with New 

Zealand, he managed to raise 

his game even further four 

years later when the Lions 

headed for South Africa. 

Despite losing a closely fought 

series 2-1, Itoje’s contributions 

were recognised as he was 

voted the tourists’ Player of 

the Series. 

10 months ago, when Saracens 

returned to the top flight 

after a one-year absence at 

the start of this season you 

could be forgiven for thinking 

normal expectations would be 

lowered. 

But throughout this season 

Itoje’s focus has never wavered. 

When interviewed back in 

March the Saracens star said 

he had total confidence the 

squad could deliver more 

silverware this season. 

“Without a doubt it’s a realistic 

goal to win the Premiership 

this season,” he said. “I think 

given the quality that we have, 

the experience that we have, 

and the playing staff that’s 

definitely our goal this season. 

“We are bubbling along 

reasonably well and going a 

little bit under the radar. This 

part of the year we really want 

to kick on and push things 

forward. 

“I don’t see any reason why 

that shouldn’t be our goal, but 

we know how difficult it will 

be. There are a lot of quality 

sides in this league so we will 

have to keep improving our 

game on a weekly basis, but 

I’m confident in the ability of 

this squad.” 

Having just brought up a 

century of league appearances 

for Saracens and with many 

years at the top level still 

ahead of him, you wouldn’t bet 

against him making another 

100. Whatever happens in 

the final, Itoje has once again 

shown this season he is one 

of the standout players, not 

only in the league, but on the 

planet. 


69

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SARACENS’ 

ROUTE TO THE 2021-22 

GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP 

RUGBY FINAL 

In their first season back, five-time champions Saracens 

look as strong as ever, writes Ben Hart. 

+ + + + + + + 

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After a year in the Championship, 

Saracens are back at the home of 

Rugby. 

On their last appearance at Twickenham, 

the Men in Black beat the winners of the 

regular league season to be crowned 

Kings of England. They’ll be hoping to 

repeat that feat this year. 

Ben Earl has already secured Saracens’ 

tag as Lords of London. The Gallagher 

Premiership Rugby Player of the Season 

scored a hat-trick in a typically ruthless 

display in their semi-final win over 

Harlequins. 

A feisty London derby ended with Mark 

McCall’s side emerging 34-17 winners, 

despite playing with 14 – and at times 13 – 

men in a tense second period. 

Even comeback specialists Quins could 

not overcome the Saracens defensive 

juggernaut, which has looked more 

coordinated and commanding than ever 

this term. 

The season began with an equally physical 

display as Saracens announced their 

intentions for domestic domination. Last 

year’s beaten semi-finalists Bristol Bears 

were the first to be put to the sword, 

courtesy of seven Alex Lozowski penalties. 

The versatile back, like Earl, was one of 

several returning loanees, having spent the 

2020/21 season on loan at Montpellier. 

That year of top-flight rugby proved 

invaluable as Lozowski shone in 

the absence of regular fly-half 

Owen Farrell. 


71

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The England captain returned for a trip 

to Leicester Tigers in Round Two, where 

the concession of an ultimately costly late 

penalty try reminded Saracens of the fine 

margins which exist at the top level. 

On the same day as the wet and windy 

Midlands defeat, the club announced 

that a takeover had been agreed with a 

consortium including World Cup-winning 

captain Francois Pienaar. 

But while change loomed behind the 

scenes, Sarries were their old selves on 

the field, running up high scores and 

suffocating their opponents in defence. 

After defeat in Leicester, they produced 

a six-game unbeaten run, with a 

disappointing draw at home to London 

Irish the only blemish on an otherwise 

impressive early-season card. 

The second game in that run saw them 

produce a simply stunning 10-try 

demolition of Bath Rugby, as the boys in 

blue leaked more points than ever before 

in a Premiership Rugby fixture, going 

down 71-17. 

Max Malins finished as the league’s top 

try-scorer, and three of his 16 scores came 

in that autumn try fest at The Rec. 

He bettered that performance the 

following week, with a four-try display in 

a 56-15 battering of Wasps at the StoneX 

Stadium. 

Sarries were well on their way to finishing 

as the league’s top point scorers. 

The next assignment was a trip to reigning 

champions Harlequins and, having trailed 

19-9 at half-time, McCall’s side produced 

a brilliant second-half fightback to win 

29-22 and condemn their London rivals to 

their first home defeat of 2021. 

Saracens were on the wrong end of a 

comeback the following week as Irish 

rallied to draw 34-34 but returned to 

winning ways after the international break 

with a hard-fought 25-14 win over Sale, 

which took them back to second in the 

table. 

But ill discipline cost them on their next 

outing, with Exeter Chiefs the beneficiaries 

on a day which saw Saracens marched 

back on three occasions in an 18-15 

reverse. 

Then as wins over Worcester Warriors 

and Northampton Saints brought some 

Christmas cheer, the January blues quickly 

followed – a home defeat to Gloucester 

Rugby and chastening loss at Wasps 

threatened to derail their semi-final hopes. 

But when they did lose, McCall’s side 

made sure it was close, with five of their 

six defeats earning a losing bonus point. 

A win against Bath restored some 

confidence before the double was secured 

over Harlequins with another narrow 

victory. Hooker Tom Woolstencroft scored 

three tries in those back-to-back home 

encounters, with the Sarries set piece 

showing its match-winning credentials. 

He registered again as Saracens visited 

the Brentford Community Stadium for the 

first time, but a last-gasp Paddy Jackson 

penalty gave Irish the points. 

As a result, Sarries dropped to third for 

the first time since the beginning of the 

season, ahead of the visit of leagueleaders 

Leicester Tigers. 

But they silenced their doubters with a 

five-star and a five-try performance, Alex 

Lewington finishing a stunning team move 

to register the crucial score in a 34-27 win. 

A potential banana skin was then 

overcome with a 36-21 win over Newcastle 

Falcons before Farrell returned from injury 

just in time for ‘The Showdown’ against 

Bristol Bears at the Tottenham Hotspur 

Stadium. 

Wins followed over Sale Sharks, Exeter 

Chiefs and then Worcester Warriors, with 

Malins once again bagging four, before a 

home semi-final was secured with a 42-38 

win over Northampton. 

Theo McFarland capped a wonderful 

first season at the StoneX with two 

tries, the second of which showed off 

his international basketball skills, with a 

stunning acrobatic finish. 

An entirely changed XV suffered defeat 

in the final game of the regular season, a 

heavy 54-7 loss to Gloucester Rugby. But 

Farrell and co then returned for the semifinals 

as Sarries swept past Quins, leaving 

the returning giants just 80 minutes away 

from regaining their throne. 


73


FEARSOME 

OWEN FARRELL 

TO GRACE THE GALLAGHER 

PREMIERSHIP RUGBY FINAL 

ONCE AGAIN 

Despite a season filled with injury setbacks, the fly-half is back 

at the pinnacle of domestic rugby, writes Jonny Bray. 

No matter the result 

in today’s Gallagher 

Premiership Rugby Final, 

you cannot help but 

respect Saracens and 

England star Owen Farrell 

for his tenacity and neversay-die 

attitude. 

The 94-cap England back was 

absent for 15 rounds of Gallagher 

Premiership Rugby action between 

October and March due to two 

ankle injuries but, come 3pm 

today, nothing will keep him from 

the Twickenham turf. 

The 30-year-old’s season is 

bookended by matches against 

Leicester Tigers. In October, he 

started in the 13-12 defeat as the 

Men in Black continued to adapt 

back to the rigours of top-flight 

rugby. 

But in typical fashion, Farrell and 

Saracens bounced back by winning 

their next three games in style. 

Farrell was on fire, kicking at least 

15 points in all three matches, but 

his season took a dramatic turn for 

the worse in England colours. 

First, he limped off during their 

win over Australia in November 

2021 with an ankle injury, missing 

nine weeks of the campaign before 

injuring the other ankle on the eve 

of his return. 

That ruled him out of the Six 

Nations but he returned to the 

Saracens starting line-up for the 

27-23 win over Bristol Bears in 

Round 21 and steadily built up his 

form and fitness in the final weeks 

of the season. 

Last Saturday, he was at the heart 

of Saracens’ semi-final victory, 

kicking three conversions and a 

penalty, as a Ben Earl-inspired 

home side beat Harlequins 34-17 

at StoneX Stadium. 

The English rugby icon ended the 

campaign with nine Gallagher 

Premiership Rugby starts, kicking 

124 points. Leicester will be 

wary that any penalty 

OWEN 

FARRELL 

Born: 24 September 

1991 

Club: Saracens 

International caps: 94 for 

England 

2021-2022 Gallagher 


points: 124 

74 



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75

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conceded in their half will 

likely result in three Saracens 

points. 

Now that he is back to his 

best, there is no telling how 

big an impact Farrell can have 

on the Gallagher Premiership 

Rugby Final. But if the big 

games of years gone by can 

teach us anything, it is that 

Farrell always rises to the big 

occasion. 

Farrell’s first final came 11 

years ago, again versus today’s 

opponents. He was just 19 but 

the fly-half was electric, nailing 

all five of his penalty attempts 

and also a conversion as 

Saracens claimed a tight 22-18 

victory. 

Farrell and Saracens were back 

in the final three years on and, 

despite coming up just short 

against Northampton Saints, 

they returned to the silverware 

showpiece a year later. 

Saracens’ brilliant fly-half was 

at the centre of it all, excelling 

all season before being named 

Player of the Match against 

Bath Rugby, scoring a try and 

kicking 13 points at Rugby 

HQ. Saracens went on to win 

that final 28–16. 

All the while, the rising star 

was beginning to make a 

splash on the international 

stage, impressing on and off 

the pitch on the British & Irish 

Lions tour of Australia in 2013. 

He had already established 

himself as one of England’s 

best players, making his debut 

in February 2012 against 

Scotland and earning 36 caps 

by the end of 2015. 

That May brought another 

final. And another Farrell 

masterclass. He kicked 13 

points as Saracens beat Exeter 

Chiefs 28-10 and he capped 

the campaign with the Fans’ 

Player of the Season award 

after Saracens also added the 

European Rugby Champions 

Cup trophy. 

2017 saw Farrell become 

Saracens’ all-time leading 

scorer, overtaking Glen 

Jackson, before 

helping his side 

to a second 

successive European 

Champions Cup, scoring 

two conversions and three 

penalties in the final against 

ASM Clermont Auvergne. 

DID YOU 

KNOW? 

In 2005, Owen 

Farrell had a trial at 

Manchester United 

as a goalkeeper. 

Owen Farrell 

studied Business 

at Hertfordshire 

University. 

Owen Farrell’s uncle 

Sean O’Loughlin 

(below) is a rugby 

league legend, 

winning 34 caps 

for Great Britain 

between 1993 and 

2009. 

The 2017/18 season brought 

Farrell his fourth Premiership 

Rugby title in a 27-10 victory 

over Exeter, and in 2018/19, 

he repeated the achievement 

for a fifth time. That same 

campaign, he led Saracens to 

an unbelievable third European 

Champions Cup. 

Simultaneously, Farrell was 

playing his best rugby on the 

international stage. 

He was a crucial part of all 

three England sides that won 

the Six Nations in 2016, 2017 

and 2020 and changed the 

Lions’ series against New 

Zealand in 2017, slotting in 

perfectly at 12 and excelling 

outside of Ireland legend 

Jonathan Sexton to help the 

side earn a remarkable draw. 

Now, this living legend of the 

modern game is on the verge 

of winning his sixth Gallagher 

Premiership Rugby title. 

And teammate Alex Goode 

believes the leader knows 

exactly how to push his 

teammates to be the best they 

can be. 

“He just wants the best from 

everyone. He wants us to be 

playing better and training 

better,” he told the Telegraph. 

“That’s revered with guys like 

Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira and 

Tom Brady. You need guys like 

that in weeks like this to make 

sure standards are being set. 

“You need to know people are 

going to do their job, and if he 

shouts at people, they know it 

is because he wants to win.” 


77


WHAT 

IF IT’S A 

DRAW 

TODAY? 

Two of the last six Premiership Rugby 

titles have been won in extra-time. 

What will happen today if the scores are 

tied after 80 minutes? 

EXTRA TIME 

In the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final 2022, if 

after 40 minutes of play each way the scores are 

level, there shall be a five-minute break (where the 

teams and players shall remain on the pitch) and 

then a period of extra time shall begin between 

the teams of ten minutes each way, with a oneminute 

interval. 

If the scores remain equal after this period of 

extra time then the winner will be the team which 

has scored the most tries in the game (including 

extra time). 

If the scores are level and the number of tries 

scored is equal, then there shall be a place kick 

competition. 

PLACE KICKING 

COMPETITION 

A coin toss will determine at which end 

the competition will be at and another coin 

toss will determine which team goes first 

or second. 

Each team nominates three kickers who will 

attempt to slot the ball through the posts 

from six designated positions on the 10 and 

22-metre lines. 

Each kicker will take two kicks apiece in the 

following order: 

KICKER 1 

from each team will take a kick from in front 

of the posts on the 22m line. 

KICKER 2 

from each team will take a kick 15m in from 

the right touch line on the 22m line. 

KICKER 3 


the left touch line on the 22m line. 

KICKER 1 

from each team will take a kick from in front 

of the posts on the 10m line. 

KICKER 2 


the right touch line on the 10m line. 

KICKER 3 

from each team will take a kick 15m in 

from the left touch line on the 10m 

line. 

If the scores are tied after the six 

kicks for each team, it will go 

to “sudden death” from the 

middle of the 10-metre line. 

The three kickers 

must have been 

playing at the final 

whistle of extra time. 



THE 

PETER 

DEAKIN 

MEDAL 

Awarded to the Player of the Match at the 

Premiership Final, to honour the memory of 

Peter Deakin, one of the professional game’s 

great marketeers. 

2018 | MAKO VUNIPOLA 

2019 | MARO ITOJE 

Born in Oldham, Deakin was 

influenced by the approach to 

sports marketing he found in 

America and on his return to the 

UK transformed the Bradford 

Northern rugby league club 

into the Bradford Bulls, trebling 

attendances at Odsal and laying 

the foundations for the club’s 

success. 

At the onset of professionalism 

in rugby union, Saracens owner 

Nigel Wray brought Deakin south 

to work his magic on the London 

club, investing much of his energy 

in providing supporters with much 

more than just 80 minutes of rugby. 

The club’s recent matches at 

Wembley provide echoes of 

Deakin’s influence over a decade 

later. Rugby league was his 

first love and Warrington 

tempted him back north, 

but Peter crossed the divide 

again when he returned 

to union with Sale Sharks, 

before a second stint 

at Saracens. Sadly, 

Peter died of a 

brain tumour on 1 

February 2003 at 

the age of 49. 

The last four finals 

have seen Saracens 

prop Maro Vunipola 

(2018), Maro Itoje 

(2019), Henry Slade 

(2020) and 12 

months ago Joe 

Marler of Harlequins 

awarded the Peter Deakin Medal as 

the Gallagher Premiership Rugby 

Final’s Player of the Match. Today 

we will see who follows in their 

footsteps as we once again look to 

honour Peter Deakin’s legacy. 

2020 | HENRY SLADE 

2021 

JOE 

MARLER 


79


The HAC in London was the perfect backdrop for the 2021-22 

Premiership Rugby awards, presented by Gallagher. 

Josh Graham brushed shoulders with rugby glitterati to see 

who picked up the gongs. 



...AND THE 

WINNER IS... 

Gallagher 

Player of the Season 

BEN EARL 

(Saracens) 

After the conclusion of an 

enthralling 2021-22 Gallagher 

Premiership Rugby regular season, 

the league’s standout performers 

were recognised at the Premiership 

Rugby Awards, presented by 

Gallagher, in London. 

The most prestigious award went 

to Saracens flanker Ben Earl, who 

followed in the footsteps of Exeter 

Chiefs No.8 Sam Simmonds by being 

crowned Gallagher Player of the 

Season. 

Earl enjoyed a stellar campaign in 

the back row for Mark McCall’s men, 

who finished the regular campaign in 

second place in the standings on their 

return from the Championship. 

Earl, who spent last season on loan at 

Bristol Bears, pipped Harlequins duo 

Danny Care and André Esterhuizen to 

the award as well as Leicester Tigers 

duo George Ford and Julián Montoya. 

Saracens head coach Joe Shaw said: 

“We’re enormously proud of Ben and 

how he has developed through our 

system. His impact coming back this 

season has been huge. 

“He has become an increasingly 

important player in our squad. He is 

a leader, a phenomenal talent and we 

can’t wait to see him keep growing 

over the coming years.” 

Leicester Tigers topped the table at 

the end of the regular season, losing 

just four games and going unbeaten 

at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. 

And after masterminding 20 wins, 

as well as a run to the Heineken 

Champions Cup quarter-finals, 

Steve Borthwick was named 

London Pride Director of Rugby of 

the Season. 

Under Borthwick’s watch, Leicester 

started the season in phenomenal 

form and won 16 successive first-team 

fixtures - marking the club’s best 

winning run for 25 years. 

Borthwick won the award ahead 

of outgoing Northampton Saints 

director of rugby Chris Boyd, 

Gloucester Rugby’s George 

Skivington, Saracens’ Mark McCall and 

Harlequins’ Tabai Matson. 

“Individual awards are very rarely 

that,” he said. “They’re usually 

representative of team effort. I’m very 

privileged to work with a fantastic 

group of players and a fantastic 

support team.” 

Every season talented 

young rugby stars announce 

themselves on the big stage and this 

year’s Land Rover Discovery of the 

Season went to London Irish’s Henry 

Arundell. 

London Pride 

Director of Rugby of the Season 

STEVE BORTHWICK 

(Leicester Tigers) 

Land Rover 

Discovery of the Season 

HENRY ARUNDELL 

(London Irish) 


Top Try-Scorer of the Season 

MAX MALINS 

(Saracens) 

Gilbert Golden Boot 

GEORGE FORD 

(Leicester Tigers) 

The Famous Grouse 

Try of the Season 

LOUIS REES- 

ZAMMIT 

(Gloucester Rugby 

v Newcastle Falcons) 

Gallagher Community 

Player of the Season 

JUSTIN CLEGG 

(Worcester Warriors) 


81

Restart is the official charity of the Rugby Players Association. 

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Medical 

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Rehabilitation 

or disability 

support 

Financial 

support 

Emotional 

support 

RESTART IN NUMBERS 

We support 

1,200+ 

current and former players 

 

spent on player 

support since 2005 

Founded in 

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by RPA 

Group CEO 

Damian 

Hopley 

Every season 

we invest 

 

to fund our 

Confidential 

Counselling Service 

“ 

The support I have 

received from Restart 

from day one has been 

incredible. It has made 

such a difference 

to my recovery and 

how positive and 

motivated you see 

me today” 

Ed Jackson, Former 

Bath, Wasps and 

Dragons Rugby Player 

Restartrugby.org @RestartRugby Registered Charity No. 1113160


The lightning quick full-back caught 

the eye with some scintillating lengthof-the-field 

and chip and chase scores 

and was rewarded by receiving his 

first senior England call-up. 

“Henry has had a good breakthrough 

season with us, and this award is 

recognition for his efforts,” said Declan 

Kidney, director of rugby at London 

Irish. 

“He has worked hard in training and 

applied himself well in matches. 

We look forward to seeing his 

development continue with London 

Irish. Our congratulations go to Henry 

and his family, who have supported 

him tremendously to get him to this 

point.” 

Arundell’s fellow nominees were 

Leicester Tigers’ Ollie Chessum and 

Tommy Reffell, Northampton Saints’ 

Tommy Freeman and Harlequins’ 

Hugh Tizard, who will join Saracens 

for next season. 

The Premiership Rugby Awards also 

recognise off-the-field work and 

Worcester Warriors’ Justin Clegg was 

the recipient of this year’s Gallagher 

Community Player of the Season. 

Clegg has supported young and old 

in the Worcester community, joining 

in with the Warriors Community 

Foundation’s Inclusive Rugby sessions 

on Monday mornings whenever 

training allows, as well as being a 

familiar face at the Dementia Café on 

Wednesdays. 

Clegg has also been keen to inspire 

his teammates to get involved, 

spearheading the men’s and women’s 

teams donations to the local food 

bank and Ukraine humanitarian 

efforts. 

The 25-year-old also supported the 

Big Worcester Sleepout and the 

club’s Homeless Rugby Team with his 

presence seen by players as a sign of 

respect. 

Clegg is a worthy winner of the award 

but plenty of great work has been 

carried out across the clubs with 

Wasps’ Malakai Fekitoa, Sale Sharks’ 

Simon Hammersley, Bristol Bears’ 

Joe Joyce, Gloucester Rugby’s Lewis 

Ludlow and Saracens’ Sean Maitland 

all nominated in this category. 

He said: “I just want to continue 

helping the club’s community 

foundation grow and develop in any 

way they can. For me personally, I 

want to get more and more players 

involved. 

“Hopefully something like this means 

they will recognise that we’re doing 

some really good work – so hopefully 

they’ll start to come along with me 

too. It’s really special to win this 

award.” 

Elsewhere, Leicester Tigers fly-half 

George Ford took home the Gilbert 

Golden Boot award after kicking the 

most points in the season as his side 

finished top of the regular season 

table. 

Ford kicked 38 conversions and as 

many penalties while also slotting 

one drop goal to take his points tally 

to 193, eight ahead of London Irish’s 

Paddy Jackson with Gloucester Rugby’s 

Adam Hastings totalling 175 points in 

third place. 

This season’s Premiership Rugby Top 

Try-Scorer was Saracens’ Max Malins 

with 16, finishing one ahead Newcastle 

Falcons hooker George McGuigan, while 

London Irish’s No.2 Agustin Creevy 

and Harlequins winger Cadan Murley 

finished joint third with 14 tries apiece. 

And while there were a mountain of 

scintillating scores to pick from, this 

year’s The Famous Grouse Try of the 

Season, as voted for by supporters, 

went to Gloucester Rugby winger Louis 

Rees-Zammit for his effort against 

Newcastle Falcons in Round 14. 

Rees-Zammit fielded the ball just 

outside the 22 at Kingston Park before 

darting through a gap and sidestepping 

several would-be tacklers 

before using his pace to sprint home 

into the corner, capping a jaw-dropping 

solo move. 

The most prolific try-scorer of them all 

was also recognised at the Premiership 

Rugby Awards as Leicester Tigers 

winger Chris Ashton’s record-breaking 

feat was celebrated. 

Ashton became Premiership Rugby’s 

all-time top try-scorer with a first-half 

hat-trick against Bristol Bears to take 

his career tally to 95 - eclipsing Tom 

Varndell’s 92-try haul. 

He said: “Records are there to be 

broken, so some players are now aiming 

at me for it, but hopefully, I can add a 

couple more to it yet.” 


83


The 2021-22 season 

saw the Land Rover 


Cup continue to lay the 

groundwork for the next 

generation of players. 

The annual series of Under-11 and 

Under-12 rugby festivals saw each 

of the 13 Gallagher Premiership 

Rugby clubs take it in turns to put 

on their own event throughout the 

season, extending the invitation to 

local clubs to try their hand. 

This successful series of nationwide events 

has seen more than 100,000 children 

take part since the first event took place 

at Franklin’s Gardens in November 2008. 

And the competition continues to grow, 

providing developmental experience for 

young players to excel in a professionally 

run environment. 

For Rugby World Cup winner Jason 

Robinson (above, right), there is no 

question that the Land Rover Premiership 

Rugby Cup is vital for the grassroots of 

the game and introducing young players 

to top-level rugby. 



“Rugby teaches 

so much and 

participating with 

other teams will 

allow these children 

to learn and take 

skills that they can 

use both on and off 

the field.” 

He said: “It is wonderful to see all the 

kids who have excelled in the Land Rover 

Premiership Rugby Cup and seeing 

them get the chance to play again. This 

is so important for grassroots rugby 

and providing opportunities for these 

youngsters at an early age. 

“Rugby teaches so much and participating 

with other teams will allow these children 

to learn and take skills that they can use 

both on and off the field.” 

As well as the opportunity to experience 

a professionally-run environment, there 

were also places to attend the Gallagher 

Premiership Rugby Final at Twickenham 

available for the winners of the Under- 

12s and Under-11s events with the 

victors in the latter category decided by 

nominations based on their sportsmanship 

and dedication to rugby’s core values. 

As well as providing youngsters with 

the chance to compete for a place at 

Twickenham, these events also allowed 

them to meet some of the players from 

their respective Premiership Rugby Club, 

an aspect that Robinson believes is crucial 

to their passion for the sport. 

He added: “It’s amazing at tournaments 

like this for the kids to be able to meet 

some of their heroes. When you get the 

opportunity to see these players who you 

look up to and get to chat to them on a 

human level, that is the inspiration to go 

on and try to emulate them.” 

The Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup is 

a testament to Land Rover’s commitment 

to supporting rugby at all levels, from 

grassroots to elite. Follow the latest 

Land Rover rugby activity on Twitter 

@LandRoverRugby 


85

This season we have completed our inaugural cycle challenge, 

The Road to Twickenham. We are proud to be supporting the 

children’s charity of rugby, Wooden Spoon. The outstanding work 

of Wooden Spoon funds up to 70 life-changing projects across the 

UK and Ireland supporting vulnerable children every year. 

In the build-up to the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final, our core team of 

ex-professional rugby players joined with hundreds of day riders from across the 

country, put their bodies and minds to the test and took on the enormous challenge 

of cycling the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Trophy 750 miles from Newcastle to 

Twickenham in just seven days. 

Today, please support our team as they celebrate completing the last leg of their 

journey – delivering the trophy to Twickenham Stadium this morning, ready for 

Leicester Tigers v Saracens to kick off today. 


Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 

Registered Office: Spectrum Building, 7th Floor, 55 Blythswood Street, Glasgow, G2 7AT. Registered in Scotland. 

Company Number: SC108909. FP1160-2021 Exp 06.09.2022 | ARTUK-3134

To support the core riders, text 

WOODENSPOON to 70085 

with your donation amount 

Or scan the QR code 

to go straight to the 

Just Giving page


[ PREMIERSHIP RUGBY CUP 2021-22 ] 

WARRIORS LIFT 

TROPHY IN 

A DRAMATIC 

FINISH 

The Premiership Rugby Cup continued to keep its vital place in the rugby 

calendar this year, delivering a heart-stopping final writes Josh Graham. 

Worcester Warriors 

claimed their first 

major silverware in 

dramatic fashion 

as they were crowned 2021- 

2022 Premiership Rugby Cup 

champions at the expense of 

London Irish. 

In a game that went to extra-time, 

Kyle Hatherell’s last-gasp try in 

normal time ended up being the 

match-winning score as the Warriors 

took the victory on tries scored 

following a 25-25 draw. 

Matt Kvesic, Perry Humphreys and 

Hatherell crossed for the Warriors, 

the latter with the clock well into the 

red at the end of normal time. 

Fin Smith converted to force extratime, 

with Irish needing another 

score in Brentford having crossed 

the whitewash just once themselves 

through Ben White. 

Paddy Jackson kicked 20 points, 

but then faltered in extra-time 

missing his last four shots at goal 

as the Warriors celebrated a famous 

victory. 

For Steve Diamond, it capped off a 

dream campaign, having arrived at 

Sixways as a lead rugby consultant 

before being appointed director of 

rugby from next season. 

The dramatic finale brought 

the curtain down on a thrilling 

tournament, with several young 

stars announcing themselves on the 

big stage. 

Round 1 provided plenty of points 

with Gloucester Rugby getting 

their campaign off to a flyer after 

beating local West Country rivals 

Bath Rugby 71-10 as No.8 Ben 

Morgan crossed for a hat-trick. 

London Irish held off a second-half 

fightback from Northampton Saints 

to win 36-26 while there were 

narrow derby wins for Saracens 

at home to Harlequins and Bristol 

Bears away at Exeter Chiefs with 

Leicester Tigers and Newcastle 

Falcons also making fast starts. 

Gloucester made it two wins from 

two in Round 2 with a convincing 

45-19 triumph over the Chiefs while 

Harlequins got their first win on the 

board with a thrilling 26-25 victory 

over Saints. 

Crucially, Irish - who had led 21-0 

at the break - just about managed 



WARRIORS [25] 

Tries: Kvesic 12, Humphreys 40, 

Hatherell 80 

Conversions: Smith 13, 80 

Penalties: Smith 5, 19 

Jamie Shillcock, Perry Humphreys 

(Alex Hearle 62), Francois Venter (Ollie 

Lawrence 52), Ashley Beck, Duhan van 

der Merwe, Fin Smith, Gareth Simpson 

(Will Chudley 66), Ethan Waller (Rory 

Sutherland 45, Christian Judge 92), 

Niall Annett (Isaac Miller 65), Christian 

Judge (Murray McCallum 45), Joe 

Batley, Graham Kitchener (Andrew 

Kitchener 62), Kyle Hatherell, Matt 

Kvesic (Sam Lewis 64), Ted Hill 

IRISH [25] 

Tries: White 32 

Conversions: Jackson 33 

Penalties: Jackson 3, 28, 38, 47, 56, 65 

Henry Arundell (Ben Loader 72), Lucio 

Cinti, Will Joseph (Curtis Rona 54), 

Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Ollie 

Hassell-Collins, Paddy Jackson, Ben 

White (Caolan Englefield 80), Facundo 

Gigena (Will Goodrick-Clarke 47), 

Mike Willemse (Matt Cornish 25), 

Marcel van der Merwe (Ciaran Parker 

48), Chunya Munga (Steve Mafi 51), 

Rob Simmons (Chunya Munga 80), 

Matt Rogerson (Ben Donnell 64), Juan 

Martin Gonzalez, Albert Tuisue 

to repel a substantial Saracens 

comeback to win 29-20 at Brentford 

Community Stadium. 

Warriors showed their intent by 

running in ten tries in a 68-13 win 

over Bristol Bears and a superb 

second-half display from Leicester 

Tigers earned them a 55-7 victory 

away at Midlands rivals Wasps, 

Hosea Saumaki scoring a hat-trick. 

Sale Sharks edged out Newcastle 

Falcons before Round 3 saw the two 

Pool A protagonists battle it out, 

with Worcester maximising home 

advantage to narrowly get past 

Gloucester 27-21 at Sixways in the 

last action of 2021. 

Round 4 kicked off in March with 

London Irish confirming their place 

in the semi-finals with an impressive 

34-19 win over Harlequins. 

However, Newcastle Falcons’ bonuspoint 

comeback 36-28 win over 

Leicester Tigers was the pick of the 

games, with the hosts leapfrogging 

the Tigers to sit top of Pool 2 by one 

point going into their final game 

against Northampton Saints. 

Exeter Chiefs’ narrow 31-29 victory 

against Worcester blew the race to 

top Pool A wide open but Warriors 

still jumped over Gloucester ahead 

of the final round after going home 

with two bonus points. 

Bristol Bears comfortably beat 

Bath 61-19 to keep their semifinal 

aspirations alive while Saints 

ensured they were still in the hunt 

for the best runners-up spot behind 

the Exiles with an impressive 46-35 

away win at Saracens. 

With three spots in the semi-finals 

up for grabs, it was all to play for in 

Round 5 and Gloucester certainly did 

not disappoint with a thrilling 43-15 

win away at the Bears sneaking them 

into the top spot of Pool A over 

Worcester on points difference. 

However, the Warriors also 

progressed into the last four as the 

best runners-up, with 16 points, 

after holding their nerve at the Rec, 

winning 13-7 after battling back 

from being 7-0 down at the break. 

Leicester Tigers upset London Irish 

41-26 at Mattioli Woods Welford 

Road to claim the last remaining 

place and top Pool 2 ahead of 

Newcastle Falcons, whose 34-26 

defeat away to Northampton 

curtailed their hopes of progressing. 

The semi-finals produced two 

competitive rematches as Irish took 

on Tigers, this time with home 

advantage, and Gloucester and 

Worcester locked horns once again 

having been jostling for the top 

spot throughout the pool stages. 


89


In Brentford, Bryce Hegarty kicked a 

youthful Tigers into the lead but it 

was the Exiles who wrestled back 

control thanks to England Under- 

20s full-back Henry Arundell’s 

sensational chip and chase score 

after 14 minutes. 

Albert Tuisue then crashed over 

for two first-half scores on either 

side of a Noel Reid try and despite 

Hegarty slotting another three 

points, by the time flanker Ben 

Donnell touched down two minutes 

before the break the home side had 

a commanding 31-6 lead. 

There was no let-up after the 

interval, as the mightily impressive 

Arundell raced in and Irish went 

on to add two tries in six minutes 

with both James Stokes and Lucio 

Cinti getting themselves on the 

scoresheet. 

Tigers showed plenty of 

fighting spirit, Sam Edwards 

and Saumaki both crossing. 

But Irish had the last word as 

Will Joseph’s late try sealed a 

59-20 win and more importantly, 

a shot at silverware. 

Joining them in the final were 

Worcester following a 39-25 win 

over Gloucester to 

book a place in 

their first top-flight 

domestic final. 

George Barton opened the 

scoring with three points for 

the Cherry & Whites before 

Tom Howe’s converted try 

pushed the Warriors ahead. 

However, two scores for Cameron 

Jordan and Jake Morris put 

Gloucester back in the driving 

seat with an 18-7 lead. 

Crucially, Gareth Simpson nipped 

over for a neat score just three 

minutes before the interval, Smith’s 

conversion reducing the gap to 

18-14 after the first 40 minutes. 

And player of the match Simpson 

benefitted from Scotland 

international Duhan van der 

Merwe’s good play to score again 

five minutes into the second 

half before the British and Irish 

Lion wing crossed himself as 

the tide began to turn. 

When Gloucester hooker Henry 

Walker collapsed a dangerous 

rolling maul, Worcester 

were awarded a penalty try 

and led 34-18 after Jamie 

Shillcock’s penalty. 

Despite Alex Morgan 

crossing from a pick-and-go 

to get Gloucester back within 

nine, Worcester avoided a 

nervous finish thanks to Niall Annett 

powering over with seven minutes 

left to clinch the win before the 

Warriors went on to be crowned 

champions with victory over Irish 

in the silverware showpiece. 



We welcome you to Twickenham 

Stadium today for the 20th 

Premiership Rugby Final. Andy 

Baber charts an amazing journey 

through three different decades 

at rugby HQ. 


91


This year’s Premiership Rugby Final will be the 

20th in the league’s history, stretching back to the 

first silverware showpiece in 2002-03 when Wasps 

prevailed over Gloucester Rugby. 

Over the last two decades, 

seven different teams have been 

crowned champions of England 

but no team has appeared in 

the main event more often than 

Leicester Tigers. 

Tigers reached nine Finals in a row 

from 2005, winning four of those, 

while Saracens are not far behind 

them with seven appearances and 

a greater success rate of five titles. 

The most memorable of Leicester’s 

Premiership Rugby title wins 

was arguably in 2010 when they 

defeated Saracens 33-27 to 

become back-to-back champions. 

On that day, the Tigers secured 

their third title in four years when 

Dan Hipkiss crossed the whitewash 

minutes before the final whistle to 

snatch the lead and the trophy in 

dramatic fashion. 

But the Men in Black got their 

revenge when the two teams 

returned to Twickenham a year 

later, as they beat Leicester by four 

points to win their first title. 

The cool composure of a 19-yearold 

Owen Farrell made the 

difference for Saracens, as it would 

do so often in subsequent seasons, 

with the fly-half scoring 17 of his 

club’s 22 points. 

Saracens would wait three years 

before they made it back to 

Twickenham for the Premiership 

Rugby finale, taking on back-toback 

finalists Northampton Saints 

in 2014. 

A year earlier, Saints scored tries 

through Stephen Myler, Ben 

Foden, and Lee Dickson only to 

lose 37-17 to Tigers after captain 

Dylan Hartley was sent off just 

before half-time. 

But Saints were back at Rugby 

HQ 12 months later with a point 

to prove and that determination 

edged them ahead of Saracens, 

who they beat 24-20. 

Foden scored his second try in 

a Premiership Final for Saints to 

put them ahead, but this was not 

enough to stop the showpiece 

from going to extra-time for the 

first time. 

The atmosphere inside 

Twickenham intensified as the 

sides prepared to play for 20 more 

minutes and Saracens looked to 

have the upper hand thanks to the 

boot of Charlie Hodgson. 

All seemed lost for Northampton 

until a last-gasp try from Alex 

Waller provoked an eruption of 

noise as the Saints fans realised 

they were about to lift the title for 

the first time. 

Saracens bounced back with 

consecutive titles in 2015 and 

2016, with the first of those 

coming against Bath Rugby after 

the West Country side reached 

their first final for 11 years. 

Three first-half tries from Owen 

Farrell, Jamie George, and Chris 

Wyles gave the 2011 champions 

a 25-3 lead and, though Jonathan 

Joseph replied for Bath, it was not 

enough. 



Then, Mark McCall’s men made it 

to the summit of the English game 

once more, this time facing Exeter 

Chiefs, who were in their fifth 

Premiership Rugby season. 

Saracens had become champions 

of Europe two weeks before and 

after dominating the first half – 

with tries from Duncan Taylor and 

Chris Wyles – they stifled a Chiefs 

comeback to win 28-20. 

Chiefs didn’t have to wait long 

for their moment in the sun at 

Twickenham, however, as 12 

months later they were back and 

this time made sure they lifted the 

title. 

Their success wasn’t without 

drama though as Gareth Steenson 

kicked a last-minute penalty to 

send the sides into extra-time at 

20-20 before kicking the winner 

with just three minutes left. 

Chiefs were on course to retain 

their title the following year as 

they returned to Twickenham, but 

this time they were unable to get 

the better of Saracens as the Men 

in Black triumphed 27-10. 

It was a repeat outcome 12 

months later in 2019 when 

Saracens beat Chiefs 37-34 in a 

thrilling end-to-end contest to 

complete a memorable Europeanleague 

double. 

The Devon side managed to finally 

get their crown back in 2020’s 

delayed Final, edging out Wasps 

19-13, as they completed their 

own Gallagher Premiership and 

European double. 

The showpiece finale was played 

at Rugby HQ in October, months 

later than the usual summer date, 

after the 2019-20 season was 

interrupted due to the Covid-19 

pandemic. 

Wasps had previously been the 

team to beat when Premiership 

Rugby Final first came into 

being back in 2003 as they won 

each of the first three silverware 

showpiece events. 

The first of these was in 2003 when 

Wasps dominated Gloucester 39-3 

but the 2004 Final was a lowscoring 

affair, with Stuart Abbott 

scoring the only try in a 10-6 

victory over Bath. 

Wasps completed the hat-trick in 

2005 when they defeated Leicester 

39-14, 26 of these points were 

scored by Mark van Gisbergen, in 

Martin Johnson and Neil Back’s 

last game. 

Leicester returned to Twickenham 

in 2006 for the second of their 

nine consecutive Premiership 

Finals but this time it was Sale 

Sharks who denied them, winning 

45-20. 

Jump forward to 2009, Tigers took 

part in a much tighter affair with 

London Irish at Rugby HQ as a 

second-half try from Jordan Crane 

sealed a 10-9 success. 

Tigers first found Finals success in 

2007, in another bruising defeat 

for Gloucester at Twickenham as 

Leicester dotted down on no fewer 

than seven occasions. 

Leicester’s legacy was halted the 

following year, though, as Wasps 

claimed one more title for stalwart 

Lawrence Dallaglio before he 

retired after 18 years at the club. 

And last season’s champions 

Harlequins are the only team to 

have won more than one Final 

without losing, having added the 

2020-2021 crown to their success 

in 2011-12. 

That stunning 40-38 triumph over 

the Chiefs set a new record for 

the number of tries scored in the 

Final, with 11 traded between the 

two sides to pip the previous mark 

of 10. 

PREVIOUS 

FINALS 

2021 

EXETER CHIEFS 38 

HARLEQUINS 40 

2020 


WASPS 13 

2019 


SARACENS 37 

2018 


SARACENS 27 

2017 


WASPS 20 

(A.E.T.) 

2016 

SARACENS 28 


2015 

SARACENS 28 

BATH RUGBY 16 

2014 

NORTHAMPTON 

SAINTS 24 

SARACENS 20 

(A.E.T.) 

2013 


NORTHAMPTON 

SAINTS 17 

2012 

HARLEQUINS 30 


2011 

SARACENS 22 


2010 


SARACENS 27 

2009 


LONDON IRISH 9 

2008 

WASPS 26 


2007 


GLOUCESTER 

RUGBY 16 

2006 

SALE SHARKS 45 


2005 

WASPS 39 


2004 

WASPS 10 

BATH RUGBY 6 

2003 

WASPS 39 

GLOUCESTER 

RUGBY 3 


93


[ SCORED A TRY IN THREE 

SEPARATE FINALS ] 

CHRIS WYLES 

Saracens 

2015, 2016 & 2018 (2 tries) 

[ INDIVIDUAL MATCH RECORDS IN THE FINAL ] 

26 

MOST POINTS 

MARK VAN 

GISBERGEN 

Wasps v Leicester 

2005 

6MOST PENS 

CHARLIE 

HODGSON 

Sale v Leicester 

2006 

TOBY 

FLOOD 

Leicester v Saracens 

2011 

NICK 

EVANS 

Quins v Leicester 

2012 

21 

QUICKEST 

SCORE (SECS) 

PETER 

HEWAT 

Drop Goal 

L Irish v Leicester 

2009 

25 

QUICKEST TRY 

(SECS) 

NIC WHITE 

Exeter v Saracens 

2019 

17 

YOUNGEST 

FINALIST 

BEN YOUNGS 

17 YEARS AND 

249 DAYS 

Leicester v Gloucester 

2007 

37 

OLDEST 

FINALIST 

37 YEARS AND 

304 DAYS 

ANDY 

DEACON 

Gloucester v Wasps 

2003 

19 

YOUNGEST 

STARTER 

19 YEARS AND 

71 DAYS 

GEORGE 

FORD 

Leicester v Quins 

2012 

37 

OLDEST 

STARTER 

37 YEARS AND 

241 DAYS 

MIKE CATT 

London Irish v 

Leicester 

2009 

23 

YOUNGEST 

CAPTAIN 

23 YEARS AND 

209 DAYS 

JOE 

SIMMONDS 

Exeter v Wasps 

2020 

35 

OLDEST 

CAPTAIN 

35 YEARS AND 

294 DAYS 

LAWRENCE 

DALLAGLIO 

Wasps v Leicester 

2008 

20 

YOUNGEST 

TRY SCORER 

20 YEARS AND 

205 DAYS 

LOUIS 

LYNAGH 

Harlequins v Exeter 

2021 

34 

OLDEST TRY 

SCORER 

34 YEARS AND 

256 DAYS 

CHRIS 

WYLES 

Saracens v Exeter 

2018 

19 

YOUNGEST 

POINTS 

SCORER 

19 YEARS AND 

71DAYS 

GEORGE FORD 

Leicester v Quins 

2012 

37 

OLDEST 

POINTS 

SCORER 

37 YEARS AND 

117 DAYS 

JIMMY 

GOPPERTH 

Exeter v Wasps 

2020 

[ SCORED A TRY IN TWO 

SEPARATE FINALS ] 

JOSH LEWSEY 

Wasps - 2003 (2 tries) and 2008 

LEWIS MOODY 

Leicester - 2006 and 2007 

BEN FODEN 

Northampton - 2013 and 2014 

JACK NOWELL 

Exeter - 2016 and 2017 

JAMIE GEORGE 

Saracens - 2015 and 2019 (2 tries) 

HENRY SLADE 

Exeter - 2019 and 2020 

[ INDIVIDUAL CAREER RECORDS IN THE FINAL ] 

7MOST APPS 

GEORGE CHUTER 

Leicester 

GEORDAN MURPHY 

Leicester 

ALESANA TUILAGI 

Leicester 

ALEX GOODE 

Saracens 

BRAD BARRITT 

Saracens 

RICHARD 

WIGGLESWORTH 

Saracens 

7MOST STARTS 

GEORGE CHUTER 

Leicester 

GEORDAN MURPHY 

Leicester 

ALEX GOODE 

Saracens 

BRAD BARRITT 

Saracens 

73 

MOST POINTS 

OWEN FARRELL 

Saracens 

580 

MOST MINUTES 

PLAYED 

ALEX GOODE 

Saracens 



[ PREMIERSHIP RUGBY FINAL RECORDS 2003-2021 ] 

[ TEAM MATCH RECORDS ] 

[ FINAL FOR THREE CLUBS ] 

45 

HIGHEST 

SCORE: 

SALE 45 

LEICESTER 20 

2006 

3LOWEST 

SCORE: 

GLOUCESTER 3 

WASPS 39 

2003 

78 

MOST 

COMBINED 

POINTS: 

HARLEQUINS 40 

EXETER 38 

2021 

16 

LOWEST 

COMBINED 

POINTS: 

WASPS 10 

BATH 6 

2004 

36 

BIGGEST VICTORY: 

WASPS 39 

GLOUCESTER 3 

2003 

2EXTRA- 

TIME FINALS 

NORTHAMPTON 24 

SARACENS 20 

2014 

EXETER 23 

WASPS 20 

2017 

38 

MOST 1ST 

HALF POINTS: 

EXETER 22 

SARACENS 16 

2019 

45 

MOST 2ND 

HALF POINTS 

HARLEQUINS (19)40 

EXETER (14)38 

11 

BIGGEST 

COMEBACK TO 

WIN 

SARACENS 16 

EXETER 27 

(after 60’) 2019 

Saracens went on to win 

37-34 

81,779 

LARGEST 

ATTENDANCE: 

HARLEQUINS 30 

LEICESTER 23 

2012 

PETER RICHARDS 

Wasps 2004, Gloucester 2007, 

London Irish 2009 

[ BROTHERS IN SAME FINAL ] 

MARTIN & WILL JOHNSON 

Leicester 2005 

BRETT & LOUIS DEACON 


ALEX & MANU TUILAGI 


BEN & TOM YOUNGS 

Leicester 2012 & 2013 

BILLY & MAKO VUNIPOLA 

Saracens 2015 & 2018 

SAM & JOE SIMMONDS 

Exeter 2018, 2019 & 2020 

[ PREMIERSHIP FINAL 

WINNER WITH TWO CLUBS ] 

AYOOLA ERINLE 

Wasps (2003, 2004 & 2005) and Leicester (2008) 

JEREMY STAUNTON 

Wasps (2008) and Leicester (2010) 

RICHARD WIGGLESWORTH 

Sale (2006) and Saracens (2011, 2015, 2016, 

2018, 2019) 

CHRISTIAN DAY 

Sale (2006) and Northampton (2014) 

BEN FODEN 

Sale (2006) and Northampton (2014) 

CHARLIE HODGSON 

Sale (2006) and Saracens (2015 & 2016) 

GEOFF PARLING 

Leicester (2010 & 2013) and Exeter (2017) 

DELON & STEFON ARMITAGE 

London Irish 2009 

GEORGE & KEN PISI 

Northampton 2013 & 2014 

JACK & TOM WILLIS 

Wasps 2020 


95


15 

14 

13 

12 

FREDDIE 

STEWARD 

HARRY 

POTTER 

MATÍAS 

MORONI 

DAN 

KELLY 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

ELLIS 

GENGE © 

JULIÁN 

MONTOYA 

DAN 

COLE 

HARRY 

WELLS 

CALUM 

GREEN 

15 

14 

13 

12 

ALEX 

GOODE 

MAX 

MALINS 

ELLIOT 

DALY 

NICK 

TOMPKINS 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

MAKO 

VUNIPOLA 

JAMIE 

GEORGE 

VINCENT 

KOCH 

MARO 

ITOJE 

NICK 

ISIEKWE 

[ TEAMS CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT ] 



LEICESTER 

TIGERS 

11 

GUY 

PORTER 

10 

GEORGE 

FORD 

9 

BEN 

YOUNGS 

HEAD COACH: STEVE BORTHWICK 

HEAD OF PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE: ALED WALTERS 

ASSISTANT COACH: BRETT DEACON 

SCRUM COACH: TOM HARRISON 

DEFENCE COACH: KEVIN SINFIELD OBE 

ASSISTANT COACH: MATT SMITH 

ASSISTANT COACH: RICHARD WIGGLESWORTH 

HEAD OF PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS: MATT EGAN 

MEDICAL LEAD: JOEY BARTON 

6 

7 

8 

REPLACEMENTS: 

16 CHARLIE CLARE 

17 NEPHI LEATIGAGA 

18 JOE HEYES 

19 OLLIE CHESSUM 

20 GEORGE MARTIN 

21 JACK VAN POORTVLIET 

22 FREDDIE BURNS 

23 NEMANI NADOLO 

HANRO 

LIEBENBERG 

TOMMY 

REFFELL 

JASPER 

WIESE 

SARACENS 

11 

10 

9 

DIRECTOR OF RUGBY: MARK MCCALL 

DIRECTOR OF PERFORMANCE: PHIL MORROW 

HEAD COACH: JOE SHAW 

FORWARDS COACH: IAN PEEL 

BACKS COACH: KEVIN SORRELL 

DEFENCE COACH: ADAM POWELL 

KICKING COACH: DAN VICKERS 

COACH: KELLY BROWN 

SEAN 

MAITLAND 

OWEN 

FARRELL © 

ALED 

DAVIES 

REPLACEMENTS: 

16 KAPELI PIFELETI 

17 ERONI MAWI 

18 ALEC CLAREY 

19 JACKSON WRAY 

20 ANDY CHRISTIE 

21 IVAN VAN ZYL 

22 DUNCAN TAYLOR 

23 ALEX LOZOWSKI 

6 

THEO 

MCFARLAND 

7 

BEN 

EARL 

8 

BILLY 

VUNIPOLA 

MATCH OFFICIALS 

REFEREE: WAYNE BARNES 

AR / RES REF: LUKE PEARCE 

AR: CHRISTOPHE RIDLEY 

TMO: TOM FOLEY 

NO 4: CRAIG MAXWELL-KEYS 

NO 5: ANTHONY WOODTHORPE 

CITING COMMISSIONER: 

CHRIS CATLING 

TIME KEEPER: ERIC BULLION 


97

STADIUM 

INFORMATION 

COVID-19 MEASURES 

Please follow good hygiene practices at all times, 

including washing your hands regularly, and 

avoiding touching your face, handles, and railings 

wherever possible. 

SECURITY MEASURES 

Security measures will be in place at all entrance 

points to the stadium. The RFU is working closely 

with police and security forces to ensure the safety 

of those attending Twickenham Stadium. 

OPENING TIMES 

Main concourse open at 11:30am and seating bowl 

open at 13:30pm. 

LICENSED BARS 

Level 1 & 2 Bars opeen from 11:30am until 18:45pm 

approx (2hrs after FW). Level 4 & 5 bars open from 

13:30pm until 16:30pm (15 mins prior to final whistle) 

Please note all bars and catering concessions at the 

stadium are operated on a cashless basis - only card 

payments are accepted. 

WORLD RUGBY MUSEUM 

South Stand Piazza Entrance open 10:00am until 

3:00pm. 

RUGBY STORE 

Main South Stand store open 09:30am until 6:30pm 

and can be accessed from the south concourse. You 

can also shop online at englandrugbystore.com 

MOBILE STORES 

Mobile Stores located on the concourse are open 

from 11:30am until 6:30pm. 

ENQUIRY OFFICE/LOST CHILDREN 

The enquiry office, appropriate for urgent enquiries 

or lost children, is located in the southeast corner of 

the stadium near Gate F. 

PUBLIC TRANSPORT 

South Western Railways will be running an enhanced 

service from Twickenham and Richmond Stations to 

London Waterloo and the West. 

Walking distance to Twickenham, Whitton & St 

Margarets Stations. 

London Underground 

District Line from Richmond Station and Piccadilly 

Line from Hounslow East – normal Saturday service. 

London Overground Normal Saturday service. 

Shuttle buses to Richmond and Hounslow East 

stations will be running for up to three hours 

post-match. The shuttle to Richmond picks BRITISH up AIRWAYS 

FAN VILLAGE 

from Whitton Dene and the shuttle to Hounslow 

picks up from Rugby Road, both to the north of 

the stadium. 

The service is free post-match and pre-match 

more than two hours prior to kick off. Less than 

two hours prior to kick-off there is a charge of £3 

per person. 

PITCH INVASION 

Any unauthorised pitch access before, during, or 

after the game will be liable to ejection from the 

grounds and a lifetime ban from Twickenham 

Stadium. 

FIRST AID 

Located in North East corner of the East Stand and 

under the South West corner of the West Stand. 

LOST PROPERTY 

Please email LostProperty@rfu.com 

BRITISH AIRWAYS 

FAN VILLAGE 

TOILETS/ACCESSIBLE 

Ladies & Gents Toilets on ground and middle tiers. 

Accessible facilities on all main concourses accessed 

by RADAR key. 

NO ENTRY WITH… 

Cans, bottles (any bottle shaped glass container), 

canisters, containers, glasses or fireworks – all denied 

due to legal liability.

GL 

D 

AN 

ND 

ND 

D 

SHUTTLE 

Shuttle Buses to 

Hounslow Central 

Piccadilly Line 

WHITTON DENE 

NORTH 

CAR PARK 

1 

430 1 

450 

251 

1 

UPPER 

130 

130 

MIDD 

DDLE 

80 

LOWER 

NORTH STAND 

160 

1 

D 

260 

260 1 

1 

FIRST AID 

Shuttle Buses to 

Richmond Station 

SHUTTLE 

Turnstiles and 

Search Area 

C 

LION 

GATE 

PLAYERS 

ENTRANCE 

UPPER 

MIDD DDLE 

177 

248 

LOWE WER 

125 

WEST STAND 

EAST STAND 

LOWER 

130 

UPPER 

MIDD DDLE 

205 

260 

E 

RUGBY ROAD 

West 

Fan Village 

FIRST AID 

1 

1 

1 

150 240 

150 

254 

SOUTH STAND 

453 

430 

1 1 

LOWE 

WER 120 1 

E 

MIDD 

DDLE 75 

UPPER 

75 

O 

ENGLAND 

GLAND 

AND 

ENGLAND 

O 

F F 

I C 

ENGLAND 

ENQUIRY 

E 

TICKET 

F 

F 

E 

I C 

F 

LIVE ROOM 

RUGBY HOUSE 

VIRGIN 

ACTIVE 

Gate B 

Turnstiles and 

Search Area 

A 

MARRIOTT 

WHITTON ROAD 

Whitton Station (SWT) 

20 minutes walk 

(A316) CHERTSEY ROAD 

BAG POLICY 

Bags should be no larger than A4 size. 

South Western Railways & exit to 

Rosebine Avenue Car Park 

SAFETY/EVACUATION 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Loudspeaker safety announcements will be preceded 

by a warning tone. Remain in position, listen 

carefully to announcements which may direct you to 

specified evacuation points, emergency exits, 

staircases or onto the pitch. 

The PA system is zoned – those you can’t hear clearly 

will not at that moment apply to your area. Stewards, 

officials and police officers will direct you. Remain 

calm, go quickly to point directed for safe 

evacuation. 

RECYCLING 

Black bins are for general waste and green bins are 

for recycling. Please help us cut down on waste by 

using recycling bins. 

NO SMOKING 

Please be advised that Twickenham Stadium is now a 

completely non-smoking Stadium. The smoking of 

cigarettes, e-cigarettes or vaporisers is not permitted 

anywhere within the green perimeter fence line of 

the stadium.

YOUR 

TRUSTED 

INSURANCE 

BROKER 

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Registered in Scotland. Company Number: SC108909. 

FP1160-2021 Exp 06.09.2022 | ARTUK-3134

Gallagher Premiership Rugby FInal 2022

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