George Hendy scored two tries in four minutes during the second half to lead Northampton to a 26-17 victory over Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership final, marking the club's second English domestic title in three seasons. The uncapped 23-year-old wing has now been tipped for an England call-up ahead of Monday's Nations Championship squad announcement.
Hendy's heroics seal the title
Hendy's decisive double came after a tightly contested first half, with Northampton trailing 14-13 at the break. His first try came from a well-timed run off a lineout, and the second followed shortly after when he intercepted a pass and sprinted 40 metres to the line. The victory was Northampton's second Premiership title in three seasons, having also won in 2022.
Club captain George Furbank, who is leaving to join Harlequins this summer, praised Hendy's ability to deliver on the big stage. "He's a pretty special player," Furbank said. "He's one of those guys who can pull things out of the hat. He scores tries that potentially no one else in the league and potentially in the world can score. He's someone you want on your team. He's obviously quality and that's two finals now in which he's performed on the big stage."
Emotional farewell for Furbank
Furbank admitted the final was an emotional experience, as it marked his last game for the club. "It was a mix of relief, happiness and sadness all merged into one. It's been a pretty emotional few weeks, to be honest. It's tough when it's your last game for a club that means so much to you. It's been a hell of a journey. I owe a lot to a lot of people for that journey. I've loved my time here and to finish this way is incredibly special."
Pollock named man of the match
Henry Pollock was awarded man of the match for his performance, describing the win as "something you dream of as a little kid." The England flanker avoided punishment for a high tackle on Exeter wing Campbell Ridl, with match officials opting not to card him. Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter defended the officials' handling of the game, saying, "These things happen. I thought the ref was great around head contact today. He looked for mitigating factors and found them."
Exeter's season of growth
Despite the loss, Exeter captain Dafydd Jenkins, who scored his side's third try before being sin-binned, highlighted the team's improvement after finishing ninth last season. "I think we've seen an immense amount of growth from last season," Jenkins said. "We're going to have to learn from today and get that extra bit out of ourselves to lift the trophy next year. You've got to use this feeling as motivation. We'll be back."
Injury updates for England
England head coach Steve Borthwick will monitor the fitness of Northampton scrum-half Archie McParland, who suffered a deep gash above his knee early in the game. Manny Feyi-Waboso required stitches above his left eye but is expected to be available for England duty this summer. Alex Mitchell also made a timely return from a torn hamstring in the final.
