Summary

  • Exeter run in 10 tries to beat Harlequins and secure home semi-final

  • Saracens, Exeter, Wasps and Leicester finish in Premiership play-offs

  • Semi-final line-up: Saracens v Leicester and Exeter v Wasps

  • Northampton and Sale secure two remaining Champions Cup places

Live Reporting

Louise Gwilliam and Andrew Aloia

  1. That's all from us

    So, on the final afternoon of the Premiership, Sale Sharks were today's big winners as their victory over Newcastle Falcons saw them secure the final European Champions Cup place.

    Exeter's hammering of Harlequins handed them a home semi-final and left the London outfit having to pick up the pieces ahead of next Friday's Challenge Cup final against Montpelier.

    Here's the line-up for the play-off semi-finals:

    Saracens v Leicester

    Exeter v Wasps

    We'll be back next weekend to bring you all the action from Quins' European cup final - and we'll see you in two weeks time for the play-offs.

    Sale SharksGetty Images

  2. Get Involved via #bbcrugby

    FT: Bath 38-27 Leicester

  3. Get Involved via #bbcrugby

    FT: Newcastle 15-21 Sale

  4. Euro party for English clubs...

    Schalk Brits thumbs up for SaracensGetty Images

    Saracens canter into the Premiership play-offs with one very wide eye on the biggest prize in European rugby - the Champions Cup.

    The Londoners fell at the semi-final stage in Europe last year, but went on to win the Premiership grand final. This year, it is all about the double as they face French side Racing 92 in Lyon in a weeks' time.

    Oh, but that is not all because there is another tasty Anglo-French showdown in the European Challenge Cup final with Harlequins taking on Montpellier on Friday at the same Grand Stade de Lyon venue. Action-packed stuff for the locals of Lyon then.

    For Quins, European silverware will put a nice shine of what has been another uneventful domestic campaign - until today, anyhow.

  5. FT: Harlequins 24-62 Exeter

    That wasn't us. We should be embarrassed and I'm bitterly disappointed. To bow out this season like this is not the way to do it. But we have a second chance next week. We'll front up and put in a performance that's more us.

    Conor O'Shea, Harlequins director of rugby

  6. Sale secure Champions Cup spot

    FT: Around the grounds

    And we have results in from the other six matches.

    • Bath 38-27 Leicester
    • Gloucester 20-28 Northampton
    • Worcester 19-43 Saracens
    • Wasps 38-12 London Irish
    • Newcastle 12-21 Sale

    What that means is that Sale finish in the top six and get a Champions Cup spot as a reward. Northampton end their campaign fifth in the table.

    Victory for Wasps is not enough to finish second after Exeter won big.

    Bath end the season with victory against a Leicester side that was already assured of a play-off spot.

  7. Full-time

    Harlequins 24-62 Exeter

    An unbelievable scoreline as Exeter put 10 tries past Harlequins. The Chiefs secure a home semi-final in the last game of the season as Quins slip out of the Champions Cup places.

    Not how Conor O'Shea wanted to end his time in the Premiership with Harlequins and a tough day for his side. They'll be hugely disappointed with that performance but they have to look ahead to next week now.

    Remember, if they win the Challenge Cup they'll secure a Champions Cup spot for next season.

  8. Harlequins 24-62 Exeter

    We've got just over a minute left at The Stoop as Harlequins come back for the penalty. They're chipping away at the Exeter line but yet again a brilliant turnover by the Chiefs and that could be that.

  9. What could have been?

    Clive Eakin
    BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport

    "A crowd of 16,902 at the Ricoh Arena… How many might have come to a semi-final here?"

    Victory for Wasps today against London Irish is not to see them finish second as Exeter have that tied up with a big win over Harlequins.

  10. Harlequins 24-62 Exeter

    Marlon Yarde is bundled into touch and Harlequins are denied their bonus-point score. But with Sale now six points ahead, things are looking desperate for the home side.

  11. Around the grounds

    Sale are on track to securing a top-six finish as they continue to lead Newcastle 18-15. There are errors from both sides. It's riveting if not enthralling stuff at Kingtson Park.

    There have been two quick tries at the Ricoh Arena with Dan Robson and Josh Bassett going in for Wasps to help make it 33-12 against Championship-bound London Irish.

    A quick breakdown elsewhere and Bath, Saracens and Northampton all still lead their respective games.

  12. try

    Try (Salvi, con Steenson)

    Harlequins 24-62 Exeter

    Exeter celebrateRex Features

    A lengthy look from the TMO but there's no knock-on and the try is awarded. Julian Salvi with Exeter's 10th try.

  13. try

    Try (Stanley, con Botica)

    Harlequins 24-55 Exeter

    A lovely initial break from Joe Marchant who gets support from Ben Botica and Chris Robshaw before Winston Stanley crosses for a defiant try. 

  14. Harlequins 17-55 Exeter

    Chiefs go in search of try number 10 of the afternoon. It sounds farcical even saying that. What has happened here at The Stoop?

  15. Around the grounds

    England captain Dylan Hartley takes the field for Northampton and it's the first action he has seen for seven weeks after suffering concussion against France in the Six Nations. It has actually been 15 weeks since the hooker last featured for Northampton.

    He joins the action with Saints 28-20 up against Gloucester.

    Meanwhile, Chris Aston has grabbed a hat-trick for Saracens as they now lead Worcester 43-14. Elsewhere, Bath are holding off Leicester 31-27, Wasps are 21-12 in front against London Irish still. Sale Sharks are working hard as they maintain an 18-15 advantage against Newcastle.

  16. try

    Try (Slade, missed con Steenson)

    Harlequins 17-55 Exeter

    This is horrible for Quins. Their defence has dissolved. Another simple try for Chiefs and you start to fear for Harlequins next week in Lyon. Can they recover psychologically? 

  17. try

    Try (Chudley, con Steenson)

    Harlequins 17-50 Exeter

    Sharp work from the scrum-half who goes over for their fifth try in 22 minutes. The half-century comes up for the Chiefs and this is not the result or preparation Harlequins would've wanted.

  18. Harlequins 17-43 Exeter

    Can Newcastle be Quins' saviours? The latest is that they only trail by three points against Sale and they're the only hope Harlequins have at the moment. 

    Exeter have destroyed their defence here at The Stoop and they're now dominating at the scrum too.

  19. Around the grounds

    Sale SharksGetty Images

    Sale have the television match official to thank right now as Alex Tait's effort for Newcastle is chalked out after a review. All about downward pressure, that. Sharks still lead 18-15. A defeat would make things awkward for the Sharks because it then becomes a question of points difference and no one wants that.

    Meanwhile, it really is very much as you were everywhere else. Bath lead Leicester 31-22, Northampton are still 28-20 up against Gloucester, there haven't been any points in the second half at Ricoh Arena where the hosts lead London Irish 21-7. And Saracens, well they are just coasting at 36-14 against Worcester.

  20. try

    Try (Dollman, con Steenson)

    Harlequins 17-43 Exeter

    How easy was that? Mitch Lees runs a great decoy line which gives Phil Dollman all the space. He turns on the burners and saunters through the Quins defence.