Summary

  • FT: Exeter 34-23 Wasps

  • Exeter win to reach first-ever Premiership final

  • FT: Saracens 44-17 Leicester

  • Sarries run in five tries to make final at Twickenham on 28 May

  • England duo Farrell and Tuilagi both go off injured

  1. Tuilagi's summer over?published at 15:09 British Summer Time 21 May 2016

    FT: Saracens 44-17 Leicester

    Here's some news coming out of north London that could worry both Eddie Jones and England fans for the summer tour.

    England's first game in Australia is on 11 June.

  2. How Saracens reached the Premiership finalpublished at 15:07 British Summer Time 21 May 2016

    FT: Saracens 44-17 Leicester

    Chris WylesImage source, Getty Images

    Saracens remain on course for a domestic and European double after beating Leicester to reach a third successive Premiership final.

    After the Tigers had a first-minute Manu Tuilagi effort ruled out, Saracens eased clear with four first-half tries.

    Chris Wyles scored twice and Will Fraser and Chris Ashton touched down as they led 31-0 at the break. 

    Telusa Veainu and Dom Barrow threatened a fightback but Ashton's second sealed victory for the Champions Cup winners.

    Click here to read Steve Marshall's full report.

  3. get involved

    Get Involved via #bbcrugbypublished at 15:04 British Summer Time 21 May 2016

    Exeter v Wasps (15:15 BST)

    A certain incoming fly-half will be cheering on the six-time champions this afternoon, needless to say...

  4. Speaking of nerves...published at 15:01 British Summer Time 21 May 2016

    Exeter v Wasps (15:15 BST)

    Brent Pilnick
    BBC Sport at Sandy Park

    "With both sides out warming up there's a bit of nervous tension in the air here at Sandy Park.

    "Exeter's fans aren't used to losing - Saracens' win here in February is the only time the Chiefs have lost at Sandy Park since the start of 2015.

    "But this is something new - there hasn't been a game of this magnitude at Sandy Park since Exeter faced Bristol in the first-ever Championship play-off final in 2010."

  5. Can the Chiefs become the champions?published at 14:58 British Summer Time 21 May 2016

    Exeter v Wasps (15:15 BST)

    Rob BaxterImage source, Getty Images

    A decade ago Exeter had just finished the season sixth in the old National Division One, trailing in the final league table to local rivals Cornish Pirates and Plymouth Albion, and having had trips to Pertemps Bees, Sedgley Park, Otley and Newbury to contend with through the season.

    But roll on 10 years and the club is the Cinderella story of English rugby - a battle against all the odds that saw everyone's favourites for relegation after they went up in 2010 gradually get stronger and stronger.

    "I don't mind saying I'm nervous now," said head coach Rob Baxter prior to the club's first Premiership play-off match.

    Read the full lowdown on this afternoon's semi-final at Sandy Park here.

  6. Tries, glorious triespublished at 14:55 British Summer Time 21 May 2016

    Exeter v Wasps (15:15 BST)

    Tries graphicImage source, BBC Sport

    Seventy-one! That's more than three per game!

    It's also more than any other Premiership team managed this season and, to put it in to even greater context, 11 more than table-topping Saracens scored.

    More of the same this afternoon? Here's hoping.

  7. 'We've got to be smart'published at 14:52 British Summer Time 21 May 2016

    Exeter v Wasps (15:15 BST)

    Quote Message

    We've just got to play the percentages. We've got to be smart and play in the right areas. If it is there to go, we'll go. We played Northampton in horrendous conditions and scored three tries so we can do it.

    Jimmy Gopperth, Wasps fly-half on BT Sport

  8. Team newspublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 21 May 2016

    Exeter v Wasps (15:15 BST)

    Wasps also make six changes from the side which beat London Irish.

    Winger Frank Halai and half-back pairing Jimmy Gopperth and Dan Robson are recalled.

    Wasps teamImage source, BBC Sport

    Replacements: Ashley Johnson, Simon McIntyre, Lorenzo Cittadini, Will Rowlands, Sam Jones, Joe Simpson, Ruaridh Jackson, Rob Miller.

  9. Team newspublished at 14:47 British Summer Time 21 May 2016

    Exeter v Wasps (15:15 BST)

    Don Armand is preferred to the league's top try-scorer Thomas Waldrom as Exeter Chiefs make six changes for their first ever Premiership semi-final.

    Ben Moon, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Geoff Parling all come in up front, with Ian Whitten preferred at centre to Sam Hill and winger Olly Woodburn recalled.

    Exeter Chiefs teamImage source, BBC Sport

    Replacements: Jack Yeandle, Alec Hepburn, Tomas Francis, Ollie Atkins, Thomas Waldrom, Dave Lewis, Sam Hill, James Short.

  10. get involved

    Get Involved via #bbcrugbypublished at 14:43 British Summer Time 21 May 2016

    Exeter v Wasps (15:15 BST)

    Expecting a party atmosphere in the south west? You betchya.

    Before we turn up with our own drinks and food, however, let's run through some team news...

  11. One down, one to gopublished at 14:40 British Summer Time 21 May 2016

    Exeter v Wasps (15:15 BST)

    Jack NowellImage source, Getty Images

    Thanks Nathan, fine work all round. So then, who'll be joining Saracens in the final on 28 May?

    The bar has been set high by that first semi-final at Allianz Park, I'll concede, but I'm still pretty confident our second tie can more than match it for entertainment value.

    Because, down in sunny Devon, the young pretenders, the new kids on the block, the big-time wannabies play host to a club who've been there, done it and had the honour of wearing the champions t-shirt for a good few years during the mid-noughties.

    Sandy Park is our venue, Exeter Chiefs and Wasps are our teams. This should be an absolute belter.

  12. Next uppublished at 14:38 British Summer Time 21 May 2016

    FT: Saracens 44-17 Leicester

    That's about it for events at Allianz Park.

    But the rugby doesn't stop. Oh no. We're now off to Sandy Park for Exeter against Wasps.

    For that, Brendon Mitchell will be guiding you through the action in Devon to find out who will be facing Saracens at Twickenham next week.

  13. Saracens reactionpublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 21 May 2016

    FT: Saracens 44-17 Leicester

    Quote Message

    This season has been down to a huge squad effort. It has taken a 55 man team. We were under no illusions at half-time but I was please with how resilient we were.

    Saracens captain Brad Barritt, BT Sport

  14. FT: Saracens 44-17 Leicesterpublished at 14:32 British Summer Time 21 May 2016

    Paul Grayson
    Ex-England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

    Quote Message

    Lifting yourself after winning the European trophy is hard. Saracens had a wobbly first five minutes but after that they were nothing short of fantastic.

  15. get involved

    Get Involved at #bbcrugbypublished at 14:29 British Summer Time 21 May 2016

    FT: Saracens 44-17 Leicester

    So, Saracens too good in the end for Leicester.

    Were Sarries just too good or did the Tigers just have an off day? 

    Share your thoughts with us on Twitter using #bbcrugby as we continue to bring you more reaction.

  16. Saracens reactionpublished at 14:26 British Summer Time 21 May 2016

    FT: Saracens 44-17 Leicester

    Quote Message

    It was always going to be hard coming off last week, but that wasn't ever an excuse. Leicester are a good team and they were always going to come out like that after half time. But we got back on top of it even with tired legs. Now we just need to go and do the double.

    Saracens winger Chris Ashton, BT Sport

  17. Saracens reach the Premiership finalpublished at 80 mins
    Breaking

    Saracens 44-17 Leicester

    The European champions are off to Twickenham to attempt to defend their Premiership title and complete the double.

    At 31-0 at half-time they were always in control and turned it on when they needed.

    Credit to Leicester for a spirited comeback - they have now gone out at the semi-final stage in three of the last four years.

  18. Saracens 44-17 Leicesterpublished at 79 mins

    Stuart Lancaster
    Ex-England coach on BBC Radio 5 live

    Quote Message

    I wouldn't like to pick out one player. Saracens' strength is in their collective. The unsung heroes are just as important as the guys like Maro Itjoe and the Vunipola brothers who get a lot of the credit.

  19. Saracens 44-17 Leicesterpublished at 79 mins

    You know a hospital pass? Mathew Tait just got give a hospital pass.

    He is smashed back in his own try are as Leicester look to run it from deep and Saracens have a scrum and one more chance for a try.

  20. Man of the Matchpublished at 78 mins

    Saracens 44-17 Leicester

    Chris AshtonImage source, Getty Images

    The men at Allianz Park decide that the two tries of winger Chris Ashton means he is the best player on the park today. There's been a few to choose from.