Summary

  • FT: Exeter 38-40 Harlequins

  • Harlequins crowned Premiership champions for first time since 2012

  • Quins had led 19-14 at half-time after scoring three tries

  • Exeter reclaimed lead inside last quarter after Sam Simmonds and Ollie Devoto tries

  • Two Louis Lynagh tries put Quins on verge of title

  • Stuart Hogg replied with try to give Chiefs hope but Quins held on

  1. Here they comepublished at 17:29 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    Exeter v Harlequins (17:30 BST)

    Right then.

    Turns out just 10,000 fans in a massive stadium can make a fair bit of noise!

    The players are making their way out onto the Twickenham pitch and we'll be under way in a matter of minutes.

  2. Non-playing players make some noisepublished at 17:27 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    Exeter v Harlequins (17:30 BST)

    There might only be 10,000 fans allowed in to Twickenham this evening, but I reckon these two pockets of the crowd will be the loudest sections.

    Both sets of non-playing squad members for Exeter and Harlequins have been detailed with giving as much as they can for their team-mates from the stands.

    Looks lively already!

    chiefsImage source, Getty Images
    QuinsImage source, Getty Images
  3. Follow the action across the BBCpublished at 17:26 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    Exeter v Harlequins (17:30 BST)

    Remember it's not just my ramblings you can use to take you through today's Premiership final action.

    The good folks in BBC radio are in position at Twickenham to bring you all the latest as it happens.

    In addition to BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, Phil Parry, Andy Rowley and the i Newspaper's rugby union correspondent Hugh Godwin are taking you through it on BBC Radio London while Nigel Walrond and John Lockyer are there for BBC Radio Devon.

    You can choose the commentary at the top of this page.

  4. Team newspublished at 17:24 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    Exeter v Harlequins (17:30 BST)

    Harlequins make three changes following last week's memorable semi-final win against Bristol.

    South Africa centre Andre Esterhuizen comes back to the side for the first time since March after completing a ban.

    Winger Caden Murley comes in for the injured Aaron Morris while flanker James Chisholm replaces Tom Lawday.

    This season's leading Premiership points scorer Marcus Smith plays at fly-half, meanwhile.

    Harlequins: Green; Lynagh, Marchant, Esterhuizen, Murley; Smith, Care; Marler, Baldwin, Louw, Symons, Lewies (capt), Chisholm, Kenningham, Dombrandt,

    Replacements: Joe Gray, Garcia Botta, Collier, Lamb, Lawday, Landajo, Tapuai, Northmore

  5. Team newspublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    Exeter v Harlequins (17:30 BST)

    Exeter are unchanged yet again as they prepare to take on Harlequins in today's Premiership final.

    Scotland captain and British and Irish Lions full-back Stuart Hogg is once again on the bench with Jack Nowell starting at full-back.

    Hogg is one of four British and Irish Lions summer tourists in Exeter's squad today, with hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, lock Jonny Hill and number eight Sam Simmonds all starting.

    Chiefs back-rower Richard Capstick is fit to play having been forced off early in the semi-final win over Sale after taking a knock to the head.

    Exeter: Nowell; Cuthbert, Slade, Devoto, O'Flaherty; J Simmonds (capt), Maunder; Hepburn, Cowan-Dickie, Williams, Jonny Gray, Hill, Kirsten, Capstick, S Simmonds

    Replacements: Yeandle, Moon, Street, Lonsdale, Armand, Townsend, H Skinner, Hogg

  6. Baxter impressed by Hogg reactionpublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    Exeter v Harlequins (17:30 BST)

    Stuart HoggImage source, Getty Images

    Stuart Hogg's reaction to being dropped has impressed Exeter boss Rob Baxter in the run up to today's final against Harlequins.

    The British and Irish Lions full-back was on the bench for Saturday's Premiership semi-final win over Sale, with England's Jack Nowell taking his place and scoring two tries.

    He is on the bench for today's match as well but has reacted well according to Baxter.

    "He's been very good this week," Baxter said ahead of today's final.

    "Very angry, very frustrated, but in all the right ways, and that's what I expect."

  7. Nowell criticises Twickenham capacitypublished at 17:18 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    Exeter v Harlequins (17:30 BST)

    Exeter and England back Jack Nowell has criticised the decision to limit the capacity for today's final at Twickenham to 10,000 fans.

    The game has not been given special status so is restricted under current Covid-19 rules.

    Wembley had 19,000 for England's Euro 2020 game with the Czech Republic and will have 60,000 for the tournament's semi-finals and final after UK Government approval.

    "It just doesn't make sense to me," Nowell said ahead of the game.

    "Wembley had 19,000 (for England against the Czech Republic) and they are going to 60,000 next week and you've got other sports events going on as well (with crowds).

    "At the end of the day, we are outdoors. Twickenham is an 80,000-seater stadium. There is no reason why we can't have more in there, but I don't know who is making the decisions.

    "From a players' point of view and the team's point of view, we are just gutted that we can't have a lot more people watching it."

  8. You Knows Itpublished at 17:16 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    Exeter v Harlequins (17:30 BST)

    Is Joe Marler getting ready for a Premiership final or a Goldie Lookin' Chain reunion tour?

    MarlerImage source, Getty Images
  9. Atmosphere buildingpublished at 17:14 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    Exeter v Harlequins (17:30 BST)

    Brent Pilnick
    BBC Sport at Twickenham

    TwickenhamImage source, BBC Sport

    There may only be 10,000 in here, but the atmosphere is starting to build.

    Only the bottom tier of the 82,000 capacity arena here at Twickenham is being used today due to Covid-19 rules.

  10. Quins literally walk to the finalpublished at 17:12 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    Exeter v Harlequins (17:30 BST)

    For those who know their south west London road maps, Twickenham is literally just across the A316 from Harlequins' home at The Stoop.

    Such is the proximity, the players and coaches walked across the footbridge over the dual carriageway earlier and were cheered on by plenty of their fans.

    Quins fansImage source, BBC Sport
    QuinsImage source, Getty Images
    QuinsImage source, Getty Images

    Meanwhile, it was a more traditional entrance through the West Gate for the Exeter players.

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  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:10 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    Tweet using #bbcrugby

    Join in the debate throughout this Premiership final with us on social media.

    Is this all set for Exeter to retain their crown or are Harlequins here to go all the way and upset the favourites?

    Let us know using #bbcrugby

  12. All over at Murrayfieldpublished at 17:08 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    FT: British and Irish Lions 28-10 Japan

    Alun Wyn JonesImage source, Getty Images

    Just a reminder that the British and Irish Lions got their summer under way today as they took on Japan at Murrayfield ahead of their tour of South Africa.

    Captain Alun Wyn Jones went off injured in the first half but the Lions ran in four tries to beat Japan 28-10.

    You can catch up with the reaction on that game here.

  13. How they got here - Harlequinspublished at 17:05 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    Exeter v Harlequins (17:30 BST)

    HarlequinsImage source, Rex Features

    Harlequins set up their place in today's final after staging the biggest-ever comeback in a Premiership play-off semi-final.

    Having been 28-0 down against Bristol last week, Quins fought back and beat them after extra time.

    Alex Dombrandt, Tyrone Green, James Chisholm and Louis Lynagh cut the gap to 28-24 while Joe Marchant's late try sent the game into extra time at 31-31.

    Green and Marchant's tries either side of Max Malins' third for Bristol sealed a remarkable win.

  14. How they got here - Exeterpublished at 17:02 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    Exeter v Harlequins (17:30 BST)

    Luke Cowan DickieImage source, Getty Images

    Reigning Premiership champions Exeter set up a sixth successive final after beating Sale 40-30 in an entertaining semi-final at Sandy Park last week.

    An action-packed first half saw Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom O'Flaherty and Jack Nowell score tries for Exeter, with Rohan Janse van Rensburg replying.

    Janse van Rensburg got his second soon after the break but Nowell replied.

    Alex Cuthbert's score looked to have sealed victory but Dan du Preez's late try ensured a nervy finish for Exeter.

  15. Welcomepublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 26 June 2021

    Exeter v Harlequins (17:30 BST)

    It all boils down to this.

    Exeter contest yet another Premiership final at Twickenham and it's shaping up to be a cracker as they take on Harlequins.

    Both of these sides came through two sensational semi-finals to get to this stage and the stage is set for another fine fixture.

    Kick-off is coming soon.