Hendy double powers Northampton to Prem Rugby title
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- Northampton beat Exeter 26-17 at Allianz Stadium to claim their third Prem Rugby title, with tries from Tommy Freeman, Fin Smith and George Hendy (2) plus three Smith conversions against a Slade-converted Ridl, Iosefa-Scott and Jenkins reply
- George Hendy scored twice inside the 64th minute and shortly after, exploiting the extra man after Exeter captain Dafydd Jenkins was sin-binned in the 57th minute for a dangerous challenge on George Furbank
- Josh Kemeny was yellow-carded on 51 minutes for a head-to-head clash, and Jenkins' try moments later gave Exeter a lead they held for only six minutes before the Welsh lock's own dismissal swung the final
- Northampton captain George Furbank lifted the trophy on his final appearance before joining Harlequins, with Saints having topped the table with just three regular-season defeats
- Exeter have now lost a Prem final for the fifth time in seven attempts, but capped a turnaround from finishing ninth last season and suffering a record 79-17 loss at Gloucester the previous April
- Exeter's revival has come under new coaches and signings Len Ikitau, Stephen Varney and Tom Hooper, with American investment on the horizon and Henry Pollock taking man of the match for the losing side's efforts
Why it matters: Northampton's third Prem title in five years, achieved with just three regular-season defeats, ends with long-time captain George Furbank departing for Harlequins — while Exeter reaching a fifth final in seven attempts one season after finishing ninth and losing 79-17 at Gloucester marks a competitive return for the Devon club under new investment.
