The Prem final: Northampton 26-17 Exeter: George Hendy’s double helps Saints to title

Northampton captain Furbank lifted the trophy in his last game before joining Harlequins, leaving the Saints side who have become the team to beat in recent years.

Saints, who have suffered just three league defeats this season, rose to the top of the table by winning the Prem two years ago and making last season’s Champions Cup final, their third final in as many seasons.

With Furbank departing, Saints fans are hoping they will return to Twickenham in the not-too-distant future, with stars such as Smith, man-of-the-match Pollock and Freeman forming the backbone of their side.

For Exeter, although they lost the final for the fifth time in seven attempts, the game has made a remarkable revival after finishing ninth last season; this was the club’s worst top-flight finish since their promotion in 2010.

Chiefs suffered a record 79-17 defeat at Gloucester last April and won just four league games all season (two against underdogs) at a time when the Devon side were in disarray.

But new coaches and a host of new players such as Ikitau, Varney and Tom Hooper have reignited the team that dominated the domestic scene in the second half of the last decade.

With new American investment on the horizon, could this victory be the beginning of a dynasty that began a decade ago by making six consecutive Premiership finals and winning the 2020 European Champions Cup?

Northampton: Furbank (c); Freeman, Litchfield, Hutchinson, Hendy; Smith, McParland; Iyogun, Langdon, Millar Mills; Coles, Prowse, Kemeny, Pearson, Pollock.

Replacements: Wright, Fischetti, Green, Van der Mescht, Lockett, Chick, Mitchell, Dingwall.

Yellow card: Kemenye (51)

Exeter: Wood burn; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Ikitau, Ridl; Skinner, Varney; Sio, Norey, Iosefa-Scott; Jenkins (c), Zambonin, Hooper, Roots, Fisilau.

Replacements: Dweba, Burger, Tchumbadze, Tshiunza, Vintcent, James, Cairns, Haydon-Wood.

Yellow card: Jenkins (57)

Judge: Matthew Carley.