Northampton triumphs over Leicester to reach Prem final

In the Prem semi-final on June 12, 2026, Northampton Saints defeated Leicester Tigers 45-31 at the Cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens. Captain George Furbank scored twice in the second half, contributing to Northampton's victory and ensuring his final home game with the team ended on a high note.

From the outset, Northampton took the lead with two early tries from Tom Litchfield. However, Leicester responded quickly with tries from Hanro Liebenberg and Freddie Steward, temporarily putting the Tigers ahead. Northampton's Tommy Freeman and Leicester's Ollie Hassell-Collins exchanged impressive tries. Litchfield's completion of a hat-trick just before halftime left Northampton leading 26-19.

Furbank scored early in the second half, but Leicester answered with a try from Orlando Bailey followed by Hassell-Collins' second. Northampton managed to pull ahead again with a try from Archie McParland. Even though Leicester's Hassell-Collins kept their hopes alive with another score, Furbank sealed the win for Northampton. The match concluded with the Saints finishing with 14 players after Craig Wright was sin-binned in the 78th minute.

Vesty, the head coach of Northampton Saints, expressed gratitude for the support of the crowd, stating, "This place was absolutely buzzing and that always helps." He commended his team's quick attack and highlighted the importance of enjoying the victory ahead of the final.

Conversely, Leicester head coach Geoff Parling expressed his pride in his team's efforts throughout the season, acknowledging the difficulty of losing in the semi-finals. He remarked, "To just fall now hurts, but I’m also incredibly proud of how the group has gone about its business over the year."

The win propelled Northampton to the final where they will face the winner of the other semi-final between Bath and Exeter Chiefs. Furbank and his teammates are now one step closer to securing another title, having lifted the Prem trophy in 2024.