Premiership

Premiership Round 18 Talking Points: Rugby says goodbye to some legends

by
Charlie Elliott
30 May 2025

The final round of the Premiership regular season is coming up this weekend, with everything still to play for.

Bath have secured their top spot, but below them, the top four race is heating up.

Four teams will battle it out for the final two spots, and Leicester Tigers’ second place isn’t set in stone yet.

There will also be some notable retirements this weekend, given that it is the last of the season, as well as a couple of players playing against their future employers.

Here are the biggest talking points to look out for this weekend.

For exclusive stories and all the detailed rugby news you need, subscribe to The Rugby Paper website, digital edition, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day.

Top Four Race

The key talking point this weekend is obvious: the race for the top four.

Sale Sharks, Bristol Bears, Gloucester, and Saracens are all going to battle it out to decide who is going to finish in third and fourth.

With only three points separating the four sides, table positions could well change multiple times across the afternoon.

Because all the games will kick off at the same time, teams are just going to have to put their best foot forward and hope that other results go their way.

Their opponents will be looking to spoil the party, and it won’t be plain sailing for the four vying for qualification.

Sale and Bristol may be looking elsewhere, as they can both finish second, but they must remain focused on the essential task at hand.

Retirements

The final game of the season usually sees players get one final farewell before hanging up their boots, and this year is no different.

Leicester Tigers will say goodbye to two absolute stalwarts of their recent history, with Dan Cole and Ben Youngs all retiring at the end of the season.

Those two players represent nearly 700 Tigers appearances and almost 250 England caps and are absolute legends for both.

It is the end of an era in many senses, with Tigers also saying goodbye to Mike Brown, the legendary fullback who spent 16 years at Harlequins between 2005 and 2021.

In London, the StoneX Stadium will say its farewells to Alex Goode, a player who has 400 appearances for Saracens and has been at the club since 2008.

All four represent consummate professionals, great personalities and extremely talented players, and the rugby world will be worse off without them.

Players playing future clubs

An interesting dynamic this weekend will be between a couple of players who will be up against their future employers, having already agreed on transfers.

Jacques Vermeulen is joining Sale Sharks this summer but will have to put his future allegiances aside and try and stop them qualifying for the top four.

Exeter Chiefs may not have much to play for, but given that it is their last home game of a disappointing season, anything less than 100% would be unacceptable.

Hooker Jamie Blamire will also play his final game for Newcastle Falcons against the team who poached him, Leicester Tigers.

As one of the standout players for Falcons, his exit will be felt in the northeast, but he may want to give his fans a parting gift.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso return

One of the best players in the Prem has been unavailable for most of the season but will be back this weekend following his return from a shoulder injury that has kept him out since December.

Given his obvious talent and his status as arguably England’s best winger when he is on his A-game, Feyi-Waboso may want to use this game as an opportunity to showcase his British and Irish Lions credentials.

He was not picked to tour by Andy Farrell, presumably due to his lack of gametime, but if he proves that he is at the top of his game already, he could be a late inclusion.

A strong performance would at least help his case as being the next one up, should somebody get injured.

While the Chiefs have nothing to play for, Feyi-Waboso’s return will put a spring in their step.

Tigers holding on

Tigers have the easiest job in many ways, only needing a win against the lowly Falcons, but it is also a chance to be shot at.

They are the team to overtake from a Sale and Bristol perspective, as a home semi-final is a massive advantage.

Both chasers will be looking to put pressure on early doors, and Newcastle like to start games fast, so if things don’t go the Tigers’ way early on, nerves could start to creep in.

Michael Cheika’s side are massive favourites, but they are just about holding onto second place, so anything could happen.

By Charlie Elliott