New Rugby Paper Roundup: Play off chaos! Exeter Chiefs v Saracens Prem shootout + URC semi finals

In this week’s episode of The Rugby Paper Roundup, Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock is joined by TRP writer Chris Collyer to preview a huge weekend of club rugby as the Prem regular season reaches its climax and the URC semi-finals take centre stage.

The headline act comes at Sandy Park, where Exeter Chiefs and Saracens meet in a winner-takes-all battle for a Premiership play-off place.

With Mark McCall preparing to step down after an extraordinary trophy-laden spell at Saracens, could this be the final chapter of one of the great coaching eras – or one last escape act from rugby’s ultimate knockout specialists?

We also preview the race for home semi-finals as Bath host Leicester Tigers, assess Northampton Saints’ preparations for the play-offs, and ask whether Bristol Bears can continue their late-season charge.

We also discuss

• ⁠Exeter v Saracens and the race for the top four
• Mark McCall’s legacy and Saracens’ final push
• ⁠Bath v Leicester Tigers and the battle for home advantage
• Harlequins‘ season and Saints’ title credentials
• Sale Sharks v Bristol Bears in the fight for Europe
• Gloucester‘s ambitions and Newcastle’s spoiler role

URC semi-finals

Attention then turns to the United Rugby Championship, where four heavyweights battle for a place in the Grand Final.

We break down…

• Glasgow Warriors v Bulls – a rematch of the 2024 final
• Whether Murrayfield helps or hinders Glasgow
• The Bulls’ quest to finally shake their bridesmaid tag
• Leinster v Stormers at the Aviva Stadium
• The star-studded international talent on display
• Hollie Davidson’s historic appointment to officiate the semi-final

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