Gallagher Premiership play-off race final day: Who makes the cut? Fixtures and permutations for Bristol Bears, Leicester Tigers, Saracens and rivals
ByTNT UK
Updated 30/05/2025 at 21:06 GMT+1
The Gallagher Premiership regular season enters its final round and five teams are still in the play-off hunt. Bath have long had their place booked, but the three remaining spots are being eyed by five teams. Mistakes are waiting to be pounced on, hearts will be broken and club legends may step on the rugby pitch for the final time. Here is everything you need to know ahead of the final round.
Highlights: Bristol climb up to third place after victory over Bath
Video credit: TNT Sports
The final round of the Gallagher Premiership Rugby is upon us and an intense battle to make the play-offs will finally culminate with an action-packed weekend, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Bath have already secured top spot in the league and with that comes a home semi-final.
Incredibly, all of Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks, Bristol Bears, Gloucester and Saracens could finish anywhere from second to sixth depending on results.
The semi-finals take place on June 6 and 7 before the final at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on June 14 to decide this year's Gallagher Premiership champions.
So how does it currently stand? Who needs what? And who can still snag a home semi-final?
TNT Sports run through everything you need to know for the five teams still looking to secure a play-off spot.
Second: Leicester Tigers – 56 points
- Sat May 31: Newcastle Falcons (H)
The current buffer of two points separating Leicester and Sale is not nearly enough to allow them to coast in their final fixture against Newcastle Falcons.
The task is simple: beat Newcastle and they secure second place and a home semi-final. There is some solace, however, that even with a loss to Newcastle, Tigers need three fixtures to go against them for Michael Cheika's side to drop out of the top four.
They will be confident of beating a Falcons team who have picked up just two wins this season.
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Highlights: Game of the season? Leicester beat play-off rivals Sale in thriller
Video credit: TNT Sports
Third: Sale Sharks – 54 points
- Sat May 31: Exeter Chiefs (A)
Here is where things can get interesting, as the Sharks will be circling for any mistakes that the Tigers make against Newcastle.
However improbable it may be, if Leicester lose, then a Sale win takes them into second and clinches a home semi.
They travel to Sandy Park to face Exeter Chiefs, who have nothing to play for in this game with ninth place already confirmed. So it should be smooth swimming for the Sharks.
A potentially key fact to remember is that Sale hold the most wins in the league aside from Bath. If they finish level on points with another club, they will finish above them. This means that should Leicester draw and Sale win without a bonus point and finish on the same tally, they will finish second.
Fourth: Bristol Bears - 53 points
- Sat May 31: Harlequins (H)
Bristol Bears' final round opponents Harlequins do not do things easily. Even if the Londoners are out of play-off contention, they will endeavour to cause hell for Pat Lam's side.
A Bears victory guarantees a top-four finish. A draw or loss keeps the door open for Saracens or Gloucester to swoop in and if Bristol are not careful, they could finish the season in sixth.
Ashton Gate is, of course, the site of Quins' famous 'Bristanbul' comeback, where they overturned a 28-0 deficit against Bristol en route to their second title.
A win for Bristol, however, will keep them primed to pounce on any slip-ups at Leicester or Sale make.
Fifth: Gloucester – 51 points
- Sat May 31: Northampton Saints (H)
Victory is vital for the Cherry and Whites to slip into the play-offs.
If they secure a win over Northampton at Kingsholm, they need either Bristol to lose, or for Sale to lose without any bonus points so they can sneak into the top four.
Northampton have nothing to play for, but after losing last weekend's Champions Cup final to Bordeaux, they will be eager to finish the season on a big positive.
Should all of Gloucester's play-off rivals lose without bonus points, and they pick up a bonus-point win over Saints, they will tie Tigers on 56 points and 10 wins, and a superior points difference could see them finish second.
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Highlights: Harlequins deal blow to Gloucester play-off hopes
Video credit: TNT Sports
Sixth: Saracens – 51 points
- Sat May 31: Bath (H)
Mark McCall will know that Saracens should not have been in this position, but their destiny is out of their hands and they will rely on results elsewhere to make the play-offs.
If they fail to do so, it could be the final time we see Alex Goode on the pitch after the full-back announced his retirement following his record 400th appearance for the club.
They face an understrength Bath side with seven debutants in the squad.
With a much lower points difference to Gloucester and the same points and wins, they need a huge victory over Bath to give them the best chance of finishing in the top four.
Premiership round 18
All matches kick-off Saturday, 31 May, 15:05 BST
- Bristol v Harlequins
- Exeter v Sale
- Gloucester v Northampton
- Leicester v Newcastle
- Saracens v Bath
Jasmine Trapnell
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Watch the Gallagher Premiership on TNT Sports and discovery+
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