Round 15 of the 2025 Gallagher Premiership delivered fireworks across the league as title contenders made major statements.
Sale Sharks overpowered Saracens to move second, Bath secured a home semi-final in style, and Gloucester made history with a record-breaking win over Exeter. Meanwhile, Leicester, Northampton, and Cardiff stayed firmly in the playoff hunt.
- Sale Sharks 25 – 7 Saracens
- Bath Rugby 55 – 19 Newcastle Falcons
- Leicester Tigers 40 – 7 Harlequins
- Northampton Saints 48 – 31 Bristol Bears
- Gloucester Rugby 79 – 17 Exeter Chiefs
Here’s the full recap of another pivotal weekend:
SALE SHARKS OVERPOWER SARACENS TO MOVE SECOND IN PREMIERSHIP
Sale Sharks 25 – 7 Saracens (HT: 22–7)
Sale Sharks produced a dominant performance to beat Saracens 25–7 at the Salford Community Stadium, climbing to second place in the Premiership table. Sale exploded out of the gates when George Ford sliced through the defense to set up Rekeiti Ma’asi-White for the opening try (5–0). Ford then finished a sweeping move himself to score his first try for Sale (12–0), adding the conversion. Arron Reed delivered the highlight of the night, sprinting almost the full length of the field to score a breathtaking solo try (19–0). Saracens finally responded when Angus Hall finished in the corner after a brilliant pass from Elliot Daly (22–7 at halftime). The second half was more controlled, with Sale maintaining possession and territory. Ford added another penalty to stretch the lead (25–7), and although Sale had a fourth try disallowed due to a controversial refereeing decision, they remained firmly in charge. Saracens struggled to create opportunities against Sale’s relentless defense and were unable to add to their first-half score. With four consecutive Premiership wins, Sale take major momentum into the final stretch of the season.
SALE SHARKS
- Tries: Ma’asi-White (1’), Ford (16’), Reed (26’)
- Conversions: Ford (17’, 27’)
- Penalties: Ford (5’, 66’)
SARACENS
- Tries: Hall (31’)
- Conversions: Burke (32’)
BATH RUGBY DOMINATE FALCONS TO CLINCH HOME SEMI-FINAL
Bath Rugby 55 – 19 Newcastle Falcons (HT: 17–12)
Bath Rugby stormed to a commanding 55–19 win over Newcastle Falcons at the Recreation Ground, securing top spot in the Premiership and a home semi-final with three rounds to spare. Debutant Ciaran Donoghue dazzled early with a brilliant solo try (5–0) before Cameron Neild responded for Newcastle (5–5). Bath regained the lead when Louis Hennessey broke through and set up Tom Carr-Smith for a second try (12–5). Despite a red card to Newcastle’s Louis Brown and yellow cards to Bath’s Sam Underhill and Cam Redpath, Connor Doherty struck twice, closing the gap to just 17–12 at halftime. Doherty’s second try briefly gave Newcastle the lead after the break (17–19), but Bath exploded thereafter, scoring six unanswered tries. Quinn Roux and Underhill restored control, before Austin Emens crossed twice in quick succession. Louis Hennessey added another, and Cam Redpath finished the scoring as Bath sealed a memorable win. Donoghue’s superb performance at fly-half earned him Player of the Match honors as Bath’s dominance and attacking flair overwhelmed the Falcons.
BATH RUGBY
- Tries: Donoghue (1’), Carr-Smith (32’), Roux (44’), Underhill (50’), Emens (57’, 59’), Hennessey (67’), Redpath (80’)
- Conversions: Donoghue (2’, 33’, 45’, 51’), Russell (60’, 80’)
- Penalties: Donoghue (28’)
NEWCASTLE FALCONS
- Tries: Neild (16’), Doherty (39’, 41’)
- Conversions: Connon (40’, 41’)
LEICESTER TIGERS CRUSH HARLEQUINS WITH RADWAN HAT-TRICK
Leicester Tigers 40 – 7 Harlequins (HT: 12–7)
Leicester Tigers produced a powerful second-half performance to overwhelm Harlequins 40–7 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, moving closer to securing a home semi-final. Adam Radwan starred with a sensational hat-trick, while Ollie Hassell-Collins added a brace and Hanro Liebenberg crossed late to complete the rout. Leicester struck first through Radwan after smart work from Joseph Woodward and Freddie Steward (5–0). Hassell-Collins then finished a slick move, but Harlequins hit back just before halftime when Luke Northmore intercepted a loose pass to score (12–7). The second half saw Quins reduced to 13 men after Cameron Anderson was sent off for a dangerous tackle and Tyrone Green was yellow-carded moments later. Leicester capitalized ruthlessly, with Radwan cutting through twice more — including a stunning solo effort — and Hassell-Collins grabbing his second. Liebenberg rounded out the scoring as Tigers ran riot. Injuries to Marcus Smith and Anderson added to Harlequins’ woes as Leicester tightened their grip on second place in the Premiership table.
LEICESTER TIGERS
- Tries: Radwan (16’, 45’, 57’), Hassell-Collins (30’, 54’), Liebenberg (73’)
- Conversions: Pollard (31’, 46’, 55’, 59’), Shillcock (74’)
HARLEQUINS
- Tries: Northmore (43’)
- Conversions: Smith (44’)
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS OUTGUN BRISTOL BEARS IN THRILLING SHOOTOUT
Northampton Saints 48 – 31 Bristol Bears (HT: 27–12)
Northampton Saints ran in seven tries to overpower Bristol Bears 48–31 at Franklin’s Gardens, keeping their late-season playoff hopes alive while denting Bristol’s chances of a home semi-final. Bristol opened the scoring through Deago Bailey (0–5), but Saints struck back swiftly as Alex Mitchell’s dummy and sidestep ignited the home side’s attack. Curtis Langdon pounced for a bizarre try after a loose ball hit the posts, before Tommy Freeman crossed twice in quick succession to secure the bonus point. Gabriel Ibitoye’s brilliant solo try before halftime gave Bristol hope (27–12), but Saints dominated after the break. Emmanuel Iyogun crashed over following a Bristol error, Juarno Augustus powered through for another, and Henry Pollock added a seventh after relentless pressure. Bristol fought until the end with late tries from James Williams (twice) and Ibitoye, but Saints’ ruthless finishing had already sealed a crucial victory. With the win, Northampton climbed to seventh, while Bristol remain fourth and face a tougher road to the playoffs.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
- Tries: Mitchell (11’), Langdon (18’), Freeman (22’, 35’), Iyogun (45’), Augustus (58’), Pollock (74’)
- Conversions: Smith (11’, 19’, 45’, 59’), Hutchinson (75’)
- Penalties: Smith (39’)
BRISTOL BEARS
- Tries: Bailey (5’), Ibitoye (38’, 77’), Williams (72’, 78’)
- Conversions: MacGinty (38’, 79’), Williams (72’)
GLOUCESTER DESTROY EXETER IN RECORD-BREAKING VICTORY
Gloucester Rugby 79 – 17 Exeter Chiefs (HT: 43–7)
Gloucester produced a sensational performance to thrash Exeter 79–17 at Kingsholm, setting a new club Premiership record for their biggest-ever league win. The Cherry and Whites ran in 13 tries, securing the bonus point inside 20 minutes and storming to a 43–7 halftime lead with scores from Jack Clement, Seb Blake, Lewis Ludlow, Chris Harris, and a double from Seb Atkinson. Jamal Ford-Robinson and Christian Wade extended the margin early in the second half, with Wade’s try marking his 90th Premiership score, tying him third all-time. Replacement hooker Jack Singleton completed the rout with a stunning hat-trick, as Gloucester surpassed their previous best win over Bath. Exeter, who managed tries through Josh Hodge, Ross Vintcent, and Will Haydon-Wood, suffered their heaviest Premiership defeat, capping a difficult season. The result lifted Gloucester to fifth in the table as they chase a playoff berth.
GLOUCESTER RUGBY
- Tries: Clement (5’), Blake (13’), Ludlow (16’), Harris (19’), S. Atkinson (25’, 54’), Anscombe (29’), Williams (38’), Ford-Robinson (45’), Wade (48’), Singleton (57’, 64’, 68’)
- Conversions: Carreras (17’, 26’, 30’, 39’, 55’, 58’), Anscombe (68’)
EXETER CHIEFS
- Tries: Hodge (32’), Rigg (71’), Haydon-Wood (80’)
- Conversions: Slade (32’)
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 15
With just a few rounds remaining, the Premiership playoff race is heating up.
Sale and Leicester have strengthened their grip on home semi-final spots, while Bath secured theirs early. Gloucester, Northampton, and others are pushing hard for late-season momentum. Expect more twists as the fight for playoff positioning continues into the final stretch.
Who impressed you most in Round 15? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s talk rugby.
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