Tigers crush Chiefs to win first Prem Rugby Cup

March 15, 2026 No Comments

Tigers crush Chiefs to win first Prem Rugby Cup Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Billy Searle scored two first half tries as Leicester overpowered their rivals to win the competition for the first timeByBen MarvellBBC Sport EnglandPublished17 minutes ago1 Comments

Prem Cup final

Leicester (35) 66

Tries: Wand 2, Van der Flier 2, Searle 2, Penalty, Hamer-Webb, Haffar, O’Connor Cons: Searle 6, O’Connor

Exeter (7) 14

Tries: Vintcent, Haydon-Wood Cons: Hodge 2

Leicester Tigers claimed their first silverware since 2022, dominating Exeter Chiefs 66-14 at a wet Mattioli Woods Welford Road to win the Prem Rugby Cup for the first time.

The Tigers were rampant throughout, outscoring the visitors by five tries to one in the first-half, establishing a 35-point lead before the Chiefs got on the board.

Will Wand and the imperious Billy Searle scored two tried apiece, to add to Archie van der Flier’s effort, before Ross Vintcent replied for the visitors on the verge of half-time.

After the break Will Haydon-Wood restored some measure of respectability for the Chiefs, but further scores from Van der Flier, Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Tareq Haffar, James O’Connor and a penalty try capped a record-breaking afternoon for the home side.

More to follow.

Leicester: Bailey; Hamer-Webb, Wand, Woodward, Hassell-Collins; Searle, Whiteley; van der Flier, Clare, Hurd; Wells, Liebenberg, Palmer, Reffell (c), Moro.

Replacements: Theobald-Thomas, Haffar, Loman, Thomas, Manz, Bemand, O’Connor, Perese.

Yellow card: Wand (55)

Exeter: Hodge; Brown-Bampoe, Batson, Rigg, Ridl; Haydon-Wood, Cairns; Burger, Dweba, Mona; Pearson (c), Tuima, Moloney, Worley Brady, Vintcent.

Replacements: Heaven, Goodrick-Clarke, Gulley, Bailey, Tshiunza, Chapman, Coen, John.

Yellow card: Moloney (47).

Referee: Hamish Smales.