There’s no feeling quite like finals week! Three league titles are up for grabs this weekend, as the Gallagher PREM Rugby, United Rugby Championship and Super Rugby Pacific seasons come to a close.
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The stage is set across Dublin, Twickenham and Wellington, with three blockbuster fixtures set to decide three of the world’s biggest men’s leagues for the 2025/26 season. The action begins at the iconic Croke Park on Friday night, as the home of GAA transforms to host Leinster’s title defence against the Bulls, in a re-match of last season’s finale.
Leo Cullen’s men want to end their season on a high after yet another Champions Cup collapse, with the South African side out to end their own personal hex, of three consecutive defeats in the URC Grand Final. Saturday’s action then begins down in New Zealand, with the Hurricanes hosting the Chiefs to determine the newest kings of Super Rugby Pacific. It’s an early start for fans in the Northern Hemisphere, with alarms set for the 8am kick-off, which equates to 7pm in NZT.
The Hurricanes and Chiefs have been neck-and-neck throughout the Super Rugby season, with both the Wellington and Hamilton sides enjoying 11 wins from their 14 regular season matches, with just four points between the first and second placed sides. The qualifying finals saw the table-topping Hurricanes hammered the Brumbies with a record win, before eliminating the Blues in the semi-final. The Chiefs sent the Reds packing before then eliminating the defending champions Crusaders for their spot in the final.
The Gallagher PREM Rugby Final then takes centre stage, as all eyes turn to Twickenham on Saturday afternoon. Northampton Saints have been the in-form side of the 2025/26 campaign, and cruised to top spot with 14 wins in 18 rounds. Exeter Chiefs fought tooth and nail to secure the fourth-placed finish, with a dramatic Round 18 win over Saracens keeping them in the play-off hunt. Last weekend witnessed two stellar English club derbies to decide the finalists, as Northampton despatched of Leicester Tigers, before Exeter held on for dear-life to achieve a heroic away win over Bath.
5 BOLD PREDICTIONS: PREM, URC & SUPER RUGBY FINALS
1. LEINSTER WIN BACK-TO-BACK URC TITLES (BUT ONLY JUST)
We kick off our predictions up in Dublin, with a definitive arm wrestle expected between the Bulls and Leinster at Croke Park tomorrow night. There’s no doubt in our minds that the URC Grand Final will come down to the fine margins, with a last-grasp winner splitting the difference between the Dubliners and the men from Pretoria.
Echoing the recent thoughts of Leinster and Bulls legends Isa Nacewa and Victor Matfield, we see just one point between the two sides, and we back Leinster to get the job done. After once again feeling the gut-wrenching agony of a defeat in the Champions Cup Final, Leinster have been driven by the sole goal of winning back-to-back URC titles for quite some time. Throw into the mix the heightened emotions and added ‘fire in the belly’ from James Lowe’s upcoming depature, and it feels that Leinster are peaking at the right time to retain their crown.
Comparatively, the Bulls could well have hit their best already and have navigated some arduous travel ahead of the final. Whilst it was nothing short of a spectacular come-back against Glasgow Warriors, the Bulls could well have depleted their tanks following this win, and the yo-yo between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Add into the mix the Bulls’ emotional baggage of losing their past three URC finals, and the mental obstacle that comes with such hoodoo, and you would favour the hosts to retain their title, albeit after tense finale to the URC season.
PREDICTION: LEINSTER 23-22 BULLS
2. EMBROSE PAPIER STEALS THE SHOW EARNS & ‘BOKS CALL-UP
Sticking with the United Rugby Championship Grand Final, an intriguing battle to keep an eye on comes within the nine jersey. Leinster’s Jamison Gibson-Park lines up against Embrose Papier of the Bulls, with the latter scrum-half out to prove his worth to Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks selectors this Summer.
Having collected a plethora of Player of the Match awards this season, Papier’s season-long efforts saw him named at nine for the URC’s Team of the Season. The Bulls man will have to continue this hot run of form against one of the world’s premier scrum halves in Gibson-Park, and we foresee Papier rising to the occasion for another breath-taking performance for Johan Ackermann’s side.
Whilst the crystal ball tells of a future with Papier taking a silver medal home from Dublin, the stars have aligned for the in-form half-back to make his mark in green and gold this Summer. Rassie Erasmus’ scrum half ranks have been thinned out with a series of injuries, with uncertainty around the likes of Cobus Reinach and Morne van den Berg, opening up the door for Papier to shine for the Springboks for the first ever Nations Championship.
3. HURRICANES BLOW AWAY THE CHIEFS IN WELLINGTON
We head down to Southern Hemisphere for the next entrant upon our five bold predictions, as an all-New Zealand line-up takes centre stage for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific Final. The Hurricanes and Chiefs have been the two in-form sides this season, and have proved throughout the regular campaign and play-offs as to why the deserve their spot in this season’s show-piece match.
Despite the two stacked line-ups of All Blacks talents across both sides, we back the Hurricanes to take home the title at the end of the 80 minutes. After finishing top of the log, the Hurricanes boast the trump card of home field advantage, with a sold-out crowd backing their side at Hnry Stadium.
Also, the flying form of the league’s top scorer Fehi Fineanganofo is the Hurricanes’ ace, as the 23-year-old winger has had a spectacular 2026 season, equalling the all-time Super Rugby try-scoring record, though his future remains the subject of intense ongoing speculation with links to Newcastle Red Bulls.
The primary catalyst for the Hurricanes success is their world-class spine. Halfback Cam Roigard and playmaker Ruben Love form a lethal, high-tempo pairing that controls the match pace with clinical precision. Out wide, All Blacks star Jordie Barrett injects brutal physicality into the midfield, creating space for an explosive backline spearheaded by Fineanganofo.
PREDICTION: HURRICANES 29-21 CHIEFS
4. NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TRIUMPH AT TWICKENHAM
Moving onto the PREM Rugby Final now, with Northampton Saints set to take on Exeter Chiefs, with a fairy-tale ending in sight for the men from Devon. Whilst the heart would love to see the ultimate underdogs Exeter complete their heroic end to the season, the practical prediction sees Northampton cap off a dominant campaign as deserving champions of England.
The Saints have been the benchmark side throughout 2025/26, combining ruthless attacking rugby with a composure that has only grown stronger during the play-offs, whilst Exeter climbed their Everest with a dramatic win over Bath.
Their thrilling semi-final victory over Leicester once again showcased the devastating weapons at Phil Dowson’s disposal, with Fin Smith pulling the strings at fly-half, Henry Pollock producing another immense all-action display, and Tommy Freeman continuing a remarkable try-scoring campaign.
The spine of this Northampton side is simply world class. Fin Smith has blossomed into one of Europe’s premier playmakers, dictating games with his tactical kicking and fearless attacking instincts. Outside him, Tommy Freeman has become one of the competition’s deadliest finishers, while George Furbank’s vision from the back and the relentless influence of Henry Pollock around the breakdown give Saints multiple avenues to hurt opponents. Even with Alex Mitchell only expected to play a role from the bench after his recent injury, Northampton possess enough quality to control the biggest occasion.
Exeter will make them earn every inch, but over 80 minutes the Saints’ attacking firepower, confidence and big-game pedigree should prove just too much.
PREDICTION: NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 31-20 EXETER CHIEFS
5. HENRY POLLOCK TAKES THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN
If there’s one player seemingly incapable of staying out of the spotlight, it’s Henry Pollock. The 21-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past 18 months, establishing himself as one of England’s brightest young forwards before taking the British & Irish Lions tour by storm.
Every big occasion seems to bring another statement performance, and Twickenham feels like the perfect stage for Pollock to add another chapter to his remarkable story. The numbers behind his season are simply staggering. Pollock has set a new PREM Rugby record by averaging 81.6 metres carried per 80 minutes this season – the highest figure ever recorded by a back-row player in the competition.
That eclipses the previous benchmark of 67.9 metres per 80, set by Jasper Wiese during the 2020/21 campaign, underlining just how destructive Pollock has become as a ball carrier.
Against an Exeter side built around physicality, Pollock’s relentless carrying, breakdown presence and knack for producing decisive moments could prove the difference. Don’t be surprised if the Northampton talisman caps another remarkable campaign by bagging a try, unleashing a new celebration and collecting the Player of the Match award on the way to the Saints’ PREM Rugby glory.
