Ben's Beliefs: Long awaited joy for English sides in Europe
Northampton Saints became the first Premiership team in five years to reach a Champions Cup final when they upset the odds in Dublin on Saturday by beating Leinster with only Bordeaux Begles standing in between being crowned Europe’s elite.
Northampton Saints became the first Premiership team in five years to reach a Champions Cup final when they upset the odds in Dublin on Saturday by beating Leinster with only Bordeaux Begles standing in between being crowned Europe’s elite.
The Premiership winners' triumph came just a few hours after the league leaders Bath booked their place in Cardiff at the Challenge Cup final against Lyon.
The last time two English sides reached both European finals in a season was back in 2020, behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Exeter Chiefs were crowned Europe's best and Bristol Bears swept up the second tier in front of 1,000 fans at Ashton Gate.
There’s been very little English presence in the Champions Cup recently
Since then, it's been miserable viewing for English club rugby fans as Toulouse and La Rochelle have appeared in five finals between them, with Leinster the only other participants, appearing in three.
Premiership teams have been largely chewed up and spat out of the competiton by the big budget French or Irish sides.
There was no English team in the Champions Cup semi-finals in 2020/21 and 2021/22 as the Premiership bit the bullet of a financial squeeze and reduced salary cap.
Exeter reached the 2022/23 last four but were badly beaten in La Rochelle, while progress was made last year as Harlequins and Northampton made the semis.
Harlequins were beaten by 12 against eventual winners Toulouse with Northampton coming just short at Croke Park against Leinster.
In the Challenge Cup, only Leicester Tigers and Gloucester (both beaten) have made it to the final since 2020.
Golden opportunity for Saints and Bath awaits
The fact Bath and Northampton are both heading to Cardiff means the Premiership has finally put a stamp on Europe's elite and provides much needed positivity for the English club game that has had a serious battering in recent years.
English rugby has been surrounded by mass negativity during recent years as three proud topflight clubs went to the wall. The Premiership has endured some humbling losses along the way but it now feels like there's reasons to cheer for Steve Borthwick and his England coaching team as the Premiership begins its revival.
An English European double in Cardiff would be a hell of a statement following France's EPCR dominance...