A Premiership season like no other is drawing to a close. The play-offs are yet to come, but the last full round of play took place on Saturday and most clubs are now going into holiday mode.
It’s impossible to overstate how memorable the 2022-23 season has been, with financial troubles leading to the collapse of two clubs and cutbacks across the board, but also a wide range of gloriously entertaining matches full of tries, staggering skills, furious intensity and narrow margins.
Without the threat of relegation to focus the mind, many games in the second half of the season felt hollow and overlaps between club and country were an issue as always, but there was an intriguing fight for the play-off places, a hierarchy shift and many big , passionate crowds.
Here, this column gives a verdict on the highs and lows of the season, key figures and notable features.
This Premiership season has proven to be a thrilling vintage
The turbulence continues
Unfortunately, the league campaign ends as it began, with unrest all around. Efforts to revive relegated Wasps and Worcester look increasingly shady as London Irish have only just managed to avoid a team mutiny due to unpaid wages. Meanwhile, rumors persist of a future structure involving only 10 teams and champions Jersey were denied entry.
The main story of the season is the money crisis that has caused two clubs to fail
Breakthrough star
He’s not on the official Premiership Rugby list, but it should be Joe Carpenter, Sale’s new fullback. Pushed into the Sharks’ starting squad by injury, the 21-year-old has flourished, scoring high in try-scores, making meters and beating defenders on the charts.
The breakout star of the season is Joe Carpenter – who has done well for Sale Sharks
Director of Rugby of the Season
Richard Wigglesworth of Leicester. He was suddenly thrown into the top job midway through the season when Steve Borthwick answered his country’s call-up, losing three of his first four league games, but then winning six on the bounce to make the play-offs.
Pushed into his role after Steve Borthwick’s poaching across England, Richard Wigglesworth prospered
Departing greats
The league is losing some of its leading figures, including Bristol’s two backline Galacticos, Charles Piutau and Semi Radradra, whose presence has created endless creative thrills. Others who will be missed are Jack Nowell and Sam Simmonds, Jack Willis, Dan Biggar, Ben Morgan, Billy Twelvetrees, Freddie Burns and Jackson Wray.
The prime of the screenwriter
Chris Ashton has always had a knack for causing a stir and he succeeded again by announcing his retirement and then scoring a hat-trick to become the first player to reach 100 Premiership tries before receiving a red card in his last game.
You could actually make it up!
Chris Ashton has always had a knack for causing a stir and he’s done it again this season
Top tried
Newcastle’s turbo-turned Argentinian wing Mateo Carreras provided so many high points in his early season scoring, but October’s long-range attack against Northampton in October was the cream of the crop, slaloming footwork to break his own 22 and then sheer pace.
Mateo Carreras scored the best try of the season with his long-range effort at Northampton
Better visibility
The Premiership needs to be more widely known and there were two good steps in that regard: faster use of match clips to create engagement on social media and behind-the-scenes footage shot by clubs such as Northampton and Newcastle.
photo finish
Bath secured the final Heineken Champions Cup place ahead of Bristol, but it was a disappointing season for the West Country rivals. At least Finn Russell is coming to the Rec next season to play in the main cross-border event, in keeping with his big status.
Best media food
Gloucester. The pre-match meal at Kingsholm was truly superb – beef pot roast with Chianti accompanied by mashed white truffle potatoes.
Worst match day traffic
It must be Bath. It’s a beautiful place and such an iconic location, but the tight nearby roads simply weren’t designed to handle a combination of tourists and hordes of rugby fans. For those visiting, take the train or plan for an overnight stay.
Bath takes the award for worst match day traffic – it’s a beautiful place but not conducive to packed stadiums
Unity in adversity
Worcester rallied behind Steve Diamond as they struggled to stay afloat and their collective spirit was embodied as they beat Newcastle 39-5 in their last game before the club collapsed under its debt. The crowd ovation at the 65th minute — to reflect the percentage of wages Warriors personnel had received — was a moving moment, before the squad went into the night.
Title prediction
History dictates that home field advantage is a major factor in the playoffs, so on that basis it makes sense to predict a Sale v Saracens final on May 27. Although Sale has what it takes to claim the title, Saracens will be favorites as unleash an equipped England contingent familiar with the area at Twickenham.
Sale Sharks have what it takes to claim the title – they could face Saracens this month at Twickenham
Team of the year
J Carpenter (Sales); M Carreras (Newcastle), O Lawrence (Worcester/Bath), O Farrell (Saracens), C Murley (Harlequins); R du Preez (Sales), A Mitchell (Northampton); VR Ruskin (Gloucester), J Montoya (Leicester), M Riccioni (Saracen); H Tizard (Saracen), G Martin (Leicester); T Pearson (London Irish), J Wiese (Leicester), B Earl (Saracen).