Leicester Tigers scored six tries to record a 22-point, 42-20, victory over Newcastle Falcons in front a sold out Mattioli Woods Welford Road crowd.
The 22-point win sets up a play-off showdown with Sale Sharks in Leicester for a place in the Gallagher Premiership Final.
In warm, inviting conditions, both teams showed a clear intent to play with ball in hand early on, much to the delight of the 25,000 fans watching on at Tigers HQ. But, despite the energetic opening, neither side were able to trouble the scoreboard attendant until the 16th minute when Brett Connon landed a penalty goal for the visitors.
However, Newcastle’s lead lasted just two minutes with Hanro Liebenberg crossing in the south east corner on the end of some impressive hands from Tigers.
Handré Pollard converted from the touchline to make it a four-point lead, 3-7, with almost 20 minutes played.
Falcons replacement back Louis Brown was shown a yellow card in the 21st minute, seeing the visitors down a man for ten minutes, when he was ruled to have intentionally knocked on, preventing a clear run to the line for Ollie Hassell-Collins.
Leicester weren’t able to add to the tally during the sin bin period but did have a second in the 32mind minute when Josh Bassett raced away to make it a nine-point lead. Pollard again converted from out wide to extend it to eleven points, 14-3.
Newcastle cut the deficit to eight points with a penalty goal late in the second half, again to Connon, to make 14-6 at the break.
Shortly after the match got back underway, the 25,000 fans at Mattioli Woods Welford Road erupted in applause when Michael Cheika made a double change, giving retiring duo Ben Youngs and Dan Cole a well-earned ovation.
Approaching the 50th minute and Hassell-Collins looked to have scored after a brilliant solo effort down the Terrace touchline, before TMO intervention saw the try disallowed and the wing sin binned for what was ruled to be a raised forearm while fending off a defender.
Tigers had their third soon after when Solomone Kata burst through in the 52nd minute and Pollard converted to take the lead out to 21-6 with half an hour to play.
Both sides went to their bench during the next ten minutes, which included the retiring Mike Brown being brought on much to the delight of the home crowd.
On the hour mark, Joe Heyes pushed his way over from close range to score Leicester’s fourth, which Pollard converted, and the lead was out to 22 points, 28-6.
Falcons finally got across the chalk in the 67th minute with a try to Ollie Leatherbarrow and Connon converted to make it 28-11.
Despite the result appearing all but decided, the crowd were treated to three tries in the last five minutes, including two for Tigers - to Matt Rogerson and Hassell-Collins - and a second for Newcastle, to Sammy Arnold, to see the game finish 42-20.
Tickets to the Premiership play-off at Mattioli Woods Welford Road are now on sale, exclusively available to Season Ticket Holders until 3pm on Monday, June 2, when the Tigers Together members buying window opens.
General sale for tickets opens at 8am on Tuesday, June 3, with prices starting from only £25 for Adults.
Commentary
HOME SEMI-FINAL CONFIRMED
It's all over here and a home play-off semi final is confirmed.
Leicester Tigers will welcome Sale Sharks to Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday, June 7 (3.30pm).
It's set to be an absolute cracker so do not miss it!
CONVERSION | BEN VOLAVOLA
The Fijian gets his second conversion of the match.
TRY | OLLIE HASSELL-COLLINS
The wing serves inside and out to blast through two defenders and turn on the gas to sprint to the line, putting a bow on an excellent afternoon.
TRY | FALCONS
Sammy Arnold finds space in midfield and sprints through.
CONVERSION | BEN VOLAVOLA
The Fijian fly half, on as a replacement for Pollard, adds the extras.
TRY | MATT ROGERSON
Patient probing of the line eventually sees Kata steam through at the 22.
It looks like the big centre will go all the way himself but he's caught short - however, a simple offload to Rogerson on his shoulder allows the forward to splash down.
CONVERSION | NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Connon adds the extras.
TRY | NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Replacement Ollie Leatherbarrow burrows over from short range.
CONVERSION | POLLARD
Another simple kick for the Springbok.
TRY | JOE HEYES
OHC returns and Home Substitutes
Hassell-Collins is back on the field of play following his yellow card.
Aditionally, James Cronin and Mike Brown enter the field in place of Nicky Smith and Josh Bassett.
SUBSTITUTION | TIGERS
Emeka Ilione is on for Tommy Reffell.
CONVERSION | POLLARD
A simple conversion for the Springbok.
TRY | SOLOMONE KATA
With Mattioli Woods Welford Road roaring with each contact Tigers pile in, smashing rucks and short lines to allow them to edge within five metres.
From that distance, no one is stopping Solomone Kata who barrels through an attempted tackle to jog over.
YELLOW CARD & TRY DISALLOWED | OLLIE HASSELL-COLLINS
This time, Hassell-Collins sprints clear in the Spring sunshine but on review, the referee believes the wing lead with the elbow as he danced inside his and then away from would-be tacklers.
Hassell-Collins is shown to the sin bin.
47
TRY DISALLOWED | FREDDIE STEWARD
The fullback touches down in the corner after another series of tip ons and offloads but play is pulled back for an obstruction from Sol Kata.
SUBSTITUTIONS | TIGERS
As the stadium rises to it's feet, Dan Cole and Ben Youngs exit stage left for the final time in a regular season Premiership match.
They swivel to acknowledge the 25'000 spectators here before embracing with one another as they leave the pitch.
On in their place is Joe Heyes and Jack van Poortvliet.
42
Mic trouble
We're currently enjoying a short break as today's referee has his headset and microphone replaced.
All sorted now as we get back underway with a Falcons line out in the Tigers half.
BACK UNDERWAY FOR THE SECOND HALF
We're back in action for the second 40, no changes in either team.
HALF TIME
Tigers lead at the break after Liebenberg and Bassett tries.
Half time: Leicester Tigers 14 - 6 Newcastle Falcons
PENALTY | NEWCASTLE FALCONS
The gap is narrowed as Connon smashes a second penalty from close range.
CONVERSION | POLLARD
Another right touchline kick, another conversion for Pollard.
TRY | JOSH BASSETT
Both sides have traded possession in a cagey opening half hour but, with an inch of space to work with, Bassett strikes.
It's a sky-high box kick from Youngs that sets the scene, causing chaos amongst the waiting masses before Solomone Kata emerges with the ball.
Quick hands out wide see Bassett with half a yard of space but, with a mismatch against a forward, the wing kicks into gear and powers down the touchline to score.
YELLOW CARD | NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Replacement Louis Brown is shown to the sin bin.
CONVERSION | POLLARD
No mistake from Polly who slots with aplomb from the right hand corner.
TRY | HANRO LIEBENBERG
Slick hands see Leicester exploit space out wide, a Joseph Woodward tip-on creating time for Steward to pick his moment to release Liebenberg who canters over.
An immediate response.
PENALTY | NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Fly half Brett Connon breaks the deadlock and gets the game's opening points with a penalty slotted from in front of the posts.
The visitors clinical on their first visit to the Tigers half.
13
HELD UP
Tigers make their first big break through Ollie Hassell-Collins who powers into space, stepping defenders left and right before being chopped down at the 22.
The visitors are pinged for offside and another line out gets Tigers inches away, eventually resulting in Ollie Chessum being held up over the line.
SUBSTITUTION | FALCONS
Louis Brown replaces fullback Elliott Obatoyinbo.
9
TIGHT SO FAR
Both sides are playing the margins here, Falcons capitalising on a Tigers knock on with a strong scrum and clearing their lines well.
Steward runs it back and his offload to Pollard sees the Springbok stab the ball through but it's screened well before being cleared back up field.
3
TIGERS ON TOP EARLY
Tigers have dominated possession in the opening exchanges, strong rucking and chasing winning the ball back from an early kicking exchange.
As Youngs conducts proceedings from #9 edging Tigers closer, the hosts eventually draw a penalty and it's kicked to touch five metres out.
A penalty is drawn so Pollard takes the free play with a boot wide but it comes to nothing, play drawn back for a second line out.
WE'RE UNDERWAY HERE!
Jamie Blamie lead outs the visitors, the captain and future Tiger preparing for battle.
Then, in turn, Brown, Cole and Youngs enter to rapturous applause.
We're set for action here and Falcons kick us off - let's go!
-3
ALL SET FOR KICK OFF
The flags are waving, the flames are firing and 'Country Roads' blasts out of the speakers as Mattioli Woods Welford Road gets set for action.
A bumper crowd are already in fine voice ahead of what is shaping up to be an absolute corker of a contest.
-5
COLE & YOUNGS PREPARE FOR LAST DANCE
Youngs broke records on his first day, becoming the youngest-ever league representative for Leicester Tigers when he debuted in the Premiership against Bristol two months after featuring for the senior squad in an exhibition game against Argentina.
Five Premiership titles, three Anglo-Welsh Cups and records as the most-capped Tiger in European competitions, as well as the most-capped senior men’s Test player for England with 127 caps later and Youngs gets set to bow out wearing that iconic #9 shirt.
Cole, meanwhile, has a similarly glittered CV. Four Premiership titles, two Anglo-Welsh cups, Cole stands second to just Youngs in the list of all-time test appearances for England while he exceeds his podcast co-host by 5 caps for Leicester Tigers with 340 senior appearances.
Both are keen to insist 'it's not over yet', there will be a time to look back and reflect on the lifetime of memories created here - right now, they are focused on the task at hand which is defeating Newcastle Falcons and securing a home semi-final.
For the love of the club.
-20
EMOTIONS (and the temperature!) ARE HIGH
Amidst a sun-drenched stadium packed to bursting, three men will be feeling particularly melancholic.
Mike Brown will take part in his final regular season match in the Gallagher Premiership, should he emerge from the bench, as he calls time on a 20 year professional career that sees the fullback bow out with the fourth most Premiership appearances (280) of any man in history.
However, although Tigers supporters have shown plenty of love to Brown over his three years at the club, his services to Leicester pale in comparison to two teammates.
Dan Cole and Ben Youngs have both made well over 300 senior appearances for the club they joined as boys as they prepare to ride off into the sunset following the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.
This match will mark their last regular season fixture on the turf they have called home for two decades and both legends are set to start.
-23
Unable to make it? Follow along live!
If you're unable to be at the stadium today, you can still catch all the action by watching live - either digitally on Discovery+ or via the Red Button on TNT Sports.
Alternatively, stick right here with us on Matchday Live for all the updates as Leicester Tigers battle Newcastle Falcons.
-30
30 Minutes till Kick Off!
There's just half an hour till the final day of the Gallagher Premiership regular season.
It's a stunning day in Leicester and there's no better place to be than amongst over 25'000 roaring Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road!