Analysis
Alastair Eykyn
BBC Radio 5 live

"Dylan Hartley will now have to face an RFU disciplinary hearing. I do not think he will be able to board the plane to Hong Kong with the Lions on Monday. It will be Tuesday at the earliest before his case is heard and you would think a ban will come too. This story is far from over - his Lions place is in real jeopardy."
The minimum RFU ban for abusing an official is six weeks.

He's saying that he was talking to Young not the ref so will be interesting to see what happens. That said he was warned before about his language by the ref and with his disciplinary record he'll probably he facing the top part of the sentence if found guilty.

We care about the Hartley issue because if he gets banned for 3 weeks or more then he won't go on the Lions tour and Rory Best will.

The Tigers are a good team but they don't have the x-factor to break through the top level, there system will get them so far but won't get them to win silver-wear in the HEC.

Didn't see this one and couldn't care less about the Hartley issue as he's a player I have no time for anyway but just have to state my admiration for Leicester. They haven't the quality they had a decade or so ago but they are still a formidable team who continue to grind their way into contention for trophies year after year. They still have lots of quality and are deserving Premiership winners with two comprehensive play off victories. If they get a reasonable draw in the Heineken I wouldn't write them off next year.

Boom Baby!

England hooker Dylan Hartley became the first player to be sent off in an English Premiership final on Saturday and is likely to see his British and Irish Lions tour hopes disappear as a result.

Hartley, captaining Northampton in the Twickenham final against Leicester, had previously been warned by referee Wayne Barnes for speaking out of turn when he again voiced his frustration after another penalty decision went against his team late in the first half.

Barnes promptly produced a straight red card, telling other Northampton players that he had been called a "xxxxing cheat".

Hartley almost certainly faces a ban that seems certain to see him not taking his place when the Lions fly to Australia on Monday.

Ireland's Rory Best, considered by many to have been unlucky to have missed the initial selection, would be favourite to be called up as a replacement.

Leicester led the Premiership final 16-5 at halftime.

Barnes said (4-5times) they couldnt kick the 22drop out, out on the full, they did, scrum to leicester, won penaty. dylan hartley called the ref a 'f**king cheat'. red card, 3points to tigers.

And this is the genius going instead of Rory Best on the Lions tour?? :silly: :silly: :silly:

im surprised how little we talk about this subject but what a finish to the first half of the final.
barnes said (4-5times) they couldnt kick the 22drop out, out on the full, they did, scrum to leicester, won penaty. dylan hartley called the ref a 'f**king cheat'. red card, 3points to tigers.
hartley been at the ref all game.

niall morris scored try

We dont have a thread on this but its shaping up for an exciting finale.

Its looking like Harlequins may well come up short as Leicester are on some run of form with 5 of 6 try bonus point wins in a row which should see them play sarries at home in the semi.
Quins most likely to be at home to Saints in other semi which wont be a gimme by any means and Saints will fancy their chances of reaching the final.

I think it will be a Quins v Tigers final tho with tigers winning as they look unstoppable atm. They will be a force in HEC next season with no world cup to worry about.

Spare a thought for Exeter Chiefs who have gone from Relegation favourites to 5th in a season and semi of amlin too(i think). They have to be a source of inspiration to connaht next season as there are a lot of similarities there. Even Sandy Park looks similar, minus the track of course. Unfortunately the Blew it at weekend when they had chance of semi at home v saints. Still a great season for them tho.