Hendy's Heroics Seal It! Northampton Saints Secure Second Premiership Title, and He's Tipped for England Call
Theatre of Dreams was awash with emotion as George Hendy, the 23-year-old wing sensation from Northampton Saints, conjured up two magical tries in four minutes to propel his side to a thrilling 26-17 victory over Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership Rugby final. This electrifying display has sent shockwaves through the rugby world and dramatically boosted his chances of being called up to England's Nations Championship squad, set to be announced on Monday.
The match may have been a hard-fought encounter, but Hendy's contribution was anything but. His second-half double act left opposition defenders grasping at thin air as he proved why he's one of the most feared finishers in the league. And it's not just his own teammates who are singing his praises – departing club captain George Furbank hailed him as "a pretty special player" with a knack for producing match-winning moments on the biggest stage.
As the final whistle blew, a mix of emotions swept over the Northampton camp. Captain Furbank couldn't hide his pride and admiration for Hendy, saying: "He's one of those guys who can pull things out of the hat. He scores tries that potentially no one else in the league and potentially in the world can score." And Henry Pollock, man of the match, beamed with joy as he lifted the winner's medal aloft – a moment he'd dreamed about since childhood.
For Exeter Chiefs' boss Rob Baxter, it was tough to swallow defeat but he chose not to be too hard on his team. "The game has come down to a couple of moments," he said, choosing instead to focus on the positives from his side's season. Meanwhile, Chiefs captain Dafydd Jenkins vowed to use this experience as fuel for next year's campaign.
And what about Hendy? England head coach Steve Borthwick will be keeping a close eye on the fitness of Saints scrum-half Archie McParland, who picked up an injury in the final. But Hendy himself remains a dark horse for an England call-up – and judging by his performances this season, he's got every chance to make it onto the plane.