Premiership rugby union 2018-19: a club-by-club season verdict | Michael Aylwin

Fall of Newcastle reflects brutality of top flight while excellence of Saracens and Exeter continues to set the gold standardThey made Europe with the last kick of what has been an otherwise curious season, but they are used to those at the Rec. Rumours abounded at the very start that Todd Blackadder was about to receive his marching orders, and some weird failures to score raised further questions about the culture. Then Blackadder signed a contract extension. Then, in April, he announced he was leaving. Stuart Hooper’s appointment looks one for the long term. He is a club legend and he is go…