Ben Earl: I learned the hard way that against Harlequins the game is never over

Ben Earl, newly crowned Premiership player of the year, has admitted he is still not over losing to Harlequins in last year’s semi-final.

At lunchtime today the flanker runs out against the same opponents in the same play-off round for a Saracens team whom the bookies fully expect to succeed Quins as English champions.

Fifty-one weeks have elapsed since he was on loan at Bristol, scoring the first try as Pat Lam’s Bears raced into a 28-0 lead over the west Londoners.