Welsh rugby has not been able to celebrate many winners this season, so let’s hear it for Nick Tompkins!

The Wales centre is a champion over the border in England after playing his part in helping his club Saracens win the Gallagher Premiership final with a 35-25 win over Sale at Twickenham.

Tompkins spent some time on loan with the Dragons when Saracens were relegated for breaking financial regulations.

But he was always keen to return to one of the most successful clubs in Europe and the 28-year-old – who was raised in Kent – has slotted back in seamlessly.

Tompkins said: “When I was at the Dragons, I thought about what Saracens meant to me in my gut, I really felt strongly that I wanted to be here.

“And in the end, that was the right decision. You can’t underestimate stability of enjoyment and the level of coaching – you take it all into account.”

Tompkins’ victory meant the Wales centre made amends for last season’s last-gasp final defeat by Leicester to deliver his club’s first silverware since they were relegated for salary-cap breaches in 2020.

It was also the perfect sign-off to the domestic season, before one of Wales coach Warren Gatland’s most underrated performers links up with the national squad for their World Cup preparations.

Two Just Stop Oil protestors brought a halt to the final in the first half when they ran on to the pitch to throw orange paint powder before being led away by stewards amid jeers from the crowd.

A penalty try and scores from Max Malins, Elliot Daly and Ivan van Zyl helped the London side to victory in blazing sunshine, aided by 13 points from the boot of player-of-the-match Owen Farrell.

A day later at Twickenham, another Wales international finished on the winning side when Alun Wyn Jones led the Barbarians to a 48-42 victory over a World XV, coached by former Wales chief Steve Hansen.

Jones showed some superb skills and impressive fitness in an adventurous end-of-season showpiece, just a week after announcing his shock retirement from international rugby.

He has yet to confirm whether or not he plans to play on for the Ospreys next season, but will definitely be in the Barbarians team that plays at Swansea on Wednesday at St. Helen’s as the club marks its 150^th anniversary.

Jones said: “There’s a lot of life left in me. Whether that’s in rugby, I don’t know yet.”