The last rites have still to be officially read but there was a grim acceptance that after 115 years it is all over for Bristol after their defeat by London Irish, which meant they finished bottom of the Zurich Premiership.

Harlequins boss Mark Evans sends his team into a crunch Zurich Premiership clash against fellow strugglers London Irish tomorrow, admitting: “Every game and every result is important”.

Bath are aiming to build on the 30-9 home victory over Saracens a fortnight ago which lifted them off the bottom of the Zurich Premiership table and boosted their hopes of beating the drop when they take on Northampton.

BRISTOL Shoguns were last night reeling from a six-figure award to former South African star Joel Stransky that has left club owner Malcolm Pearce flabbergasted.