Early success for Leicester, Saracens in BT Sport Immortals XV poll

Leicester and Saracens have had first success in the BT Sport fan poll to select a Premiership Immortals XV. The tournament’s prime live TV broadcaster is celebrating 20 years since the first-ever Premiership final by getting fans to countdown to this year’s May 27 decider by selecting their ultimate Premiership XV.

Launched last Thursday, the first online poll was to fill the loosehead spot in the team and the three-way vote featuring Harlequins’ Joe Marler and Leicester duo Graham Rowntree and Marcos Ayerza went the way of the Argentine Ayerza who secured 35.8 per cent of the votes compared to 33 per cent for Rowntree and 31.8 for Marler.

Hooker was the second position up for decision and the outcome convincingly went the way of Saracens’ Schalk Brits, who got 59.7 per cent of the vote compared to 21.4 per cent for Jamie George, his fellow Sarries No2, and Leicester’s George Chuter, who received 18.9 per cent of the vote.

Fans are now voting to complete the front row and the poll at tighthead is currently neck and neck between Leicester pair Martin Castrogiovanni and Dan Cole, along with Phil Vickery of Gloucester and Wasps fame. Ex-Italy prop Castrogiovanni was just about in front with another 21 hours remaining to vote.

The intriguing fan poll build-up to 2022/23 Premiership final will culminate in a round-table debate show on May 27 featuring Ugo Monye, Lawrence Dallaglio, Ben Kay and Austin Healey.

Along the way, there will be video content debating the various positional head to heads. For instance, May 11, which is No8 poll day, will see a debate around the respective merits of Saracens’ back-rower Billy Vunipola versus the legendary Wasps skipper Dallaglio.

• BT Sport’s Premiership Immortals celebrates the greatest players in the history of Premiership Rugby. From May 4 until the Premiership final on May 27, fans will be able to have their say on who they think deserves to have a spot in the competition’s all-time team. Cast your vote btsport.com/immortals