LONDON Irish RFC crashed to a 51-14 defeat to title-chasing Saracens in their last home game of the season on Sunday.

The Exiles only had pride to play for after their relegation from the Aviva Premiership had been confirmed by Worcester Warriors’ emphatic 44-13 win against Harlequins just 24 hours earlier.

It sealed an immediate return to the Championship for Irish who have now been relegated from the top flight twice in the past three seasons.

As a result, there are likely to be wholesale changes in personnel over the summer with a host of players set to depart Madejski Stadium.

Bracknell News:

Greig Tonks catches a high ball against Saracens.

Alex Lewington is heading to Saracens while there are strong rumours that exciting winger Joe Cokanasiga, 20, is joining Bath.

In addition, Johnny Williams has been linked with Newcastle, Ben Franks with Northampton Saints and Ben Loader with Sale, while Exiles’ most-capped player, David Paice, has announced his retirement.

London Irish director of rugby, Declan Kidney admitted: “We've fought tooth and nail just to stay in the Premiership, that hasn't worked out.

“We've had one or two conversations with the coaches, I think that the future is bright on that front. There will be comings and goings with the players, but we want players who want to be there.

"There's a lot of good things that happen at this club that don't necessarily show on the pitch, but they're things in my experience that you can't just go out and buy.

"So, we need to build on those and get ourselves ready for next season in what's going to be a very tough Championship."

Bracknell News:

Bath-bound Joe Cokanasiga dots down for the Exiles.

Irish were hoping to sign off at Madejski Stadium on a high, but it was Saracens who coasted to a resounding, bonus-point victory to ensure a home semi-final in the Premiership play-offs.

There was little in it at the interval with Irish trailing just 16-14 after a strong first-half display.

Cokanasiga and Williams both crossed the whitewash for the hosts, with Greig Tonks landing both conversions.

But they were Exiles’ only points as Sarries pair Brad Barritt and Duncan Taylor also crossed before half-time, with England start Owen Farrell adding one conversion and a penalty.

Sadly, the Irish floodgates opened in the second period as Sarries ran in five more tries without reply.

Mike Rhodes, Marcelo Bosch, Richard Barrington, Alex Goode and Schalk Brits all touched down, with Farrell adding four more conversions and another penalty for the visitors who were boosted by the return of England number eight, Billy Vunipola, for the final 20 minutes.

Irish have won just three of their 21 league games this season and end the season with a trip to Bath this Saturday (4pm ko).

Bracknell News:

Johnny Williams, who could be joining Sale, runs at Sarries.

Kidney added: "Saracens have a lot of power and they certainly took their opportunities during the game in the closing quarters. We (him and head coach Les Kiss) have been trying to add value to this squad since we've been here.

"We obviously didn't manage to add enough value to allow us to stay up, but we now know the lie of the land and we can work on that going forward. We will gather together a group of lads who want to take on that challenge and work towards it.”

London Irish: Tonks; Cokanasiga, Fowlie, J. Williams, Lewington; Brophy Clews, Van Zyl; Franks, Paice (capt), Hoskins, McNally, Van der Merwe, Schatz, Cowan, Treviranus. Replacements: Porecki, Elrington, Du Plessis, De Chaves, Basham, Steele, McLean, Tokoirotuma.

Saracens: Goode; Williams, Taylor, Barritt (capt), Maitland; Farrell, Spencer; M. Vunipola, George, Koch, Itoje, Kruis, Rhodes, Burger, Wray. Replacements: Brits, Barrington, Figallo, Isiekwe, B. Vunipola, Wigglesworth, Lozowski, Bosch.

Referee: Ian Tempest.