It was a huge relief to lift the Aviva Premiership title. With the expectation at this club, we would get so much stick if we didn't win it! There was also a mixture of joy, satisfaction and pride at lifting a 10th English title.
I am so pleased for everyone at the club.
I am in a good position to judge how much work goes into a season, and this club has very good people working their socks off to achieve success, from the board all the way through to the front office.
They all deserve a huge amount of credit.
I am proud of the players, too. We have six guys in the British & Irish Lions squad this summer and that is a tremendous testament to this club's ability to keep producing world-class players.
But each member of this squad is as important as those guys.
Anyone who has worn the Tigers shirt this season has played their part in us winning the title.
Their attitude has been superb all season. They work hard and get on as friends. You can't buy what they have as a group.
That collective spirit was evident right up to the last kick of the season, too. Take Adam Thompstone and Thomas Waldrom, two guys who have made 47 appearances for us this season between them.
Both of them were left out of the match-day 23 for the final and that was harsh on both of them after what they have done for us this season.
But they took it on the chin, and the way they conducted themselves during the week was exemplary.
They didn't mope about or show their disappointment. They helped in whatever way they could to support the guys who were in the team.
That earned them a huge amount of respect from the other guys here, and was a snapshot of the team spirit that is around the Tigers camp. We made some mistakes in the final and were not at our best, but we did what we needed to do to win.
Finals, as we know by bitter experience, are all about winning, and we beat a good side in Northampton.
I keep saying this, but we do well against Saints consistently because we respect and know how good they can be.
That's why we worked very hard in the build-up to the game and were not complacent in any way.
We announced our new signings last week, and also the names of some of the players who have agreed extended contracts.
The new guys will add strength in various positions, while the re-signing of guys like the Youngs brothers, Steve Mafi, Manu Tuilagi, Tom Croft, Julian Salvi and Geoff Parling should keep a strong nucleus of the squad together for years to come.
If you imagine all of those guys as new signings, it would not be a bad year for business, would it?
On the coaching front, we will miss Matt O'Connor and wish him well for his move to Leinster.
No doubt when the Heineken Cup groupings are pulled out of the hat, we will draw each other and we can play each other with each side doing all the same moves!
Paul Burke and Geordan Murphy will step up and take control of our backs, and all of the boys in the squad are happy with that going forward.
As usual with us, it is a case of evolution, not revolution.
After a short time away, I will be back at the training ground planning the start of the defence of our title.
We go back to the drawing board every year.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us this season. It means a lot to the club.
