Sarries play two games at Wembley in 2011/12 season

Posted on Jul 20, 2011 in Premiership, Saracens

English champions Saracens will play at least two matches at Wembley Stadium during the 2011/12 season.

The innovative north London club has announced it will return to the national stadium for their Heineken Cup match against the Ospreys on Saturday December 10th (kick off 6pm) and for their Aviva Premiership Rugby match against Harlequins on Saturday March 31st (kick off 3pm).

Nigel Wray, chairman, said: “Saracens at Wembley has become recognised as a fantastic family day out offering great rugby and great entertainment at a great venue for a great price, and we are looking forward to growing these events to even higher levels during the coming season.”

Smit to join Saracens after RWC

Posted on Jul 14, 2011 in English Rugby, Saracens

John Smit has agreed to join Saracens. The record-breaking Springbok captain, 33, will join the Premiership champions after the World Cup.

Smit said: “I am delighted to have signed for a club widely renowned for the ferocious work ethic and spirit on the field and for the unique way it treats people off the field. It is becoming a very special rugby club, combining a cast-iron commitment to develop young English players with a clear South African flavour. I’m looking forward to rejoining former teammates like Deon Carstens and Brad Barritt, and also to working with players like Jamie George, last year’s England under-20 hooker.”

Mark McCall, Director of Rugby, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have signed one of the most prominent and admired players in world rugby. John is an outstanding leader and hooker, and I am certain he, Roxy and their children will all thrive in our environment.”

Smit played his first Springbok game in 2000 at the age of 22, when South Africa beat Canada 51–18 at Basil Kenyon Stadium in East London. Between October 2003 and June 2007, Smit played in a record breaking 46 consecutive Test matches for South Africa, though it was not until 2004, when he was made captain of the squad by then new coach Jake White, he became a regular member of the starting XV.

Smit’s record-breaking sequence of appearances came to an end with South Africa’s first match of the 2007 Tri Nations, against Australia, when he suffered an injury that prevented him taking any further part in the tournament. He recovered from his injury in time to take part in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, in which he started in 6 out of 7 South African matches, and in which his leadership qualities came to the fore, as his calm under pressure and inspirational captaincy saw South Africa win the William Web Ellis Trophy for the second time.

When Peter de Villiers was appointed as the new South Africa coach in 2008, one of his first decisions was to re-appoint Smit as the captain of the national side. Smit led South Africa in their opening game of the 2008 Tri Nations, against New Zealand in Wellington, but suffered a groin injury when he was lifted and dumped by New Zealand lock Brad Thorn after the whistle had blown: Thorn received a one-match suspension, but Smit missed the rest of the tournament, being replaced as captain by veteran Springbok lock, Victor Matfield.

Smit in the Springbok change kit, coming out for a pre-match warm-up.

In 2009, Smit led South Africa to a series victory against the visiting British and Irish Lions, and followed this by leading his team to success in the 2009 Tri Nations, in which South Africa won five of their six matches, including a clean sweep of three wins against New Zealand.

In the first test against New Zealand, Smit equalled the record of 59 Tests as captain held by Australia’s George Gregan and England’s Will Carling. The following week, he became the most-capped captain in international rugby history.

As of September 2009, Smit is one of South Africa’s most successful captains ever; having led the Springboks to victory in 46 of the 64 games he captained: a win percentage of 72%. He has won more Tests as captain than any other Springbok has played as captain.

On 23 August 2010, he played his 100th Test – only the 15th player ever, and second South African to reach that milestone.

Darren Campbell puts Saracens through their paces

Posted on Jul 12, 2011 in Saracens

Saracens aim to be quick out the blocks when the new Aviva Premiership season gets underway thanks to Olympic gold medallist Darren Campbell.

Campbell, part of the British 4x100m relay team that won gold in Athens in 2004, is to work with the English champions throughout the 2011/12 season to help develop the power and speed of the squad.

He said: “My job is just to try and sprinkle some magic dust and get that little bit more out of the players, especially those coming back from long-term injuries.

“Over the last few years I’ve gained more knowledge of rugby and know that speed and explosive power has become a lot more important. Any difference that I can make here would be absolutely fantastic.

“The coaches here are very knowledgeable and it’s a fantastic set-up and a fantastic club – I’ve been very impressed with what I’ve seen.”

The former European and Commonwealth Games champion took his first session with the squad at Old Albanians on Monday and he will return at regular intervals throughout the season.

Saracens High Performance Director Scott Murphy said: “For us to get to the next level in the Premiership and Europe, we feel we need to develop our power and speed and we want to tap into Darren’s knowledge and enthusiasm to drive us to that level. He joins us with a terrific track record and will be a valuable resource for the club.”

Saracens announced as winners of The Premiership Rugby Parliamentary Rugby Club of the Year Award

Posted on Jul 11, 2011 in Premiership, Saracens

Saracens were announced as winners of the prestigious Aviva Club of the Year award at last night’s (Wednesday 6th July) sixth Annual Premiership Rugby Parliamentary Rugby Community Awards at Portcullis House in Westminster.  The winners of the main awards were as follows:

Aviva Club of the Year
Winner, Saracens

MBNA Innovation Award
Winner, Bath Rugby; Women and Girls Programme

Land Rover Impact Award
Winner, Bristol Rugby; Inferno

The three winning clubs battled for top places after being shortlisted alongside Leicester Tigers (Aviva Club of the Year) and Worcester Warriors (Land Rover Impact Award and MBNA Innovation Award) in the first round of the awards, which are dedicated to highlighting best practice in community rugby.

Bath Rugby won the Innovation award for their Women and Girls programme, which works with girls and women age seven plus. The judges felt the increased opportunities provided for a group that is traditionally difficult to engage in sport made this a winning entry.

Bristol Rugby won the Impact award for their Inferno programme, which re-engages young offenders and youths with behavioural problems with education, employment and sport. With youth crime costing UK taxpayers £23million per week, the judges felt the impact this programme had on young people’s lives and the wider community was highly impressive.

Saracens won the sought-after Club of the Year award as the judges felt that the club’s reach – 75,000 people engaged over one year, with 25 separate programmes and almost 27,000 hours of community work – was so wide that it stood out from the other entries.

Mark McCafferty, Chief Executive of Premiership Rugby, said, “The awards highlight the very best community work the Premiership Rugby clubs carry out on a daily basis. The time and effort dedicated to such programmes is admirable and their commitment exemplary. Clubs, together with players and partners, are producing impressive results, demonstrating the true value of such programmes.”

Tony Cunningham, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Rugby Union Group, said “Our winners have truly showcased the potential of community programmes and set a stellar example to the wider sports business industry. Choosing the winners was very tough and all entrants and especially those shortlisted should be acknowledged for the fantastic work they’re doing.”

Run in conjunction with the All Party Rugby Union Group (a cross party group made up of Parliamentarians in both Houses of Parliament who support Rugby Union), the Premiership Rugby Parliamentary Rugby Community Awards are sponsored by Aviva, Land Rover and MBNA and supported by media partner SportBusiness Group.

The awards were judged by a panel including; Mark McCafferty, Chief Executive of Premiership Rugby, Kevin Roberts, Editor of SportBusiness Magazine, Tony Cunningham, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Rugby Union Group, Nick Gibbs, Sponsorship Manager of Aviva, and Don Foster MP.

England women win Newquay 7s

Posted on Jul 4, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

England Women won their first 7s tournament of the year defeating close rivals, an RFUW Development side, 27-0 in Saturday’s final.

A hat-trick of tries from Wasps’ Michaela Staniford and a brace from Richmond’s Alice Richardson secured the convincing 27-0 victory.

England, who had to settle for second best in Rugby Rocks and the West Country 7s last month, booked their place in the final after a 44-0 victory over the Army, a 21-7 win over Premiership side Saracens and a 58-0 win over the Mauraders in the pool stages.

England met Welsh side the Cross Keys, who fielded several Welsh internationals, in the quarter finals and inflicted a 31-5 defeat on them with Jennifer Brightmore, Richardson, Heather Fisher, Staniford and Danielle Waterman all scoring.

In the semi finals England again met Saracens and this time upped the ante with a more convincing 38-0 victory, with Richardson scoring a brace of tries. There were also touch downs for Fisher, Merchant, Kay Wilson and Staniford, which set up England nicely for a showdown against the RFUW Development side.

England 7s Head Coach Barry Maddocks said: “It was great to have two England sides in the final as this really helps strengthens the development of our 7s programme as we look to the future. The weekend has gone well, and it is a great bonus for us to take the next step and win in the final.

“The biggest thing, however, for us is that we have improved in each tournament. Just like the tournaments before us, Newquay has provided some really tough opposition for us, such as Saracens who had England and Canadian internationals playing for them, and Cross Keys.

“Next up is the European 7s later this month and there we will have to pitch ourselves against full international sides. That will be another big step up, but we have put ourselves in a good position ahead of that tournament.”

England 7s Squad

JennyBrightmore    (Worcester), Heather           Fisher(Worcester), Sonia  Green (Saracens), Sarah             Guest(Worcester), Katherine Merchant (Worcester), Sophie Nicholas        (Lichfield), Alice            Richardson   (Richmond), Michaela        Staniford (Wasps), Lydia    Thompson     (Worcester), Danielle         Waterman, (Worcester)

Kay Wilson (Richmond)

Pool stages

England 44 Army 0

Tries: Richardson (1min), Waterman (2min), Guest (3), Merchant (8min), Wilson (10 min), Wilson (12 min), Brightmore (14).

Conversions: Richardson 

England 21 Saracens 7

Tries: Waterman (5min), Waterman (9 min), Merchant (13 min).

Conversions: Richardson  (3)

England 58 Mauraders 0

Tries: Thompson (1min), Nicholas (3min), Thompson (4min), Guest (6min), Thompson (7min), Wilson (8min), Green (9min), Waterman (10min), Wilson (11min), Nicholas (14)

Conversions: Nicholas, Wilson (2), Waterman.

Quarter finals

England 31 Cross Keys 5

Tries: Brightmore (2min), Richardson (3min), Fisher (9min), Staniford (10min), Waterman (12min).

Conversions: Richardson (3)

Semi finals

England 38 Saracens 0

Tries: Fisher (1min), Richardson (4min), Richardson (7min), Merchant (10min), Wilson (13min), Staniford (14min)

Conversions: Richardson (4)

Final

England 27 RFUW Development 0

Tries: Staniford (1min), Merchant (3min), Merchant (7min), Staniford (10min), Staniford (12).

Conversions: Richardson (1)