Wray and Borthwick personally thanked the hundreds of volunteers who have helped make the club’s new home one of the most welcoming venues in the country offering a fantastic matchday experience for everyone who attends.

Everyone who has visited Allianz Park this season would have met and spoken to the group of blue uniformed volunteers whether it be assisting them at train stations, pointing them in the right direction, offering a warm welcome to the ground or the literally dozens of different roles that go into making your day out one to remember.

More than 20 players including Borthwick, John Smit, Brad Barritt, Ernst Joubert, Joel Tomkins, Kelly Brown, Carlos Nieto, Chris Wyles and Charlie Hodgson were among those who attended the event and took time to meet the Pioneers, listen to their stories of working at Allianz Park and how and why they became Pioneers.

When thanking the Pioneers, Borthwick said: “We have a fabulous new home at Allianz Park. I feel very privileged that, as captain, I get to lead the team out onto the field. Having said that, all of those things count for not a lot, what makes it special is the people and what makes it a special atmosphere is the energy that everyone brings on a match day.

“The Pioneers are the people who first meet supporters on a match day. It’s the impact that you have when you meet those people, it’s the smiles on your faces and your friendly welcome that make people love coming here and want to come back here. So thank you for your time, thank you for your support of the team and thank you for helping to make Allianz Park what it is.”

Chairman Wray added: “The Pioneers here have made one hell of a difference. They make this place happier than it is and it’s very heart warming that people just want to help.”

The course and content has been designed to incorporate a vast range of skills included in the ever changing World of modern rugby. This is an opportunity for players of all positions to tune their rugby skills and develop under the guidance of Saracens coaches. The course will also include a visit to Saracens new home; Allianz Park and the chance to work on specific skills on the all new 4G pitch with some of Saracens 1st Team Players*

Therefore if your aged 12-17 and looking to further your rugby within a professional environment and alongside award winning coaches, then look no further. 

Saracens can announce that there are only 1 place left available for this summers RAF Residential Course which will take place from Tuesday 30th July – Friday 2nd August at RAF Halton. 

Course: Saracens RAF Residential Camp
Arrive: Tues 30th July
Depart: Fri 2nd Aug
Venue: RAF Halton (HP22 5PG)
Ages: U13 – U17
Price: £325.00

For full information and to secure your place, please click here or contact Jon Baker on 0203 675 7242

*This may be subject to change due to injury/illness or other rugby commitments. 

Scotland are due to play Italy, Samoa and host South Africa on their tour and Taylor, who is equally at home on the wing or at centre, can’t wait to get involved.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.

“Getting into the senior set-up is something that I’ve wanted to do for some time now so to get the opportunity to go and tour with Scotland is awesome.

“Every test match is going to be tough out there, especially with the calibre of opposition that we are facing. They are all big, physical teams, especially Samoa and South Africa, so it is going to be an unbelievable physical challenge so I think all the games will be close and it’ll be interesting to see what happens.”

Scottish rugby has seen two of their most talented outside backs forced to retire recently, with talented centre Joe Ansbro and Scottish rugby stalwart Rory Lamont both having to hang up their boots due to injury; and for Taylor their misfortune could offer him a chance to state a claim for a regular spot in the Scottish set-up;

“It’s deeply unfortunate that some guys have had to retire with injuries, but it does open a little bit of window for guys who are trying to get break into the squad. So I’ve got to keep plugging away and working hard to press my claim to get into the squad on a more permanent basis.”

Taylor will join up with his Sarries teammate and current Scotland captain Kelly Brown for the tour, and Taylor explained how Brown has already spoken to him about the trip;

“Yeah Kelly has spoken to me. He has given me many words of wisdom and just said to me how the squad operates and what to expect and I know he’s really looking forward to it and it sounds like we’re going to have some good experiences out there this summer.”

David English MBE always guarantees a star studded turn out from his celebrity Bunbury’s team with previous stars including Eric Clapton, Lloyd Honeyghan, the Weasley brothers and Ian Botham to name but a few, so come along and see who you recognise!

Join us for this great day out and enjoy marquee hospitality including a Pimms reception and 2 course sit down lunch with the Saracens players before a great afternoon of sporting entertainment followed by afternoon tea. And of course the opportunity to mingle with the stars!

All proceeds from the day will go directly to the Saracens Sport Foundation – inspiring communities and change lives through the power of sport.

Tickets are available at £100 per person.

For more information and to book please contact Bethany Kinsella on 0203 675 7245 or email bethanykinsella@saracens.net

Smit started the match at hooker and ended it playing at fly half as he called time on an illustrious career that saw him capped 111 times by the Springboks and win a World Cup in 2007.

The club’s fourth match at the unique venue in the capital’s financial district saw two tries from James Short and a score for Jack Wilson secure the victory against the Barbarians side largely made up of emerging South African players based in Europe.

After a fierce opening quarter of the match, Short scored his first of the match to round off a flowing crossfield move while Wilson powered over the line just before the break.

Short crossed for a second midway through the second half in a match that also saw Joe Maddock and Andy Saull play their final games for Saracens.

But perhaps the biggest cheer of the evening was saved for Smit when he came back on to the field with five minutes remaining to take charge of the game at fly-half and round of a fantastic career.

 Saracens return to the Honourable Artillery Company on Thursday 22nd August when they face Cornish Pirates. Tickets for the match are on sale now – just click here.

Nigel Wray, chairman, said: “Our matches at the HAC have become calendar events in the City, and we look forward to another fantastic occasion offering great rugby and a great atmosphere in a unique venue. Cornish Pirates are an ambitious club on and off the field and the match will start what should be an exciting season for both teams.”

Josh Lewsey, Cornish Pirates CEO and Performance Director, said: “Everyone involved with the Cornish Pirates is very excited about playing one of Europe’s top clubs as we look to build towards a new future, particularly at such a symbolic and historic location. Saracens are leading the way in terms of an innovative approach, off field ambition and the advocation of rugby’s values. Consequently we have affinity towards their community focused progression and hope to contribute to a fantastic occasion ahead of what we both hope will be a successful season.

Nigel Wray, chairman, said: “Our matches at the HAC have become calendar events in the City, and we look forward to another fantastic occasion offering great rugby and a great atmosphere in a unique venue. Cornish Pirates are an ambitious club on and off the field and the match will start what should be an exciting season for both teams.”

Josh Lewsey, Cornish Pirates CEO and Performance Director, said: “Everyone involved with the Cornish Pirates is very excited about playing one of Europe’s top clubs as we look to build towards a new future, particularly at such a symbolic and historic location. Saracens are leading the way in terms of an innovative approach, off field ambition and the advocation of rugby’s values. Consequently we have affinity towards their community focused progression and hope to contribute to a fantastic occasion ahead of what we both hope will be a successful season.”

Tickets for the match are on sale now – just click here.

Smit joined Saracens in the summer of 2011, and after two years of playing in the Red and Black, he is ready to hang up his boots.

He said: “The last two years here have been a treat; it’s been good to be part of a team again and just be able to really enjoy it with a great group of guys. I have had a lot of fun in my time at Saracens and the fact that is over gives me a peaceful feeling.”

Smit maybe retiring from playing the game, but will be swapping the changing room for the board room when he becomes the CEO of the Natal Sharks, the club that he was synonymous with for over 15 seasons.

“I’ve played a lot of rugby. I’ll miss the actual playing; the adrenaline of the contact and the mechanics of the game but I’m fortunate to have a position still within the game going forward, so hopefully I’ll get my fix that way.

“There is a lot that I can take from Saracens. I’ve learnt a hell of lot here in my two seasons here in a rugby point of view, an environment point of view and from a balance point of view.

“I like the way people are treated here. I like the way I’ve been treated and hopefully that is something I can take with me to the Sharks.”

The last remaining tickets for Thursday’s game, which kicks off at 6.15pm, are on sale now – click here

In other team news ahead of the game, Mouritz Botha, George Kruis, Duncan Taylor and Nils Mordt are among those in action while Andy Saull and Joe Maddock will also make their final appearances in a Saracens shirt.

Tickets for the match, which kicks off at 6.15pm, are on sale now by clicking here.

Saracens line-up to face South African Barbarians

15 Joe Maddock
14 Jack Wilson
13 Nick Tompkins
12 Duncan Taylor
11 James Short
10 Nils Mordt
9 Ben Spencer
1 Nick Auterac
2 John Smit ©
3 Petrus du Plessis
4 Eoin Sheriff
5 Mouritz Botha
6 George Kruis
7 Andy Saull
8 Justin Melck

Replacements: Jamie George, Jared Saunders, Ben Cooper, Scott Spurling, Hayden Stringer, Neil de Kock, Sam Stanley, Mark Kohler, Josh Sharp.

The World Cup winning hooker, who made 111 appearances for the Springboks, will pull on a jersey for one final time before retirement when he leads Saracens against the team of emerging South African talent coached by Nick Mallett.

Smit said: “A match between Saracens and the South African Barbarians is a fitting conclusion to my career. The South African Barbarians will have a number of young players in their team and it’s an opportunity for them to showcase their talents on the European stage.”

Smit, who will return to South Africa to take up a role as CEO of The Sharks, added: “It’s quite emotional to consider that something that has been at the very centre of my life for so long is suddenly about to end, but my family and I are looking forward to going back to Durban and the new challenge that is waiting for me at The Sharks.”

A limited number of tickets remain on sale for Thursday’s game, click here for more details.

Sarries were trailing 17-0 at the interval and despite a second half comeback, it was the Saints who booked a place in the final of the competition.

“It’s massively disappointing,” he said.

“We just gave ourselves a mountain to climb; we made a lot of errors in the first half and made a number of poor choices. Northampton put us under a lot of pressure and in the first half we made a lot of mistakes as a result of that pressure.

“Our discipline wasn’t good enough. It gave them the position to score their first try with the rolling maul; and we then gave away very soft try for their second. They were very strong and they took their chances very well and we gave ourselves too much to do in the second half.”

He added: “We showed in patches in the second half what we are capable of, by putting them under a little bit of pressure, but again we blew a couple of chances but at least we gave it a good go. We showed a bit of resolve in the second half and fought hard, but it was far too late.”

Saints led 17-0 at the interval and despite a spirited and much improved second half performance, it was the Midlanders who won through to the final at Twickenham in two weeks time.

Prop Brian Mujati opened the scoring as the forwards drove over from close range and then from turnover ball on halfway, the visitors broke clear for Jamie Elliot to cross the line. Stephen Myler converted both tries and added a further penalty before the break.

Owen Farrell reduced the deficit with two penalties shortly after the interval but replacement GJ Van Velze spoted a gap at the breakdown to race clear and score. Myler’s conversion made it 24-6.

Replacement Duncan Taylor went over with 15 minutes left on the clock and Farrell’s conversion gave the home side hope, but they were unable to build on that score and it was the Saints who claimed the victory.

Former Springbok head coach Nick Mallett will take charge of the South African Barbarians squad which is largely made up of emerging South African talent currently playing in Europe and South Africa.

Kick off at the HAC is 6.15pm. A limited number of tickets remain on sale – click here  for more details.

South African Barbarians Squad

Lukhanyo Am (Eastern Province), Rob Andrew (Leicester Tigers), Max Ashcroft (Bath), Don Barrell (Bedford Blues), Stephan Kekana (Eastern Province), Simon Kerrod (Sharks), Doppies La Grange (Benetton Treviso), Stefan Liebenberg (Old Albanians), Shaun Malton (Nottingham), Ben Pienaar (Moesley), Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Bayonne), Ethienne Reynecke (Connacht), Bees Roux (Benetton Treviso), Nick Schonert (Griquas), Dewald Senekal (Biarritz), Matt Turner (England 7s), GJ van Velze (Northampton Saints), Darryl Veeneendaal (Bedford Blues), Brandon Walker (Gloucester), Jeff Williams (England 7s), Matt Williams (Northampton Saints), Vainon Willis (Blue Bulls)

Aimed at 12 and 13 year olds, it is our intention that schools will become self sustained and rugby will integrate into the schools curriculum. For this to happen, equal focus is given both to the pupil’s development and to providing staff with opportunities to develop their knowledge by attending training courses and fixture nights. This is also a fantastic opportunity for school staff to officiate under our own coach’s guidance.

Working closely with local rugby clubs to provide transition opportunities, a significant number of students have taken up the opportunity to participate in rugby outside of their curriculum time: Hendon RFC now run an under 16’s side made up of 14 students, representing 6 nationalities, from schools directly involved with the BLAST programme.

For more information about the BLAST project please contact Josh Ward on 0203 675 7245 or email joshward@saracens.net

Don’t forget this Sunday we are giving fans a once in life time opportunity to win the ultimate Allianz Park experience with the Saracens players, make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to win by purchasing your ticket from one of our Pioneers pre-match for just £5!

Our vision is to create a disability sports hub at Allianz Park that will support our local community. The sessions will take place each and every Monday throughout the entire day, making Allianz Park on Mondays synonymous with disability sport.

Our flagship programme, ‘The Monday Club’ will see each participant receive their very own training top and earn a number of unique Saracens award badges based skill aquisition. There will also be an opportunity to achieve special award badges which will take the shape of the four core values that Saracens abide by: work rate, discipline, teamwork and humility.

The Saracens Sport Foundation will also support the families of the club’s participants by offering a form of respite, where parents and carers can use the state of the art hospitality areas for tailored fitness or relaxation sessions.

For more information about the Monday Club or if you would like to support the club as a volunteer, contact Owain Davies – 0203 675 7245 or owaindavies@saracens.net

Don’t forget this Sunday we are giving fans a once in life time opportunity to win the ultimate Allianz Park experience with the Saracens players, make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to win by purchasing your ticket from one of our Pioneers pre-match for just £5!

“I’ve got the upmost confidence in the guys here,” explained Hodgson, who is the Premiership’s all-time leading points scorer.

“We’ve got a great squad and for us to finish top of the table after such a long season is a fantastic effort and we want to take that further; but we know that Saints will be a huge test for us.”

Hodgson has experience of winning a Premiership with his former club Sale, and the playmaker is looking forward to “tough game” in what is the business end of the season;

“I guess this game couldn’t much bigger.

“Anyone in these four games and anyone in these semi-finals deserves to be there. It’s been such a long season so to finish in the top four and be in the play-offs is no easy thing to do.

“Regardless of whom we are playing, whether that be Northampton, Leicester or Quins in the semis we knew we are in for a tough game.

“We know Northampton are strong team and we’re certainly looking forward to what will be a big challenge.”

“When I heard the match day theme would exclusively be the music and work of the best nineteenth century Italian composer, I was stoked,” said Farrell.

“Ever since we moved down south with my Dad, I left all that Oasis, Verve and Arctic Monkeys claptrap behind me and I immersed myself in the pretentiousness and pomposity that surrounds the classical genre.

“Verdi is certainly my preferred composer; I believe his unique background, less than classical education and revolutionary political messages added to the mystique of his aura.”

He added: “His compositions take one on an almost hedonistic journey, and when I’m not being followed by gaggle of teenage admirers in Harpenden, or sneering at rugby posts on a training pitch, you’ll often find me in my study with my favourite quilted smoking jacket listening to Verdi’s Rigoletto….You know, just like Morse used to do on ITV3.”

Farrell has become a somewhat Verdi evangelical, and has tried to coax his fellow Sarrie Wiganers into listening to the Parma born artist.

“Since Joel and Ashy have moved down I’ve tried to educate them on the classics,” explained Farrell.

“I have even objectively introduced them to Wagner; but Joel insists on listening to Eiffel 65 and Savage Garden, whilst Ashy is a lost cause due to his obsession with all things ‘Vengaboys’ and ‘Aqua’.”

* Owen’s tongue was firmly in his cheek during the course of this interview!

The project has been delivered to local primary schools in Barnet, Broxbourne and Brent, and Saracens will continue the project in September for 10 new primary schools in Broxbourne and Enfield. Each school will be encouraged to set-up a Let’s Get Cooking extra-curricular cooking club to continue delivering the key messages of Scrummy! and further develop the pupil’s understanding of food.

On seeing the ingredients for the Greek Salad Rob stated -“Urgh salad. I can’t stand that I’m not eating it!”

At the end of the session Rob came up to the coach and said -“Thanks Miss. That was the best salad that I’ve ever tasted. Can I take the recipe home?”

Rob and his family attended the Food Creation Final at Allianz Park and, after speaking to his mother further, Rob never ate salad before this project and he would pick out the ingredients he didn’t like from other meals. After the final Scrummy! session Rob took the recipe for the Greek Salad home, made the meal for his family and managed to eat the salad without having to take out the ingredients that he previously wouldn’t have eaten.

“My child has actually tried 3 kinds of ingredients (salads) since the Saracens food project! Thank you”

Scrummy! is an interactive healthy lifestyle programme developed and delivered by Saracens Community coaches and Let’s Get Cooking, Children’s Food Trust. This six week programme aims to educate 10-11 year olds on the importance of maintaining a healthy balanced lifestyle and improving their practical cooking skills in everyday life.

This Sunday we are giving fans a once in  life time opportunity to win the ultimate Allianz Park experience with the Saracens players, make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to win by purchasing your ticket from one of our Pioneers pre-match  for just £5!

In team news ahead of the final four clash, Saracens make two changes to their starting XV from the side that beat Bath last weekend with Alex Goode returning at full back and Will Fraser named in the back row.

There is only once change on the bench where Chris Wyles, who started at full back last week, is among the replacements. Carlos Nieto will make his 100th Saracens appearance should he take to the field.

“Under Jim Mallinder and Dorian West, Northampton Saints have also been a very consistent side in recent seasons,” explained Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall. “Like us, they have regularly made the semi-finals of this competition and we have met many times along the way both in league and knockout rugby.

“Both teams know each other well, but both teams also have players who can turn a match in an instant from any part of the pitch and in any position. I am sure it will be a fiercely contested encounter and one that we are very much looking forward to.”

Saracens line-up vs Northampton Saints

15 Alex Goode
14 Chris Ashton
13 Joel Tomkins
12 Owen Farrell
11 David Strettle
10 Charlie Hodgson
9 Neil de Kock
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Schalk Brits
3 Matt Stevens
4 Steve Borthwick ©
5 Alistair Hargreaves
6 Kelly Brown
7 Will Fraser
8 Jackson Wray

16 John Smit
17 Rhys Gill
18 Carlos Nieto
19 Mouritz Botha
20 George Kruis
21 Richard Wigglesworth
22 Duncan Taylor
23 Chris Wyles

In a year that has seen the club reach the semi-finals of the Premiership for the fourth consecutive season and also reach the final four of the Heineken Cup, McCall collected the award ahead of Leicester Tigers’ Richard Cockerill, Wasps’ Dai Young and London Welsh’s Lynn Jones who were also nominated.

Saracens Chairman Nigel Wray said: “Mark has been an integral part of what I like to call the Saracens revolution over the last four years. Since taking over from Brendan Venter in 2011, he has guided the squad with quiet authority and the award is fully deserved.”

Each day this week we will showcase one of the great projects we run, with today’s spotlight on the nationally acclaimed Hitz programme run in partnership with Premiership Rugby:

Since its establishment in 2010 HITZ has gone from strength to strength, engaging with thousands of young people across London through school visits, trips and HITZ rugby sessions in inner city estates across the capital. The programme has demonstrated a number of significant outcomes, from helping young people to become more active through rugby to sharing the sports core values and principles to assist many young people in making important life decisions related to further education opportunities, work experience, apprenticeships and full-time employment.

Two extremely successful case studies, Chantelle Willis and Sam Joyce (pictured) have recently become involved in the project as junior coaches having risen up through the project as participants. Chantelle is also now looking to head to Middlesex University to study Sports Science and Sam is currently undertaking a plumbing apprenticeship. The Saracens Sport Foundation now runs Hitz sessions across 7 London Boroughs including Hackney, Tower Hamlets and on our very own doorstep in Barnet.

For more information on the project please contact Gareth Hatherley-Hurford at garethhatherley-hurford@saracens.net

This Sunday we are giving fans a once in  life time opportunity to win the ultimate Allianz Park experience with the Saracens players, make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to win by purchasing your ticket from one of our Pioneers pre-match  for just £5!

Northern Line

There will be NO service between High Barnet / Mill Hill East and Camden Town. Rail replacement bus services operate.

Suggested alternative:

The Edgware branch of the Northern Line is operating a full service. You can alight at Hendon Central and take the 113 bus to Fiveways before walking on to Allianz Park. Alternatively travel up to Edgware Station where you can pick up the Saracens Shuttle.

First Capital Connect

There are two First Capital Connect lines that call at Mill Hill Broadway:

• Luton to Sutton Common

There are no planned engineering works on this line and a normal service will be operating. Please see attached timetable in the download attached.

• Bedford to Brighton

There are engineering works on this line and trains will NOT be calling at Mill Hill Broadway. If you are heading southbound from Bedford then you should change at either Luton or St Albans and pick up the Luton to Sutton Common line. If you are heading northbound from Brighton you should change at Farringdon and pick up the Luton to Sutton Common line.

For further information please click here.

The Shuttle will pick up from the following stations before setting down at Pursley Road:

• Edgware first service 12:15 running every 3/4 minutes

• Mill Hill Broadway first service 12:15 running every 3/4 minutes

• Mill Hill East first service 12:15 running every 15 minutes

Although Mill Hill East Station is closed on Sunday, as this is a popular meeting point for fans, the Shuttle will continue to run collections to and from the station.

Post match the final service will depart Pursley Road at 18h45 and will be running approximately every 5 minutes.

Picking up from over 50 points and arriving at Allianz Park 90 minutes before kick off, departing the coach car park at 18h30.

Bookings close at midday Thursday 9th May.

Click here to book your space.

The remaining seats – which include a limited number in the East Stand central blocks – can be viewed an purchased using our interactive seating map.

Click here to view the map and secure your seats.

Rugby is continuing to thrive at the grassroots level of the game, and thanks to Alan Day Volkswagen Saracens were able to offer the Champions Event to the top eight performing teams from each of our Alan Day VW Cups this season from U7 – U10 age groups. This provided an organised and structured competition; qualified and experienced referees; as well as a high quality facilities and playing surfaces at Mill Hill RFC and Allianz Park. Participating players at the festival had the chance to meet Jared Saunders who supported the teams and offered coaching tips in between games as well as presenting the trophy at the conclusion of the event following the semi finals and finals that had been played on the Allianz Park pitch. Saracens would like to thank all teams for taking part and congratulations to all the winners and finalists as below:

 Richard Gregg, Saracen’s Head of Rugby Development commented on the importance of Alan Day Volkswagens support and the Champions Event, “Alan Day Volkswagen have shown an overwhelming level of support to Saracens this season to make this possible and without their desire to grow and build this event, young players  would be unable to experience one of the most professional festivals available for mini grassroot clubs. The champions event provided a showcase of young talent at our fantastic new home – Allianz Park  The opportunity for youngsters to play at Allianz Park provides them a taste of what it is like for the superstars of the game. We look forward to welcoming new clubs to next season events as the competition enters a new season and continues to grow and challenge teams from across our Saracens community”.

Bishop Stortford Coach, Lesley Cox commented “On behalf of our U9′s team, coaches and parents I just wanted to say a huge thank you for such a fantastic day on Saturday! The time and effort you and your team put into these events certainly pays off to make it an experience that all the kids (and parents!) will never forget! “

All photos courtesy of DE Photos. To see all images from the event please visit www.dephoto.biz/saracensrfc

For more information on match day festivals for the 2013-14 season please contact philipchalmers@saracens.net on 02036757241 to receive your information and entry pack.

Former Springbok head coach Nick Mallett will take charge of the South African Barbarians squad which is largely made up of emerging South African talent currently playing in Europe and South Africa.

Kick off at the HAC is 6.15pm. A limited number of tickets remain on sale – click here  for more details.

South African Barbarians Squad

Lukhanyo Am (Eastern Province), Rob Andrew (Leicester Tigers), Max Ashcroft (Bath), Don Barrell (Bedford Blues), Stephan Kekana (Eastern Province), Simon Kerrod (Sharks), Doppies La Grange (Benetton Treviso), Stefan Liebenberg (Old Albanians), Shaun Malton (Nottingham), Ben Pienaar (Moesley), Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Bayonne), Ethienne Reynecke (Connacht), Bees Roux (Benetton Treviso), Nick Schonert (Griquas), Dewald Senekal (Biarritz), Matt Turner (England 7s), GJ van Velze (Northampton Saints), Darryl Veeneendaal (Bedford Blues), Brandon Walker (Gloucester), Jeff Williams (England 7s), Matt Williams (Northampton Saints), Vainon Willis (Blue Bulls)

We have limited availability remaining for the following hospitality packages:-

Executive Box Package

• 10 seater private box with padded seats
• Hostess Service
• Car Parking
• Saracens player visit
• Post Match player lounge access
• Mini bar
• Choice of menu on application

Price – From £1,500 + VAT

For more information please contact Dan Cozens on 07884 260 115

100 Club Lounge Hospitality

• Excellent seats in the new East stand
• Two course carvery meal
• Complimentary wines, beers and soft drinks until full time
• Private car parking place
• Hostess service
• Pre-match analysis with Richard Hill
• Post-match man of the match with Richard Hill
• Saracens players in attendance

Price – £155 + VAT per person

For more information please contact Ed Clark on 07861 219 196

Please note, our Season Ticket holder renewal deadline has been extending to Tuesday 14^th May and you can still renew with the 10% discount online at www.saracens.com

If you have already purchased your tickets and car parking for this weekend’s semi final they are being dispatched today first class. If you still need to book your tickets or car parking this can be done online at www.saracens.com or by calling our ticket office on 0844 847 1876

Saracens Express service will be running this weekend to arrive one hour and thirty minutes before kick off and can be booked online. Please note, no tickets will be sent for this. You will receive a confirmation e-mail on Thursday and all drivers will have passenger lists.

If none of this information answers your queries please leave a message with your name, a contact telephone number, your customer number if you have one and we will call you back just as soon as we can.

 We look forward to seeing you at Allianz Park

If you do not claim your seats by midnight tonight, they will be released for general sale. 

How to claim your seats:

Online:

• Go to our eticketing homepage, click here
• Login using your customer reference number and password
• Click on the Saracens vs Northampton Saints game where you will see your seat
• This service is available 24 / 7 so you can claim right up until midnight tonight

 Phone:

• Please call our Ticket Office on 0844 847 1876.  This number is a 24 / 7 number so you can claim right up until midnight tonight.

 Supporter Services:

• Supporter Services are available on 0203 675 7200, choosing option 1
• This number is open until 17h30 tonight

In the event that you have been unsuccessful in any of the three options but still want to claim your seat please email supporterservices@saracens.net before midnight tonight.  We will then hold your seat and call you back tomorrow morning.  Please ensure you include the following information:

• Subject Line:  Season Ticket Holder Claiming Semi Final Seat
• Please include the following information in the email:
  • Name of Season Ticket Holders
  • Block, Row, Seat details of all the Season Ticket Holder seats you wish to claim
  • Contact telephone we can reach you on tomorrow morning

Tries from Chris Ashton, Mako Vunipola and Owen Farrell secured the victory against Bath.

Click below for a picture special from the game.

The win sets up a home semi-final at Allianz Park on Sunday 12th May against Northampton Saints, kick off is 3pm.

“It’s a big achievement for us to finish top and one that we are very pleased with,” said McCall.

“Four years ago when this project started, the one thing we craved more than anything else was consistency as Saracens had been so inconsistent in the professional era. Steadily and steadily we have been there or thereabouts with four consecutive semi-finals, but it’s the first time we have finished top in the club’s history so it a good achievement. We’ve used 44 players this year so it’s been a real squad effort.”

Tries from Chris Ashton, Mako Vunipola and Owen Farrell gave Saracens the 23-14 win over Bath

“We scored a couple of tries, and if Mako’s pass to Ashy wasn’t adjudged to have gone forward then it could have been a more comfortable afternoon for us.

“Credit must go to Bath’ they had a lot to play for and they came back it us really well.

“After Owen scored at the start of the second half, again we had the opportunity to put the game to bed which we didn’t take; but we are thrilled to have comeback from the defeat to Toulon after six days and the players were great in terms of the spirit and togetherness that was shown out there on the pitch.”

In front of hundreds of fans, players, sponsors and staff, Borthwick collected the award after being voted for by his fellow squad members.

After a season which has taken him to the verge of full England honours, Will Fraser won the Most Improved Player of the Season Award.

The Try of the Season was presented to Chris Ashton for his effort against Ulster at Twickenham, while Duncan Taylor’s score against Harlequins in the Aviva A-League won the Storm Try of the Season.

The Nike U18 Most Promising Player Award was won by Nick Tompkins while the Peter Deakin Award for Service to the Community was presented to Jamie George.

Barney Richards was presented with the Bryan Smith Supporters Award.

Tickets for this match are on sale now – just click on the link below to secure your seat.

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Tickets for this match are on sale now – just click on the link below to secure your seat.

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It asks you about your travel to and from the Bath Rugby match and about some of your experiences on the day.

Once you’ve completed it, you’ll be entered into a prize draw with a chance to win a number of special prizes including signed shirts and other Saracens memorabilia.

The more responses we receive the more prizes will follow. We hope we will be able to use what we learn from this survey to make your future experience at Allianz Park even better.

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The victory also sets up a home semi-final against Northampton Saints on Sunday 12th May, kick off 3pm.

Saracens got off to a flying start when the forward pack pulled in Bath defenders in their 22 and Neil de Kock spotted Chrtis Ashton out wide and he raced in to score.

Another catch and drive ended with Schalk Brits peeling off the back of a maul and he popped the ball up for Mako Vunipola to score.

Bath were still in the hunt at at half time after Rob Webber crashed over but after the break, a third try from Owen Farrell after a great break from De Kock gave the home side the advantage.

Horatio Agulla’s try on the hour kept Bath in the hunt, but a Farrell penalty settled the nerves and pulled the home side clear and sealed the win.

It is the fifth consecutive sell-out at the north London club’s new home.

Don’t forget that Allianz Park will be hosting one more match this season – the Aviva Premiership semi-final on 11/12 May. Details for this match including the date and opponents will be confirmed after the final whistle tomorrow.

In team news ahead of the game, Chris Wyles, Charlie Hodgson, Neil de Kock and Andy Saull all come into the starting line-up

Wyles replaces the rested Alex Goode at full back while Hodgson comes in at fly-half with Owen Farrell switching to inside centre in place of the injured Brad Barritt. There is also a change in the back row with Saull returning to the side with Ernst Joubert missing the game due to injury.

Saracens line-up vs Bath

15 Chris Wyles
14 Chris Ashton
13 Joel Tomkins
12 Owen Farrell
11 David Strettle
10 Charlie Hodgson
9 Neil de Kock
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Schalk Brits
3 Matt Stevens
4 Steve Borthwick ©
5 Alistair Hargreaves
6 Kelly Brown
7 Andy Saull
8 Jackson Wray

16 John Smit
17 Rhys Gill
18 Carlos Nieto
19 Mouritz Botha
20 George Kruis
21 Richard Wigglesworth
22 Duncan Taylor
23 Joe Maddock

At the age of 34, the New Zealand Maori winger has decided to dedicate more time to his family and will move back to New Zealand after the season’s close.

“I’m heading back to New Zealand. Work wise I’m still on the hunt for when I return, but as a family we decided that the time was right for us to go back,” said Maddock, who has spent the last two years at Saracens.

“Saracens as a club is an awesome place to be,” he added. “The club is full of great people; people who work extremely hard for each other and for the organisation as a whole. From my point of view the coaching staff have been brilliant with me, the backroom staff have done their bit to help me look after my body and the players who I train with every week and I get to play with occasionally are just good blokes, it’s not a hard place to come in work on a Monday to Friday that’s for sure.

“I’ve been fortunate to play with some great players and more importantly some great people.

“I loved my time over here in England. The premiership has been a massive part of my career; I’ve spent eight seasons of my professional career here, so it’s played a huge role in my development and my improvement as a rugby player. I’ve loved it.”

In a career where he was capped 34 times by Italy, the 37-year-old has decided to hang up his boots at the end of the current campaign; but the tight-head still harbours hopes of claiming more honours.

“I’m really excited for the rest of the season, and to be honest I don’t feel like I’m retiring yet, it hasn’t crossed my mind,” said Nieto.

“I’m only thinking about preparing for the next few games which will hopefully bring the club more success. I’m still getting nervous every week, and I’m still looking to achieve and improve on the training pitch and in the gym.

“I still look forward to every game as if I was when I began my professional career when I was 22 years old. It’s close to the end of my career and I’ve been extremely lucky that at the end of my time here in English rugby, that I have been able to play for the best team in England.

“I have been fortunate to win the Premiership in my time here, and we are in the great position at the moment to finish my career winning another title.”

Allianz Park hosted Saracens premium coaching experience; The Alan Day Volkswagen International Players Coaching Event, which is the perfect opportunity for mini and junior players aged 6-16 to showcase their rugby skills alongside their role models. 

Every participants got to work on four different skill stations which was lead by our award winning community coaches and supported by the following Saracens players: 

To top the evening off after the practical element, participants were able to gather autographs and photos with all of the above players. 

Parent comments:

“We have just got home! What an amazing experience for the boys – they haven’t stopped talking about it all the way home. Please thank everyone involved” – Mrs Bawtree 

“My son thoroughly enjoyed the rugby camp last night. Training with his heroes was amazing, and the fact that some of the players were picked to play in the Lions tour only a couple of days ago but still turn up to train the boys, is a testament to their honesty & humility as players & people. Thanks to Saracens for all the great work they are doing in the community & keep up the good work.” – Mr Smith

Along with Irishman Jonny Sexton, Farrell is one of two outside halves that have been included in the touring party and the steely 22 year old explains how the feeling if touring as a Lion is only starting to sink in;

“I suppose it’s still quite a weird feeling still, and it’s only really started to sink in today. It’s a great privilege to have been picked for the biggest tour in world rugby; it really is an honour.

“I was sat at the Saracens training ground when I heard about the call up. I came to do some training just to try and keep myself busy before the announcement rather than stressing out too much thinking about it.”

Farrell is one of three Saracens players that have a seat on the Lions plane, and Farrell explains how a few familiar faces will help him grow accustom to a “new environment”

“I think it will be a totally new environment playing alongside some new teammates and for some new coaches but that’s something I’m really excited about,” said Farrell

“There are some lads I know well from England and of course, Mako and Matt from Saracens, so it will be good to have some people that I know there; as it’s a not as many people that I have to get to know as players and people in a short space of time.

He added: “I’m eagerly anticipating touring Australia. I’ve never been there and it’s a place I’ve always wanted to go as kid and to get the chance to tour there on what is the biggest tour in rugby and one of the biggest events on the sporting calendar is a huge privilege.”

Prop Stevens was sat on a train with his wife when he found out the news via twitter and he admitted the news hasn’t really sunk in yet.

“It’s a huge honour to have been picked, a real privilege; all the adjectives in the dictionary couldn’t really explain how I feel,” he said.

“I was on the train to Bath sat next to my wife when I found out, so it was a very special moment.  I was watching twitter as I’m sure a lot of people were, feeling very nervous as the squad was named and when I first saw my name I suppose my first reaction was one of shock.  It still hasn’t really sunk in yet.

“I didn’t necessarily expect to get picked.  I didn’t get any inkling that I would be included so I’m sure no one knew that they were picked until their names were read out.”

After retiring from international rugby with England last summer, few expected Stevens to be part of the Lions squad but a year of impressive performances for Saracens in the set-piece and loose has earned him a seat on the plane alongside team mates Mako Vunipola and Owen Farrell.

He added: “I think it’s testament to the team here at Saracens that I’ve been included, and I have to thank a special group of people for that, the players, the coaches, the medical and backroom staff and the fans who have all helped.

“I have worked hard this year but it’s been a collective effort throughout.

“I didn’t expect the chance to play international rugby again to be truthful.  I obviously decided not to represent England; I had my reasons and it was the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make as a rugby player, but this is a one off experience that you just can’t turn down.

“It’s such a huge honour and privilege to play for the British and Irish Lions I just couldn’t refuse the chance to do so.”

Stevens toured with the Lions to New Zealand in 2005 and he can’t wait to experience the unique atmosphere once again.

“I’ve been on tour before and I know how amazing it can be.  Lions tours are so special; it doesn’t really make much sense but it just comes together in a magical way.  You have that mutual respect for each other; players you have played against or alongside, players of real calibre are thrown together and with very little time.  It’s a very special experience.

“It’s great that Owen and Mako have been included.  Speaking as a front rower, Mako is a very special player; he makes all us props look pedestrian with his ability with ball in hand and his footwork.

“I remember my first tour in 2005, all us young players were sponges; taking in as much as we could from some fantastic players and professionals, so I’m sure Mako will be the same.  He deserves his chance.”

Back rower Hankin (20) and hooker Spurling (20) have been named in Nick Walshe and Ian Peel’s squad for the tournament in France.

England begin the competition when they face the hosts France on June 5th at Stade Henri Desgrange, La Roche sur Yon.

After France, Six Nations winners England face title-holders South Africa before coming up against USA, who are competing in the JWC for the first time in five years.

The 22-year-old, who this season has also earned a full call-up to the England side, admitted he was ‘over the moon’ at the news at being included in the touring squad along with club mates Owen Farrell and Matt Stevens.

He said: “I was driving into London when I heard I was called up to the squad and to be quite honest, I screamed when I found out! I was so excited I just kept on screaming!

“I’m so happy to have been given this wonderful chance, and I’m equally delighted that Matt and Owen have been included; they certainly deserve to be on that plane.

“To be in that squad, and have the chance to pull that famous red jersey is such an honour. I’m extremely humbled to have the chance to play alongside some world class players and get to know them on a personal level. I’m really looking forward to the tour and I’m delighted to have been included.”

Matt Stevens, 30, will be on his second tour with the Lions after being a member of the 2005 party that toured New Zealand, whilst Farrell (21) and Vunipola (22) will be on their first Lions Tour.

We will have further reaction throughout the day.

The date, time and opposition for the fixture will be confirmed following the conclusion of round 22 this weekend – so keep following Saracens online for all the latest news.

Season Ticket Holders

This game does not form part of your season ticket package and you will have to buy your seat.

As a season ticket holder you will enjoy a 25% discount and your seat will be reserved for you until midnight Tuesday 7th May.

After this date your seat will be released and go on general sale. Any additional tickets you wish to buy for non season ticket holders should be booked via the interactive map and will be charged at full price.

You can book your ticket online. Simply login to your account and you will see your reserved seat by clicking on ‘My Account’ at the top of the page.

Alternatively call Supporter Services on 0203 675 7200 and choose option 1.

General Sale

Tickets are available, starting at £10 for concessions and £20 for adults, by calling our ticket office on 0844 847 1876 or by clicking here.

The 23-year-old loose head has impressed in the Championship and spent a week with Saracens ahead of the recent LV=Cup clash against Worcester Warriors.

He said: “Saracens have a fantastic set-up and one thing that I took away after training with the club was the complete focus on people and how well the players and coaches go about their business. I’m very excited at the chance to develop as a player as part of a fantastic squad.”

CEO Edward Griffiths will be joined by Forwards Coach Alex Sanderson and Prop Matt Stevens for the event which will take place in the Fez Club in the East Stand.

Please use the P2 car park and entry will be via main reception at Gate A.

For those unable to attend, the evening will be recorded and available to listen-again on Sarries TV.

We look forward to seeing you there.

“We did a lot of good things today,” said McCall after the game.

“The most important thing as a club we talk about is growth and progress. When I look back 14 months at what happened in the Clermont quarter final, when were we were second best by miles in the game; it wasn’t that way at all today.

“I felt we went toe to toe with Toulon; we were every bit as good as they were in a game that could have been won by either side. So if we are looking for signs of growth and progress, it’s plain to see we are improving.”

Jonny Wilkinson kicked all of the Toulon points in the 24-12 win, although McCall believes the final score may have flattered the French side.

“The game was a tight affair and the scoreline doesn’t necessarily reflect or say that.

“When it was a three point game, or at times a six point game, we had a couple of opportunities deep in their 22. We couldn’t take those opportunities, or sustain enough pressure and the game just got away from us in the end.

“But for 65 minutes there was nothing in it.”

Saracens are still in the hunt for honours this year, and McCall believes that they came get over the disappointment to maintain their challenge to win the Aviva Premiership.

“We mentioned in the changing room that the season not over yet.

“We’ve got an awful lot to play for; we’ve got a very important game against Bath next week, and we have a guaranteed home semi final to come up.

“So we’ll get over this result in the next few days, and we hope to end what has been a very good season so far on a positive note.”

Jonny Wilkinson kicked all the points for the French side to send them through to the final in Dublin next month.

Owen Farrell kicked four penalties for the Aviva Premiership league leaders, the first of which got put Saracens into the lead but Wilkinson capitalised on a number of penalties in the opening 40 minutes to give his side a 12-9 lead at the break.

After the interval, Wilkinson added another three points but with Danie Roussow in the sin bin for a high tackle, the Sarries playmaker put them back to within three points.

But two further penalties and a drop-goal from Wilkinson secured the victory for the French side.

“It’s a massive game and a game that obviously we would certainly like to win, but here at Sarries the next game is always the biggest and most important,” said Ashton.

He added: “Toulon have a star-studded squad but we aren’t exactly short of top players here at Saracens. We respect them and it’s no secret that they have match winners across the pitch, but our emphasis this week has been on our game, and how our team can hurt them.”

In his last appearance at HQ, Ashton treated the Twickenham crowd against Ulster with a trademark 40 meter try, and the England winger is looking forward to sampling that Twickenham experience once again;

“I’m looking forward to it. I love that big game feel at Twickenham.

“That’s why I came here to Saracens, to have challenges like this, tough ones; challenges that generate a lot of interest and have a lot riding on it.”

He added: “We really enjoyed our last game there against Ulster by producing a strong team performance, and on a personal note it was pleasing to help the team achieve that by getting myself on the score sheet.

“We want to make memories here at Saracens. I’ve been to Heineken Cup final before, and I’d love to get there again with great group of people.”

In team news ahead of the game against the French side, Schalk Brits, Brad Barritt, Mako Vunipola and Chris Ashton all return to the starting line-up.

Kelly Brown also returns to the back row to line-up alongside Jackson Wray and Ernst Joubert with Will Fraser ruled out through injury.

Saracens line-up vs Toulon

15 Alex Goode
14 Chris Ashton
13 Joel Tomkins
12 Brad Barritt
11 David Strettle
10 Owen Farrell
9 Richard Wigglesworth
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Schalk Brits
3 Matt Stevens
4 Steve Borthwick ©
5 Alistair Hargreaves
6 Jackson Wray
7 Kelly Brown
8 Ernst Joubert

16 John Smit
17 Rhys Gill
18 Carlos Nieto
19 Mouritz Botha
20 George Kruis
21 Neil de Kock
22 Charlie Hodgson
23 Chris Wyles

The match-up at Twickenham has thrown up a number of facts and figures – so the statistically minded among you, see the below.

Saracens v Toulon – Match Facts and Figures

- This will be the first meeting between Saracens and Toulon in the Heineken Cup, though the clubs did meet in the 2009/10 Amlin Challenge Cup with both sides securing home victories.

- This is Saracens’ second Heineken Cup semi-final appearance (also 2007/08) and their fifth overall in ERC competitions. They have yet to advance to the final of either tournament.

- The game will mark the second time a last-four match in the tournament has been played at English rugby HQ. The previous occasion was in 2008 when Toulouse defeated London Irish 21-15.

- There have been five previous semi-finals between English and French clubs with all of them taking place in England. English clubs have won three and lost two.

- Saracens’ captain Steve Borthwick is in line to lead his club in the semi-final for what will be his 50th Heineken Cup match (Heineken Cup appearances: Bath Rugby 31, Saracens 18).

- This is Toulon’s first appearance in the last four of the Heineken Cup (at their second attempt), though they have reached two Amlin Challenge Cup finals.

- Toulon have won all five of their clashes with English opponents in this tournament.

- There were test players from nine countries playing for these two clubs in the quarter-finals: Argentina, Australia, England, France, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, USA and Wales.

- Five English players started for Toulon in the quarter-final against Leicester Tigers.

- Steve Borthwick has won more lineouts (42, including three steals) than any other player in this season’s edition of the tournament.

- Steffon Armitage and Jonny Wilkinson have both weighed in with four try assists this season, only Morgan Parra (5) has more. No other forward has one assist to his name.

- Saracens’ Kelly Brown made eight more tackles (21) than any other player in the quarter-finals.

- Steffon Armitage, Chris Masoe and Sebastien Tillous-Borde of Toulon all made the Amlin Opta Index team of the quarter-finals.

CEO Edward Griffiths will be joined by members of the coaching and playing staff for the event which will take place in the Fez Club in the East Stand – entry will be via main reception at Gate A.

More details will be confirmed in due course.

We look forward to seeing you there.

The winner is announced by Premiership Rugby at a glittering ceremony on 9 May at the London Hiton, Park Lane. The event is now sold out.

The current top two sides in Aviva Premiership Rugby, Saracens and Leicester Tigers, are recognised on the shortlist alongside London Wasps and London Welsh.

The list includes one previous winner, Richard Cockerill of Leicester Tigers, who won the award in 2008-09.

“Aviva Premiership Rugby is fortunate to have some of the best coaches in the world working for our 12 clubs,” said Phil Winstanley the Rugby Director at Premiership Rugby.

“This is good news for the League but made the choice of selecting the shortlist very difficult indeed and it is a credit to all four of these coaches that they made it onto the list.

“If you look at the list of previous winners you will see a who’s who of rugby coaching so the winner will be stepping into some very big shoes.”

The shortlist is:

Richard Cockerill – Leicester Tigers

Lyn Jones – London Welsh

Mark McCall – Saracens

Dai Young – London Wasps

The shortlist was compiled by a panel of media professionals – Miles Harrison (Sky Sports), Alastair Eykyn (BBC 5 Live), Jill Douglas (Freelance), Stephen Jones (Sunday Times), Nick Mullins (ESPN), Adam Hathaway (Chairman of the Rugby Writers’ Club and Sunday People), Hugh Godwin (The Independent and Independent on Sunday), David Rogers (Getty Images), and Alan Pearey (Rugby World). They were joined by Phil Winstanley (Rugby Director at Premiership Rugby) and Paul Morgan (Premiership Rugby’s Communications Director) who chaired the panel.

The winner will be announced on Thursday 9 May at the sold out Aviva Premiership Rugby Awards at The Hilton, Park Lane. The event will be covered live on Twitter via the @premrugby account.

Both sides began the match looking test each other’s defensive resolve with either side spreading the play at every opportunity. It made for a highly entertaining opening to the game, with both sets of players showcasing their talent with the ball in hand.

As the game went into the 18th minute it was Hartpury who would draw first blood with an extremely well worked try; Will Munroe showed electric pace to sneak into the corner despite the attentions of the incoming Nathan Earle. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

Oaklands continued to test Hartpury’s rearguard in first 35 minutes, with Nick Tompkins and Earle continuingly threatening their defence.

In the 25th minute Hartpury’s outside centre Tom Griffiths was sin-binned for a professional foul at the breakdown, but Oaklands couldn’t capitalise on their numerical advantage as Hartbury maintained their 5-0 lead into the break.

The second half began much like the first; with the game being contested at a furious pace. Straight away Oaklands tried to pin back the Gloucestershire side, by spreading the ball at every opportunity, and it was when the ball was spread wide that Oaklands would get their first try of the game.

A scorching break from George Perkins gave the home side prime field position deep in the Hartpury 22; and after patient play that saw Oaklands recycle the ball for seven phases a penalty was eventually given.

From the resulting penalty Connor Reynolds picked up a sloppy pass that evaded the Hartpury defence to sneak in and score to level up the game.

Oaklands doubled their score when after an initial storming line break by Hayden Stringer; it was Tom Webb who would crash over after two phases. The conversion was missed.

Just as Oaklands were beginning to establish a foothold in the game they were reduced to 14 men. From the resulting penalty Hartpury added three points to reduce Oaklands’ lead to two points.

Hartpury made their numerical advantage count and it came as no surprise when Tom Griffiths gave them the lead in the 65th minute to after a concerted spell of pressure on the Oaklands’ line.

The Gloucestershire College sealed the victory in the dying minutes with a try from Ellis Genge.

Saracens are in their second semi-final, losing 18-16 to Munster at the Ricoh Arena five years ago, while Toulon are in the last four in only their second season in the top flight of European club rugby.

It will be the first time the clubs – who each lead their respective domestic tournaments – have met in the tournament although the clubs have played each other in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

They met twice in the 2009/10 Pool stage winning one apiece while captain and international lock Steve Borthwick, who will be playing his 50th tournament match, along with several of his team-mates are no strangers to playing at the home of English rugby.

And they will also be boosted by the fact that five of the last six semi-finals have been won by the side with ‘home country’ advantage on the day.

Saracens suffered one group stage defeat on their way to qualifying for the knock-out stages, a 15-9 reverse against Munster at Thomond Park, while doing the double over both Edinburgh Rugby and Racing Metro 92.

They booked their place in the last four with a 27-16 victory over 2012 finalists Ulster Rugby while Toulon suffered their only group stage blip in Round 6 when they were stunned 23-3 at Montpellier.

They also did the double – in their case over Cardiff Blues and Sales Sharks – before ending former double winners Leicester Tigers’ hopes with a thrilling 21-15 quarter-final win.

However, both teams have masters of the goal kicking art, Owen Farrell for Saracens and Jonny Wilkinson for Toulon, who could each hold the balance in a tight affair.

Farrell is in second spot in this season’s leading points scorer with 92 with Wilkinson on 73 while wing Chris Ashton has crossed for four tries to Toulon’s leading try scorer Delon Armitage on three.

Match facts

• Toulon have won all five of their clashes with English opponents in this tournament.

• Steve Borthwick has won more line-outs (42, including three steals) than any other player in this season’s tournament.

• Steffon Armitage and Jonny Wilkinson have both weighed in with four try assists this season, only Morgan Parra (5) has more.

• Saracens’ Kelly Brown made eight more tackles (21) than any other player in the quarter-finals.

Players from five different clubs make up the six-man shortlist, two from the England squad that finished second in the recent RBS 6 Nations.

“We are delighted to see the Aviva Premiership Rugby Awards continue to grow, and to see it sold out again with weeks to go is a testament to the appeal of the event,” said Phil Winstanley, the Rugby Director at Premiership Rugby.

“We have enjoyed another breathtaking season on the pitch with so many matches going down to the wire. The length of the deliberations for the awards reflects the current standard of Aviva Premiership Rugby – we had so many compelling candidates.”

Julian Salvi is the only player who was also included in the shortlist for the 2011-12 award, won by Harlequins and England captain Chris Robshaw.

The shortlist for the 2012-13 award is:

· Steve Borthwick – Saracens
· Danny Care – Harlequins
· Akapusi Qera – Gloucester Rugby
· Julian Salvi – Leicester Tigers
· Christian Wade – London Wasps
· Tom Youngs – Leicester Tigers

The shortlist was compiled by a panel of media professionals – Miles Harrison (Sky Sports), Alastair Eykyn (BBC 5 Live), Jill Douglas (Freelance), Stephen Jones (Sunday Times), Nick Mullins (ESPN), Adam Hathaway (Chairman of the Rugby Writers’ Club and Sunday People), Hugh Godwin (The Independent and Independent on Sunday), David Rogers (Getty Images), and Alan Pearey (Rugby World). They were joined by Phil Winstanley (Rugby Director at Premiership Rugby) and Paul Morgan (Premiership Rugby’s Communication Director) who chaired the panel.

On 9 May the following Awards will be made:

· Aviva Premiership Player of the Season
· Aviva Community Player of the Season
· Land Rover Discovery of the Season
· QBE Director of Rugby of the Season
· Guinness Try of the Season
· Gilbert Golden Boot
· J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby Sevens Player of the Season
· Top Try Scorer of the Season
· Dream Team
· Gatorade Game Changer of the Season

The other shortlists will be announced over the next three days.

The winners will be announced on Thursday 9 May at the sold out Aviva Premiership Rugby Awards at The Hilton, Park Lane. The event will be covered live on Twitter via the @premrugby account.

Past winners of Premiership Rugby Player of the Season – 2011-12: Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), 2010-11: Tom Wood (Northampton Saints), 2009-10: Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints), 2008-9: Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), 2007-8: James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester Rugby). 2006-7: Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester Tigers). 2005-6: Mike Catt (London Irish) and 2004-5: Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers).

Saracens’ academic partners Oaklands College face Hartpury College at 5pm in the AASE final, in what is a rerun of last year’s final. Hartbury beat an Oaklands side consisting of Saracens’ Academy stars Nick Auterac, Max Crumpton and Tom Jubb.

More games from the AASE competition start at 1pm when Myercough College face Truro College and this is followed by Prince Henry’s vs Henley College at 3pm.

The action at Allianz Park is rounded off when Loughborough University face Bristol University in the final of the BUCS Trophy.

• 1pm KO Bowl Final Myercough College Vs Truro College
• 3pm KO Plate Final Prince Henry’s Grammar School Vs Henley College
• 5pm KO Championship Final Oaklands Vs Hartpury
• 8pm KO BUCS Trophy Loughborough University 2s Vs Bristol University

Backs coach Sorrell won’t be taking to the pitch as he did in 2008, when he was part of a Saracens side that were narrowly beaten by would-be champions Munster.

Since his retirement from playing in 2010, Sorrell has been part of a backroom team that has helped take the club to the final four in both Europe and the Premiership and he believes that the clubs collective “journey” to this weekend’s Heineken Cup semi-final has been a rite of passage that the club have “earned” over the last four seasons.

He said: “We have never really earned the right to be involved in the later stages of the Heineken Cup until now; and to get there has been a massive positive in our journey as a club over the last four years,” said the former centre who made more than 300 appearances for Saracens.

Sunday’s game against Toulon maybe billed as the clubs biggest game in recent seasons in some quarters, but Sorrell insists Saracens will not deviate away from the one game at time mantra that has served them so well this season.

“The learning experience we’ve had as a club over this period has allowed us to develop the necessary mindset and composure in all games we play, not just semi-finals or finals.

“We treat every game the same and that mindset is something that will continue to be developed this weekend.  This type of mentality is something we pride on ourselves at the club, and we will prepare this week like we would any other.”

It is Saracens first semi-final appearance in this competition since 2008; when Saracens bowed out to eventual winners Munster.  Sorrell played that game alongside current first-team scrum-half Neil De Kock and fellow coach Paul Gustard, and despite his personal disappointment Sorrell believes that the collective motivation of the club is what spurs the survivors of 2008 on.

“The 2008 semi-final was a disappointment for us way back then, but it holds no significance for us in the here and now.

 “The guys who were around in 2008 don’t have any extra incentive to progress because of that experience.  Knowing Neil and Paul as I do, the motivation this Sunday is to create another memory as a club; not to exorcise any individual demons.”

On the evening of Wednesday 1st May, Allianz Park; Saracens new home, will play host to some of the biggest names in the Aviva Premiership giving young aspiring rugby players the chance to get up close and personal to their role models.

Therefore this event, sponsored by Alan Day Volkswagen, is the perfect opportunity for mini and junior players aged 6-16 to showcase their rugby skills alongside Saracens International Players. 

Some of the following players are expected to attend*:

• Chris Ashton (England), 
• Brad Barritt (England), 
• Mouritz Botha (England), 
• Schalk Brits (South Africa), 
• Kelly Brown (Scotland), 
• Owen Farrell (England), 
• Alex Goode (England), 
• David Strettle(England), 
• Mako Vunipola (England), 
• Chris Wyles (USA)

Please note that some age groups have NOW SOLD OUT! Please contact Jon Baker on 0203 675 7242 for the latest availability. (U10′s and U11′s SOLD OUT) 

*This list of players is subject to change in the event of injury, illness or other rugby/personal commitments 

Saracens Stadium Director Gordon Banks was one of 12 runners in this year’s event that included CEO Edward Griffiths, Head of Finance John Hall, Julie Morrow (wife of Saracens Head of Conditioning, Phil), Colleen Farrell (Mother of Owen), Assistant Performance Analyst Ben Smith, Simon Bradley, Richard Roberts-Jones, David Griffiths, James Garraway, Monica Liljeroth and Karl Gibbs who all completed the race to raise the magnificent sum…which is still getting bigger.

Banks said: “It was a really enjoyable experience, but a very tough one and I’m certainly feeling the effects of it today.

“If I was to describe the whole experience it would be brutal.  I really enjoyed the first 18 miles but the last few miles my legs were telling me that maybe I hadn’t done enough training.  It was painful!”

The runners were putting themselves through 26.2 miles of pain and mental torment in aid of raising funds for the Saracens Sports Foundation.   The foundation aims to change young people’s lives through the power of sport. Using the Saracens Rugby Club ethos and principles, they bring structure and challenge to the lives of young people in some of the most impoverished parts of London and the Home Counties. 

“To have the opportunity to raise funds for an amazing cause, in an event such as the London Marathon is fantastic; and we are very lucky to have the chance to do so” said Banks, who completed the marathon in 4hrs 29mins.

He added: “The money raised can hopefully help disabled people participate in sport and through the Saracens Sports Foundation, the money we raised can be put to good use.

“If a few hours of pain and suffering on my part can help engage kids in sport, then it has been well worth it.”

The runners and their times;

Simon Bradley: 3:44, Colleen Farrell: 3:53. Richard Robert Jones: 4:00, Julie Morrow: 4:04, Ben Smith 4:28, Gordon Banks: 4:29, Monica Liljeroth: 4:31, James Garraway: 4:32, Jon Hall: 4:59, Karl Gibbs: 5:52, Edward Griffiths: 6:36, David Griffiths: 6:36

Fundraising total to date: £16,638.71 and climbing!

Please visit  http://www.justgiving.com/David-Edward to donate

“There’s no getting away from the fact that it was a disappointing result, but the lads showed great togetherness and fight until the end.” said Tomkins who scored either side of half-time. 

“We kept plugging away in the second half and we nearly nicked it in the dying minutes.

“You can’t make the errors we made today against a good side likeGloucesteraway from home, but they are numerous positives we can take out if today.

“We have some massive fixtures coming up, so we’ll dust ourselves down and go again.  We are confident that when we play well, we can be a match for any side.”

Tomkins second try came off the back of a superb offload by replacement loose-head prop Mako Vunipola; and Tomkins was quick to praise the England international for his sleight of hand;

“It was good to get on the score sheet, but I must give credit to Mako for what was a fantastic offload for my second try; all I had to do was walk it in at what was a crucial part of the match.”

Back rower Jackson Wray was also lamented the full time score, but refused to dwell too much on the result;

 “In the first half our performance wasn’t up to scratch but I though in the second half we improved.” explained Wray who played the full 80 minutes at Kingsholm.

“A positive we can take is that going into next week, a physical game against a very good side like Gloucester is great preparation for Toulon.  That’s our focus now.”

Members of the Upminster U9’s team trained with the Saracens players and community coaches courtesy of QBE, the business insurance specialist. They are one of twelve grassroots rugby clubs across the country to be awarded a training session with three Premiership Rugby players. In addition, the club received £1,000 worth of training equipment.

The prizes were awarded to clubs who best demonstrated the benefits of receiving expert guidance from top Premiership Rugby coaches and players. The judges were particularly impressed by Upminster U9’s enthusiasm and passion for the game displayed by coaches and players alike.

The training session provided Upminster U9’s with the rare opportunity to learn from professionals and pick up specialist advice on core rugby skills and game play in addtion to a stadium tour before the session started.

Ben Spencer, Saracens Scrum Half, said: “I think that QBE Rugby Pro is a fantastic initiative and it is great to be able to give something back to the grassroots game. It has been fun working with Uminster and I hope that the access to professional players and coaches during the specialist training today will inspire them further.”

QBE Rugby Pro is part of QBE’s Coaching Programme, which aims to improve the quality of rugby coaching in England at a grassroots level. For more information on the winning clubs and further details on QBE Rugby Pro visit www.QBErugby.com.

And although disappointed with the outcome, Director of Rugby Mark McCall was pleased with the fight shown by his players in the display.

“We were 25-16 down at one point and arguably we could have gone on and won the game at the end.” said McCall

“We fought our way back into it.  The nature of our fight back, that spirit and togetherness, is what we are about.”

McCall did concede that his side allowed Gloucester to get what he admitted were a ‘couple of soft scores’.

“It wasn’t the performance that we wanted. Gloucester put us under some pressure from time to time.  We gave away a couple of reasonably soft scores.

“Some of our mistakes gave Gloucester their opportunities.  At the same time I am very proud of the  fight we showed and a number of players performed well.

“There will definitely be things we can take from today’s game. Sometimes you need some gentle reminders of what you are about and what makes you successful.”

Two tries from centre Joel Tomkins was not enough to give Saracens the victory in this round 21 clash although the bonus point maintains the four point lead at the top of the Premiership table.

Saracens trailed 18-13 at the interval after a scrappy first half. The home side had raced into an 8-0 lead in as many minutes thanks to an early Freddie Burns penalty and a try for Jonny May as he finished off a cross-field move.

The visitors got back into the game with an Owen Farrell penalty midway through the half before Joel Tomkins crossed for a try. The centre picked up a loose ball on the 22 and his show and go sent the home defence the wrong way and he raced in to score. Farrell converted.

Farrell added another penalty to extend the lead but it was the home side who finished the half on a high. Burns kicked three points before May crossed for his second of the game, touching down a kick ahead that beat the onrushing defence. Burns conversion gave Gloucester a five point lead at half time.

Farrell chipped away at that lead on the hour with another penalty as the visitors turned the screw at a scrum inside the Gloucester 22.

But straight from the restart, the home side won possession and Ben Morgan picked a clever line through the defence and power his way over. Burns converted.

However, with scrum half Dan Robson in the sin bin, Saracens hit back with a move across the pitch that ended with replacement Mako Vunipola taking the ball into contact and offloading for Tomkins to score his second on the game.

Farrell converted to make it a two point game going into the final 10 minutes.

But despite several breaks near the Gloucester line, Sarries were unable to make it count and a Burnes penalty with the final kick of the game sealed the victory for the home side.

While Ernst Joubert and the rest of the squad delivered one of the performances of the season, it was the No.8s nose that was the centre of attention – especially on twitter.

Joubert suffered a bad break that almost had him joining the likes of Steve Ogrizovic, Steve Bruce, Mike Tindall and Andy Farrell as one of the most famous misshaped noses in the sporting world, but thankfully, things have been straightened out – quite literally.

“I’m not on twitter, so I suppose it’s funny to see my nose going viral,” said Joubert.  “It’s quite amusing actually, that when you speak to people they all seem to have seen the photo of my nose, so I guess it’s had enough re-tweets and it’s been in the media enough.

“I didn’t think it looked that bad to be honest but obviously judging by the reaction it shocked a few people.

“My missus was a little shocked seeing my nose the way it was, but luckily I went straight to the hospital to get it fixed and put back into place, and by the time I got home it wasn’t as bad as when I left the field against Ulster, so she was happy.”

Joubert makes his first return to action this weekend starting at Number 8 at Kingsholm, and he is confident ahead of his return;

“It’s been two weeks now since I’ve had it put back in place so I’m really looking forward to the match.”

In team news ahead of the game, Owen Farrell, Richard Wigglesworth, Steve Borthwick, Alistair Hargreaves, Will Fraser and Ernst Joubert all return to the starting line-up.

Chris Ashton, Kelly Brown and Brad Barritt are among those rested for the game.

Saracens line-up vs Gloucester

15 Alex Goode
14 Chris Wyles
13 Joel Tomkins
12 Owen Farrell
11 David Strettle
10 Charlie Hodgson
9 Richard Wigglesworth
1 Rhys Gill
2 John Smit
3 Matt Stevens
4 Steve Borthwick (c)
5 Alistair Hargreaves
6 Jackson Wray
7 Will Fraser
8 Ernst Joubert

16 Jamie George
17 Mako Vunipola
18 Carlos Nieto
19 George Kruis
20 Jacques Burger
21 Ben Spencer
22 Duncan Taylor
23 Joe Maddock

Starting with a bang, Oaklands were three tries to the good within the first ten minutes, Nathan Earle opening the scoring, after a lightening break from George Perkins, followed by Hayden Stringer touching down at the back of a powerful driving maul, before Earle scored his second, rounding his opposite man and beating the last defender to touch down in the corner.

Ivybridge fought back strongly however, and after registering two scores of their own, were pinned back once again after Perkins produced a deadly finish just before the break, after a Nick Tompkins break from inside his own half. The Devon side continued their fight back to trail 24-17 with 20 minutes remaining, but further tries from Josh Sharp, Tom Gannon and Ben Calder sealed the win for the Oaklands side.

The win sets up a Final appearance against Hartpury College, who beat Filton College 15-10 in the other semi-final.

It will be a replay of the 2011 final at Twickenham which saw Hartpury narrowly overcome an Oaklands side featuring Max Crumpton, Nick Auterac and Tom Jubb.

The final will be played at Allianz Park next Wednesday 24th April, 5pm kick off.

The players were there to encourage people to sign up to the RBC Race for the Kids 5k family fun run, which takes place on Sunday 9 June 2013 in London’s Battersea Park.

Money raised from the event will help fund the essential redevelopment of Great Ormond Street Hospital, making a real difference for the thousands of sick children who are treated there every year.

Ashton said: “I was really inspired by the patients we met today – despite being in hospital, they were incredibly positive and brave.  We also saw first-hand what a phenomenal job the hospital’s doctors and nurses do every single day.  I want to encourage as many people as possible to take part in this year’s RBC Race for the Kids and raise as much as they can to make a difference for patients and families.”

Ransom said:  “It was great to meet the patients and their families today and I was really humbled by their courage despite facing major challenges. Anyone can take part in the RBC Race for the Kids, and the money raised is so important to the hospital – so grab your trainers and get running!” 

A Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity spokesperson said: “We’re delighted that the Saracens have once again got behind the RBC Race for the Kids. It’s a really inclusive race with entertainment for all and promises to be a great day out. Please sign up now and help make a real difference.”

The RBC Race for the Kids 5k family fun run is open to people of all ages and abilities to walk, jog or run the race. To sign up, please visit www.raceforthekids.co.uk

Nigel Wray, chairman, said: “We have seen Andy develop into an oustanding young man and we are sorry to see him leave. He will always be welcome and respected at our club and we have no doubt that he will be a great asset for Newcastle Falcons.”

Saull said: “My time at Saracens has been beyond what I could have ever imagined when I first joined. The club has helped me develop as a player, and they have given me the chance to play at the highest level.

“I’m leaving a lot of great people behind at the club and some fantastic memories, but I’m really excited by what is happening at Newcastle Falcons under Dean Richards and I am looking forward to the fresh challenge.”

The World Cup winning captain has made 42 appearances for Saracens since joining in 2011.

Nigel Wray, chairman, said: “Even in the short time he has been with us, John has made an outstanding contribution is so many ways. He is a leader and an individual of the very highest quality and, as I’m sure the Sharks know very well, any organization led by John Smit will be in good hands.”

Academy manager Don Barrell led his very own crew on to the 52 tonne vessel to meet ex-Saracen analyst now HMS Blazer’s Executive Officer, Ash Coates, who introduced everyone to Captain of the ship Lieutenant Amie Jackson.

The players were given a guided tour of the boat (which has been most recently used in security operations in the London Olympics and Queens Diamond Jubilee Pageant) and after meeting the members of the crew, they sailed up the Thames towards the Thames Flood Barrier near Woolwich.

“The visit gave us a great opportunity for some of our senior academy players to get to know some active service personnel who live and work aboard HMS Blazer,” explained Barrell. “The boys learned about how these servicemen and women function as a team in the both the workplace and their living quarters

“It was a great experience for us all, and I’d like to thank the crew of HMS Blazer for their time and hospitality today; it has been a worthwhile experience and the lads have really enjoyed themselves.”

HMS Blazer Executive Officer Coates said: “The Royal Navy and Saracens have a great partnership and we are extremely happy to show some of Saracens’ future stars around the boat. We hope it gave the young players an insight into what the Royal Navy does and how we function as crew and I really thought the lads bought into the day and they were a credit to the club throughout the trip.”

Nick Auterac, Max Crumpton, Matt Hankin, Ben Spencer, Scott Spurling and Sam Stanley  made the trip.

“The highlight of the day though was Max Crumpton mistaking The Greenwich Naval College as Buckingham Palace,” said prop Auterac.

“In all seriousness though, it was interesting to see how the crew worked as a team in enclosed living conditions, and also how well the crew communicated throughout the day. I enjoyed the day and we are grateful for everyone connected with HMS Blazer for inviting us.” 

The Fijian international wing made 43 appearances during his first spell with the north London club before joining Bristol. He said: “I’ve really enjoyed the year in Bristol, but I am excited to be returning to Saracens. The squad is going well and Allianz Park looks a special place to play rugby. I’m looking forward to helping the club move forward.”

Mark McCall, Director of Rugby, said: “We know Michael very well, and Michael knows us very well, and we’re all convinced he has a great deal to offer.”

However the Scrummy! project has seen 106 Greek Salads and 53 Fruit Desserts produced and eaten by young budding chefs from primary schools in Barnet and Broxbourne.

During the Spring term, Saracens Community coaches have delivered the six week Scrummy! project through interactive assemblies, classroom lessons on healthy eating, energetic multi-skill sessions, home-based family challenges and practical food preparation activities leading to a ‘Masterchef-style’ class and inter-school competition.

“A fantastic programme which fitted perfectly with our science topics this year. The children loved all of the activities, became more confident in food preparation and improved their team work skills. Thank you for a great six week programme.” – Class Teacher, Millbrook School

To wrap up the project, all pupils and family members were invited to participate in our first ever Food Creation Challenge final at Allianz Park. The top groups from each class competition took part in the Grand Final, reproducing their winning Greek salads and fruit desserts from their classroom session.

To add to the unique experience, guest judges  Nick Auterac and Matt Hankin donned an apron and got stuck in, helping to prepare and judge the dishes  and, they even had time for quick Q&A session with the pupils and parents. After a very tense final, Church Hill Primary School, Barnet were crowned Scrummy! champions. 

 “Many thanks for the hard working for the children and family. My son has an increased interest in the food he regularly eats. Thank you for making this lovely project.” – Parent

To continue the enthusiasm for the healthy eating and cooking within the schools, members of staff from the primary schools were invited to Allianz Park on Friday 1^st March to take part in a one day demonstrators course led by members of Let’s Get Cooking (Children’s Food Trust). The course involved lots of hands-on cooking and demonstration practice to give school staff the skills and confidence to teach cookery and set up cooking sessions within their school. 

Saracens have already started delivery of Scrummy! to five primary schools in Brent and will work with a further ten primary schools in September.

Scrummy! is an interactive healthy lifestyle programme developed and delivered by Saracens Community coaches and Let’s Get Cooking, Children’s Food Trust. This six week programme aims to educate 10-11 year olds on the importance of maintaining a healthy balanced lifestyle and improving their practical cooking skills in everyday life.

For further information on the Scrummy! project, please contact Simone Shepherd simoneshepherd@saracens.net

You can stay with the Saracens team at this exclusive resort just steps from Downtown Hamilton and conveniently located near shopping boutiques, restaurants and nightlife. The Hotel offers both a saltwater and a freshwater pool and all that you’d expect from such a luxurious resort.

The packages includes luxury accomodation and tickets to the match when Saracens will play against a Bermuda International Select XV on the evening of Friday 31 May at the national sports centre.

While on the island, the squad will engage with the community through a series of school visits, coaching workshops and fund-raising activities. It is envisaged the visit will generate in excess of $50,000 for the Beyond Rugby charity and the youth section of Bermuda Rugby Football Union.

For more information about the supporter packages at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess and to book – just click here.

Strettle’s 22-minute hat-trick, in the 47-17 win over Worcester Warriors at Allianz Park, was the fastest in Premiership history, from the start of a match.

The previous record was one minute longer and held by London Irish’s Richard Kirke, who scored his treble against West Hartlepool in 1999.

Asked about his record breaking performance Strettle was pleased with his showing against Worcester; “It’s nice to have got on the end of a few chances on Sunday, but I’d like to pay credit to what was a good team performance on the day.

“We move on to what is a huge game over at Kingsholm this weekend, it’s never an easy place to go to, so we don’t really have time to dwell on records such as this.

“Plus, I don’t get to meet Kris Akabusi and Cheryl Baker and get my Record-Breakers medal which is disappointing.”

The new top three is: 22 mins David Strettle (Saracens v Worcester, 14 Apr 2013), 23 mins Richard Kirke (Irish v West Hartlepool, 16 Jan 1999), 31 mins Fraser Waters (Wasps atSale, 10 Oct 2003).

“It was a great day and a very special one for me personally,” said Gill. “To get the result and to put 40 points onWorcesteris no mean feat, so it’s been a fantastic day all round for me.”

Saracens dominated set-piece ball throughout proceedings and Gill, who started alongside John Smit and Matt Stevens in the front row, was happy with his and his fellow front-rowers performance at the scrum;

“We targeted their scrum and I think both the boys who started and those who came on did brilliantly at pressuring their set-piece. 

“As a forward unit we had to work hard to earn that win, the backs were superb and dangerous throughout the game,” Gill added.  “Worcesterare a well drilled side, and they can make life difficult for teams in the way they like to play; but we stuck to our game-plan and our backs cut them to ribbons, and Stretts took all his three tries well and had a great game.”

His thoughts were echoed by try scorer Jackson Wray after a result that secured a home Premiership semi-final for Saracens.

“I’ve not scored in a while, so it was nice to sneak over at the end,” said Wray. “I thought overall the boys played pretty well but we really upped it in the second half after what we thought was a pretty average first half performance, regardless of what the scoreboard may have said.

“You know what you’re going to get withWorcester, they base their game on physicality and their set-piece and today I thought we dealt with that pretty well up front.

“It’s brilliant to get a home semi-final.  All the games from now until the end of the season are huge, so to play here again in front of our home fans will be some occasion and its’ something the whole squad is looking forward to.”

The under 12 final was a fantastic spectacle for those in attendance, with the impressive Southend U12’s keeping their composure to secure a fine victory over Amersham & Chilterns, who showed great integrity in defeat and made sure that they challenged Southend right until the final whistle. In the under 11 final, Upminster were triumphant, playing with great confidence to defeat Maidenhead, who displayed great resolve to ensure that Upminster had to be at their very best throughout the match so that they could be crowned Regional Champions.

As well as winning the tournament, the young players have also won places in the prestigious Land Rover Parade of Champions where they will be presented to a sell-out crowd　at Twickenham during the Aviva Premiership Rugby Final next May.

Winning coach Neil Peckeet from Upminster was excited to be there on the day and said: “I just wanted to pass on Upminster RFC’s thanks for a great day. All of the players, coaches and parents had a fantastic time (obviously made all the more enjoyable by winning the Cup). Personally, I thought it was very well run, and am already looking forward to returning next season with the U12s.”

Participating players at the festival also had the opportunity to meet Petrus Du Plessis and Matt Hankin who took time out of their schedule to watch the young teams as well as offer some coaching tips between games. Petrus commented on the importance of grassroots rugby: “The ability for Saracens tie the Land Rover Premiership Cup prior to Saracens vs Worcester allowed participants, to not only enjoy the competitive environment and opportunity for some teams to play on the artificial Allianz Park pitch, but also a day out to see two of the current most expansive sides in the Aviva Premiership. The standard of rugby during the event was incredible and some of the tries scored were fantastic. Land Rover have shown an overwhelming level of support to make this possible and without their desire to grow and build this event, young players aged U11 and U12 would be unable to experience one of the most professional festivals available for mini grass root clubs.”

For more information on the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup please visit: www.premiershiprugby.com/landrovercup

The home side were outscored by four tries to one against a Saints side that included players such as Paul Diggin, Vasily Artemyev and Mark Sorenson.

Ryan Glynn gave the visitors the lead with a try against the run of play midway through the first half while Ben Spencer’s penalty  put Sarries on the scoreboad to make it 3-5 at the break.

Spencer struck another three points after the home side dominated the opening 10 minutes of the second period, but further tries from Matt Williams, Howard Packman and Alex Wootton secured the win for the Saints. Justin Melck crossed the line for a consolation score for the home side.

‘Sarrie’ called in sick from his Hendon bedsit complaining of severe abdominal pain and cramping.  The club doctor diagnosed the humped crowd-pleaser with gastroenteritis and he is currently resting up, watching daytime TV’s finest medical-crime shows Quincyand Diagnosis Murder.  “He’ll be fine for theBathmatch on May 4,” the doctor said.

Wolfgang, recently arrived inBritain, decided to take in a game of football on Saturday and attended Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final between Millwall and Wigan Athletic.  Unfortunately, the friendly wolf was caught up in unfortunate events and is now suffering from what psychologists call post-football stress disorder. “I’m sticking to rugby from now on,” he said this morning.

Below are a selection of pictures from the day.

Did you take any pictures at Allianz Park? If so, we’d love to see them and share them with other Saracens fans.

Send you pictures to facebookfans@saracens.net

David Strettle scored a hat-trick in the opening 20 minutes of the game and there were further tries for Carlos Nieto, Chris Ashton and Jackson Wray.

Click below to see a photo gallery from the match.

Tickets for this match are on sale now.

It is unlikely that the date for this match will be confirmed until the conclusion of round 22 of the Premiership on May 4.

For more details, ticket prices and how to purchase – click here.

A David Strettle hat-trick in the opening 20 minutes of the game and further scores for Carlos Nieto, Chris Ashton and Jackson Wray sealed the win and the home draw in the end of season play-off with the game due to be played on the 11/12 of May.

Worcestertook a second minute lead through a Danny Gray penalty but this was soon nullified with one from Charlie Hodgson.

With their first attack, Saracens scored the opening try.John Smitsoftened up the visitors’ defence with a couple of bursts before the ball was transferred sweetly along the line for Strettle to force his way over in the corner.

The score gave Saracens confidence and within minutes they were nearly over again.

Chris Ashton flew past Alex Grove to take his side into the opposition 22 and the ball was recycled for Hodgson to give Ashton a scoring chance but he was pushed into touch inches short.

Hodgson extended the lead with a penalty before Sarries scored their second try, a brilliant solo effort from Strettle.

From halfway the wing spotted a gap in theWorcesterdefence and raced away and easily evade Warriors full-back Chris Pennell for the try which Hodgson converted to give Saracens an 18-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Saracens’ dominance continued unabated as Kelly Brown’s burst through half theWorcesterside created a third try for Strettle, this time a simple run in.

Worcester were in danger of being overrun but showed some fight when a strong run from Grove created a try for Josh Drauniniu which was converted by Gray.

Drauniniu and David Lemi combined cleverly after the break to takeWorcesterdeep into the home 22 and from the resulting line-out Matt Kvesic was driven over for the try which Gray converted.

Saracens resumed control with a driving line-out try of their own with Carlos Nieto the scorer.

Hodgson converted and added his third penalty before late tries from Ashton and Wray, both converted by Hodgson, ensured the win.

Saracens andBathhave played each other a total of 33 times in the Premiership, with Saracens boasting superiority between the two with 19 wins. 

The last time these two sides played each other was just before Christmas when a Charlie Hodgson inspired Saracens side beatBathat The Rec 22 – 0. 

The formerEnglandfly-half slotted 17 points and created the only try of the game for Richard Wigglesworth as Sarries temporarily moved top of the Aviva Premiership.

Bathwere able to dominate much of the possession, especially after the break, but their lack of cutting edge proved costly.

For Saracens the half-back pairing of Wigglesworth and Hodgson were influential, with their defence also outstanding asBaththrew wave after wave of attacks at them to no effect.

The north London club trailed 17-22 to a young French side with time running out but, in the very last move of the match, Joe Maddock burst through to score a try and Nils Mordt’s nerveless drop-kick conversion won the day.

Joe Shaw, coach, said: “It has been a fantastic effort by the entire squad of some experienced players and a few youngsters. Some of our turnaround times were very tight during the course of the day, and the guys were almost out on their feet at the end, but they came through in the end.”

Nils Mordt, captain, said: “It was Kelly Brown who suggested we compete in this tournament last year and we have really enjoyed ourselves again. Melrose feels like the home of sevens, and this is a unique tournament in a unique place.”

With club captain Steve Borthwick rested for the game, Brown will be looking to pick up from where he left off after a successful Six Nations campaign as the Scotland captain.

“It’s a huge honour,” said Brown. “A few of the boys will be taking a well earned break this weekend but we still have a impressive team for this Sunday; and we’ll need it, as Worcester are a difficult side to play against.

“They are a tough, competitive side and we’re expecting a battle out there; but we are focusing on ourselves and making sure that we get our level of performance right, because if we don’t Worcester can certainly make life difficult for us.”

Saracens have had a number of players unavailable due to the Six Nations and long-term injuries in 2013, but Brown believes the squad is back to full strength in what is an important time of the season;

Brown explained; “In regards to where we are as a squad, I’m quite happy with the way thing have been going.  Obviously with the Six Nations, there is a little break in the season and a couple of us guys were away; but now we’re all back I feel that we are all familiar with the systems that we operate at the club, and if you look at our last few performances there’s plenty to feel upbeat about

“We’re lucky at the as we haven’t many injuries at the moment, and the squad is in a really good place.  Some long term absentees have returned along with the International guys, so we virtually have a full squad to choose from.

“There are a lot of big matches ahead for us, and it starts this Sunday against the Warriors.”

Gill returns to the starting line-up for the Aviva Premiership clash against the Warriors and he will become the newest member of the 100 Club. Burger has battled back from a knee injury to take his place in the back row.

In other team news, Charlie Hodgson, John Smit, George Kruis, Mouritz Botha and Jackson Wray all come into the starting line-up with Owen Farrell, Schalk Brits, Steve Borthwick, Alistair Hargreaves and Ernst Joubert all rested on rotation. Chris Wyles and Alex Goode switch places in the starting XV and the replacement’s bench as do Neil de Kock and Richard Wigglesworth.

Kelly Brown captains the side.

Speaking ahead of the game, Director of Rugby Mark McCall said: “Worcester have quality players throughout their line-up and are well coached by Richard Hill. They regularly prove they are capable of producing high quality displays against any opposition and they will provide a stern test for us, but we can’t wait to run out at Allianz Park once again.”

Saracens line-up vs Worcester Warriors

15 Chris Wyles
14 Chris Ashton
13 Joel Tomkins
12 Brad Barritt
11 David Strettle
10 Charlie Hodgson
9 Neil de Kock
1 Rhys Gill
2John Smit
3 Matt Stevens
4 George Kruis
5 Mouritz Botha
6 Kelly Brown ©
7Jacques Burger
8JacksonWray

16 Jamie George
17 Mako Vunipola
18 Carlos Nieto
19 Eoin Sheriff
20 Justin Melck
21 Richard Wigglesworth
22 Alex Goode
23 Duncan Taylor

However, First Capital Connect will be operating two trains per hour from West Hampstead Thameslink to Bedford which calls at all stations including Mill Hill Broadway. Passengers wishing to travel on these services should make their way to West Hampstead Thameslink.

Spectators can use the Jubilee Line from Central London and interchange at West Hampstead for the half-hourly service to Mill Hill Broadway.

Services from St Albans to Mill Hill Broadway remain unaffected.

The Saracens Shuttle will be in operation on Sunday running from Mill Hill Broadway, Edgware and Mill Hill East from 11h45 with the last service leaving the Pursley Road drop-off point at 18h45.

The ‘Saracen Tank’ is joining the fleet of vehicles used to shuttle thousands of fans from Mill Hill Broadway, Mill Hill East and Edgware stations.

The armoured personnel carrier will be rolling into Allianz Park for Sunday’s game against Worcester Warriors, kick off 3pm.

The Saracen is a six wheeled, 12.5 tonne, armoured personnel carrier used by the British Army in military service across the world.

The tank is owned by long-term Saracens fan Mark Vickers and he will be proudly showing it off on Sunday and if you are lucky, you may even get a ride.

“I’m looking forward to rolling the ‘Saracen’ in this Sunday.  It’s the perfect Sunday for me; driving and watching Saracens hopefully win again at their wonderful new home.”

Vickers first drove this type of armoured personnel carrier when he served in Territorial Army, and he bought it his very own in 1995.

“This type of vehicle was first designed in the 1950s for the British Army and it continued into production right through to the 1970s,” said Vickers. “It has a Rolls Royce B80 Engine and has direct drive to all six wheels.

“It’s the perfect vehicle.  It’s exempt from tax, it can’t be clamped and it’s very cheap to insure and not only that, it’s also named after a fantastic rugby club.”

You can view the Saracen Tank in the piazza in the North East corner of Allianz Park on Sunday.

Our new telephone number is – 0203 675 7200.

You will then be greeted with six options.

Press 1 for Supporter Services
Press 2 for Sales and Hospitality
Press 3 for Allianz Park Conferencing and Events
Press 4 for Athletics and Sport
Press 5 for  Foundation and Community
Press 6 for Finance
Press 7 for all other departments

You are always welcome to come in and see us to discuss season ticket renewals and general enquiries. You will find us in the East Stand on the Mezzanine level. 

However, don’t forget that you can also purchase tickets online.

If you wish to purchase tickets for any remaining Saracens Premiership games or the match against SA Barbarians at the HAC – you can do so by clicking here.

Tickets for the Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulon at Twickenham on Sunday 28th April are also on sale now. These are being sold directly via Ticketmaster – click here for more details.

Under the guidance of home town player Kelly Brown last season, Sarries lifted the trophy and will once again sending a squad to compete at the event.

The Melrose 7s has traditionally had guest teams coming from far and near. Previous years have included guests from Randwick and Manly in Australia, Bay of Plenty from New Zealand, University of Free State and Stellenbosch from South Africa, and this year, Saracens will be playing Clermont Auvergne, India and Worcester among others. 

Academy Coach Joe Shaw will take charge of the squad.

“We want to go up there and give a good account of ourselves,” said Shaw. “Melrose has a rich tradition in terms of the 7s format, and as we are holders of the competition we have put together another strong squad this year, and we are looking forward to defending our title.”

He added. “What we’ve got is a really good mix of experienced players and some really exciting up and coming players.  Having the likes of Joe Maddock, Andy Saull, James Short and of course Nils Mordt who has represented England at Sevens level, mixed in with exciting young players such as Nick Tompkins, Nathan Earle, Tom Jubb and Scott Spurling gives a good blend in the squad.  There will 10,000 people up there and I’m sure it will be a great atmosphere, so we want to put a good show on and hopefully come away with the title again.”

Saracens squad for Melrose 7s

Tom Jubb, Andy Saull, Scott Spurling, Hayden Stringer, Jack Wilson, Nathan Earle, Joe Maddock, Nils Mordt, Aaron Morris, James Short, Ben Spencer, Nick Tompkins.

The tournament starts at 11.30am with Saracens starting the defence of their title by playing the winners of the first round clash between Dundee and Peebles.

You can watch the event on the live on the BBC website.

The action starts this weekend in Manchester when Sale Sharks host Gloucester with both sides needing the win with the Sharks looking to secure their Premiership status and the Cherry and Whites needing the points to maintain hopes of a top four finish.

On Saturday, Harlequins entertain Bath at the Stoop, with both sides looking to shake off European hangovers while at Sandy Park; London Irish are the visitors to Exeter Chiefs.

Three matches take place on Sunday with Saracens hosting Worcester Warriors at Allianz Park, London Welsh facing Northampton Saints and Oxford and Wasps making the trip to Leicester Tigers.

Aviva Premiership Round 20 Previews

Sale Sharks v Gloucester

Sale are unbeaten in their last two Aviva Premiership Rugby contests, and have not managed three matches without defeat in the competition since September 2011. The Sharks have won their last two matches at Salford City Stadium in all competitions. Gloucester Rugby have won three of their last four Premiership games but have not won away from home in the tournament since a visit to Northampton on 9th February. Gloucester won 29-3 when the two clubs met at Kingsholm in round 9, and are going for a Premiership double over Sale for the first time since 2001/02.

Harlequins v Bath

Harlequins have slipped to three straight defeats in Aviva Premiership Rugby and have not lost four in a row in the competition in the same season since early in 2006/07. ‘Quins have won just two of their last five fixtures in all competitions played at Twickenham Stoop. Bath Rugby’s only victory in their last four encounters in all competitions was 40-25 over London Welsh in the Premiership on 30th March. Bath’s solo away victory in the Premiership this season was 24-23 at Worcester in round 1. The two clubs have already met on three occasions this season, twice in the Anglo Welsh Cup and once in the Premiership, with all games going in favour of the home team. Bath beat Harlequins 21-18 at the Rec in round 9, and have not achieved a season’s double over the Londoners since 1999/2000. Bath’s most recent victory at The Stoop was 24-18 in the European Challenge Cup in December 2006.

Exeter Chiefs v London Irish

Exeter Chiefs only defeat in their last four matches was 9-12 at home to Leicester on 23rd March. The only previous occasion that Exeter have lost back-to-back Premiership ties at Sandy Park came in November 2011. London Irish have suffered just one loss in their last four encounters: 14-40 at Northampton on 2nd March. The Exiles have won just once on the road in the Premiership this season, 18-12 at Gloucester in round 13. Exeter’s only two victories over London Irish in competitive rugby have both come in their last two encounters. The Exiles have visited Sandy Park just twice before, winning once 12-9 in October 2010.

London Welsh v Northampton Saints

London Welsh have slipped to nine straight defeats in all competitions since their 62-5 win over Prato in the European Challenge Cup on 12th January. The Exiles have not been victorious in Aviva Premiership Rugby since a 15-9 win at home to London Irish in round 10. Northampton Saints’ four match winning run came to a halt last time out when they were defeated 36-8 at home to Leicester. The Saints have secured three successive away victories in the Premiership, their best run on the road in the competition since December 2000. Northampton have own their last five competitive encounters against London Welsh whilst the Exiles most recent victory over the Saints was 16-14 at Franklin’s Gardens in Division Two on 2nd January 1998. Northampton won 38-9 on their only previous visit to Kassam Stadium, against London Irish in the semi-final of the 2002/03 Powergen Cup.

Saracens v Worcester Warriors

Saracens have won their last five Aviva Premiership Rugby matches since their 16-29 reversal to London Irish at Reading on 9th February. Saracens are unbeaten in any home game this season, despite the fact that they have been played at seven different venues, they have won all four previous games they have played at Allianz Park. Worcester Warriors only win in their last eight fixtures in all competitions was 29-23 at home to London Wasps in the Premiership on 1st March. The Warriors have not been victorious on the road in the Premiership since beating Wasps 6-0 at Adams Park on New Year’s Day 2012. Worcester beat Saracens 12-3 at Sixways in round 9 and have not achieved a season’s double over them since 2006/07.7

Leicester Tigers v Wasps

Leicester Tigers have won their last three Aviva Premiership Rugby matches since their 27-32 defeat at home to Saracens in round 16. That defeat is the only one that the Tigers have suffered at Welford Road in any competition since September. London Wasps have lost their last five matches in all competitions since overcoming Gloucester 33-29 at Adams Park on 17th February. Wasps have won just twice away from home in the Premiership since October 2011, they came in successive away games against London Welsh in round 12 and Harlequins in round 14. The last eight Premiership encounters between the two clubs have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Wasps have not won at Welford Road since 26th September 2008.

Saracens return to Twickenham having made the last four of the competition following last weekend’s victory over Ulster.

This fixture is an ERC managed game and they are responsible for setting all prices and ticketing.

Saracens have been given an allocation of tickets that will ensure that all our fans are sat together. Please click here for more information and how to buy online.

Have you booked your travel to Twickenham yet? The Saracens Supporters Association are running coaches to the game – click here for more details.

The former Springbok coach, who has also enjoyed success with Stade Francais and Italy, will coach a Barbarian team comprising South African players based in Europe and at home.

Mallett said: “The SA Barbarians are a well-established club, who played against England last year. We look forward to playing Saracens, and enhancing the tradition. This match presents a fantastic opportunity for experienced players and bright young talent alike to make their mark. We will put together a squad to entertain and to challenge well-organised opponents.”

The game at the HAC will generate funds for the Chris Burger/ Petro Jackson fund, supporting individuals injured while playing rugby.

Click here to purchase tickets for the match.

A minute of silence will be observed before the Aviva Premiership match between Saracens and Worcester Warriors at Allianz Park.

The applicants should be able to show that they have a real passion for coaching and the development of youth athletes.

The successful applicant will be joining a strong academy team and must be able to work well within the group, providing information on players and liaising across departments. Applicants must be well organised and able to cope with the administration that is required to help with the EPDG and AASE programmes. Applicants will also be responsible for maintaining and building relationships with key stakeholders.

We expect coaches to be high energy and deliver sessions at a good tempo, whilst providing appropriate and detailed technical coaching when required.  The ideal candidate will have a RFU Level 3 qualification but exceptions can be made for outstanding experience.

Job description

• Facilitate sessions at EPDG – plan and organise dates, sessions, and seminars alongside keeping the administration of the programme up to date.
• Assist with coaching on the AASE programme when required. You will also be required to attend AASE games.
• Provide on road support to England Academy Players to ensure they receive at least one contact a week.
• Assist with the Academy League to plan, book and organise facility hire. Provide coaching and post match review for players following games.
• Work as a liaison for School of Rugby programmes. You will be responsible for one county, providing coaching support and assistance.
• Write reports on EPDG players at least 5 times a year.
• Help with watching county matches to identify and find talent to bring into the programme.
• Assist in running CPD days for associated coaches to help with the development of coaches in our area.
• Coaches will be required to work 5 days a week; hours will be flexible depending on the make up of the week.

Personal Specification

• Have a sophisticated understanding of elite player development and evaluation.
• Be ideally qualified to RFU Level 3 Coaching Award standard.
• Have significant experience in mentoring and supporting of young players.
• Be well versed in developing constructive working partnerships with both sports and non-sports based organisations.
• Have an energetic and inspiring personality, allied to effective communication and presentation skills.
• Be achievement orientated and able to deliver in an outcome driven environment.
• Be a strong, effective manager of players, coaches and development staff.
• Be confident in the application of information technology within the context of player development, monitoring and evaluation.

Initially the appointment will be made for a fixed term (negotiable), with good prospects for continuation thereafter. The remuneration package offered will reflect the significance of the role and the capabilities of the successful candidates

To apply, please email your CV with 2 references and a covering letter (no more than 1 side of A4) by email to Donald Barrell (donbarrell@saracens.net).

• The closing date for Applications is April 26^th 2013.
• Applicants who are not invited for interview will not be contacted.
• Candidates selected for interview will be contacted by email.

 The Criminal Records Bureau enhanced disclosure process applies to this post.

Applications must be received by April 26^th. Successful applicants will be invited for interview. Unfortunately, due to the expected volume of applications, we will not be able to respond to unsuccessful applications.

In addition, from 12:00 (gates opened) Land Rover is offering all attendees at the Saracens Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup, as well as fans coming to the Saracens match, the chance to try out their radio control cars on a specially designed course.  So come along during the festival or before Saracens match against Worcester Warriors to put your driving skills to the test!

The Land Rover area will be located inside of Allianz Park by Gate A in the South East corner of the stadium, so come along on Sunday to enjoy a tasty treat before the excitement of the match.

*limited number of gourmet burgers available on the day, arrive early to avoid missing out. Maximum 2 adults permitted per Land Rover key

The evening will provide detailed information about how to best prepare U14-U18 players for the rigors of top level rugby. The Saracens Academy Strength & Conditioning team will outline the Saracens approach across a spectrum of topics from movement, strength, co-ordination, conditioning and the role of combat work.

All participants will receive a resource pack which will include the ‘Saracens Physical Development Curriculum’ which we hope will help any coach working with adolescent athletes within Hertfordshire, Essex or Kent prepare their players to reach their physical potential in a progressive, effective and safe framework.  

The evening will start at 6:30pm on Tuesday 30^th April and will last approximately two hours with both a practical and theory component.

If you wish to attend the event please contact warricklang@saracens.net for further details

Prop Stevens paid tribute to his front-row colleagues for their second half turnaround at the scrum.

He said: “Ulster were very good in the first half, and it was something that we chatted about at half time.  I thought after that we produced a very good second half performance.  Ulster have some tough scrummagers and they really put us to the test and I’m happy that boys had enough composure at the scrum to iron out a few issues we had.”

Captain Borthwick explained that the team’s ability to learn and adapt to situations helped see them through against the Irish province to set up the last four clash against Toulon at Twickenham on April 28.

He said: “One of the strengths we have as a group is learning from our mistakes.  We are always looking for continual improvement and it is not just in the Heineken Cup, but in everything we do.  In the first half it didn’t go particularly to plan in the scrum, but it’s great credit to the guys who identified the problem, came up with a strategy to fix it, and ultimately went out in the second half and delivered.  This group learns and adapts to get better very quickly, and this was just another example of that. 

“In big games, it’s always the tiny little margins that you have to fight for and they have a huge significance.  The scrum was one of them.  Around the breakdown and the pressure we put on Ulster in terms of our kicking game and how we pressurised them are all examples of the little battles that add up to winning a game.  The guys worked incredibly hard to win those battles all over the park, and although it might not have been that obvious to some sat in the stands, we can see our teammates working exceptionally hard for each other – that’s one of our great strengths as a team.”

This fixture is an ERC managed game and they are responsible for setting all prices and ticketing.

Saracens have been given an allocation of tickets that will ensure that all our fans are sat together. Please see below details of ticket prices, block numbers and how to secure your seats.

Prices for tickets are:

Premium – £50

Category 1 – £45

Category 2 – £35

Category 3 – £25

Please note a per ticket booking fee applies.

Click here for more information and how to buy online.

He said: “Ulster are probably the best side we have faced all season.  We knew beforehand that they are well organised, well coached; so for us to be 27-9 up with 10 minutes to go, against a side of their quality, says a lot about the quality of our performance. 

“I thought we worked unbelievably hard throughout the match and we were brilliantly defensively.  Our defensive line-out was very important today, we stole some very important possession from them and ultimately we took our opportunities when they came.  Overall I thought we controlled the game throughout.”

He also paid tribute to his captain Steve Borthwick after his side impressively booked their place in the last four of the competition.

“I thought Steve was exceptional today,” said McCall. “Not only at the lineout, but his work defensively he was superb and some of the steals Steve got today really broke their momentum down.  He turned over possession in the loose and had a very good game today.

“Our defence was outstanding.  This group has an unbelievable work ethic for each other.”

In front of a record crowd for a quarter-final in England of 37,888, tries from Man of the Match Will Fraser and Chris Ashton, Sarries booked their place in the final four of the competition for only the second time in their history.

Fly-half Owen Farrell also kicked 17 points in the victory that sets up the semi-final clash at Twickenham on April 28.

Scrum-half Ruan Pienaar booted three penalties for Ulster and converted flanker Iain Henderson’s late try, yet they never threatened a repeat of last season’s Heineken Cup heroics that saw them reach the final.

Farrell booted Saracens ahead through a second-minute penalty but the opening exchanges were dominated by largely aimless tactical kicking from both teams as try-scoring opportunities proved few and far between.

Ulster quickly grew into the game but Pienaar missed two penalty chances in three minutes – his second attempt hit the post – but he made no mistake from close range two minutes later.

And with Saracens finding themselves under increased scrummage pressure, England prop Mako Vunipola was penalised after being demolished by Ulster tighthead John Afoa and Pienaar hauled Ulster level.

They were only on level terms for three minutes, though, as a concerted spell of Saracens pressure resulted in Fraser powering over, although it required several reviews by television match official Eric Gauzins before the try was awarded.

Farrell converted and then kicked a penalty as half-time approached, hoisting Saracens 10 points clear to give them a degree of breathing space for the first time.

And when Farrell added a further penalty eight minutes into the second period Ulster had a mountain to climb, trailing by 13 points and with seemingly little hope of replicating last season’s achievement in Europe.

Ulster tried to increase the tempo but Saracens were not noticeably threatened defensively despite some powerful Ulster surges led by blindside flanker Iain Henderson.

Farrell kicked another penalty to give Ulster further cause for concern and victory was sealed when prop Rhys Gill secured possession in midfield and Ashton ran around two defenders to claim a try that he celebrated with a trademark dive.

Henderson had the final say, posting a try that Pienaar converted, but it was Saracens’ day.

The sides have met each other a total of 18 times in the Premiership, and Saracens have edged contest between the two sides with 11 wins. 

Saracens have been in good form in the league and they haven’t lost a game since February 9^th, and they remained unbeaten at their new home Allianz Park.  Worcester on the other hand have had a dismal run away from home.  The men from Sixways’ haven’t recorded an away win since January 14^th 2012, and they last won a league game at home to London Wasps at the beginning of March.

The last time these sides played each other, Saracens ran out 22 – 12 winners in an LV=Cup game at Sixways in February; South-African No.8 Ernst Joubert scored Saracens only try that afternoon and scrum-half Ben Spencer kicked 17 points to secure the victory.

This seasons Premiership match at Sixways saw Worcester come away with the spoils in a 12-3 victory, in a game where Saracens had over eight players unavailable due to International commitments.  Andy Goode kicked all Worcester points with three penalties and a drop goal with Nils Mordt scoring Saracens only points with a solitary penalty. 

“I just want to get out there and play!” Hargreaves said. “There’s only 24 hours to go and I don’t think I can wait any longer to be honest.  I just want to get out there!”

Hargreaves has been one of the cornerstones of what has been an impressive Saracens forward pack in recent weeks, and the Springbok international believes the set-piece will play a key-role in a game which the squad will be ‘relishing’.

“I think the lineout will be an important factor in the game, and we are lucky that we have a master of the line-out in Steve Borthwick.  It’s going to be great to play against an old mate Johann (Muller) when we line up and it’s going to be one of many match-ups on Saturday that we will be relishing.”

He continued: “We are aware of how big the game is but we are treating it like every other game.  We’ve done our homework on the opposition and we have prepared for the game like we would have any other weekend.

“The Heineken Cup is a massive competition and we want to make our mark in Europe and keep improving on the European stage.”

Tickets for the match will be on sale from the Twickenham Box Office on the day of the game.

Renew by this date to secure your seat and you 10% renewal discounts…but seats not renewed by the above deadline will be released on general sale.

The decision to extend the deadline has been taken as we are expecting a very busy week in the ticket office ahead of the Premiership semi-final at Allianz Park.

Sales continue to go well for the 2013/14 campaign at Saracens new home and 40% of people who have renewed have used our new 0% Direct Debit scheme.

Secure your seat from as little as £17.42 per month and if you sign up today, you won’t have to pay anything until May.

How the Direct Debit scheme works:

- There will be 12 payments
- 3 payments are made in June
- Then, 9 monthly payments from July to March 
- You have to call 0203 675 7200 to take advantage of the Direct Debit scheme

Remember that Season tickets can be renewed online.  Simply login to your account, look at the ticket hub at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions

Only 5,000 seats will be available to purchase seasonally and we encourage you to move fast in order to secure your seats.

Click on the download button on the top left of the page to download the pdf that contains all the details required to secure your seat and outlines the many benefits to becoming a member of the Saracens Season Ticket Holder family.

In team news ahead of the European clash, Saracens welcome back Brad Barritt, David Strettle, Schalk Brits, Matt Stevens, Alistair Hargreaves and Kelly Brown to the matchday squad after last week’s win at Wasps in the Premiership.

“Ulster have players all over the pitch who are capable of winning games on both the domestic and international stage,” said Director of Rugby Mark McCall. “In the past two seasons, they have been one of the form teams in Europe and of course, reached the final of this competition last season – so we are fully aware of the size of the challenge ahead of us.

“We go into the game in a good place in both the Premiership and a home quarter-final in Europe. Twickenham is a familiar venue as many of our squad have played here frequently in recent years and of course, several of the team were also in action here just a few weeks ago in the Six Nations – so everyone is really looking forward to the occasion.”

Saracens line-up vs Ulster

15 Alex Goode
14 Chris Ashton
13 Joel Tomkins
12 Brad Barritt
11 David Strettle
10 Owen Farrell
9 Richard Wigglesworth
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Schalk Brits
3 Matt Stevens
4 Steve Borthwick ©
5 Alistair Hargreaves
6 Kelly Brown
7 Will Fraser
8 Ernst Joubert

16 John Smit
17 Rhys Gill
18 Petrus du Plessis
19 Mouritz Botha
20 Jackson Wray
21 Neil de Kock
22 Charlie Hodgson
23 Chris Wyles

“Being an old Saracen myself I hope that they win this Saturday,” he said. “But Ulster have proved to be a very difficult side to beat in this competition over the last few seasons, and they pose a huge threat to Saracens this weekend.”

Lynagh has regularly kept up date with his old clubs matches this season, recently attending the home game against Exeter’ and Lynagh is impressed with Saracens’ form as of late;

“Saracens are on a pretty good run at the moment and have picked up some great results in some big games.  The win against Leicester at Welford Road and more recently the victory against Harlequins at home were huge match ups which Saracens have excelled in.” 

Lynagh won’t just be at Twickenham on Saturday to watch the game, he will also be raising awareness for The Stroke Association.

Less than a year ago, Lynagh suffered a near fatal stroke and as doctors put it at the time; he didn’t just dodge a bullet, but “a bloody great big cannonball”.

But 12 months later he will be running the 26 miles of London’s streets later this month as part of Team Sky for Stroke.      
                
Team Sky for stroke was the brainchild of Sky Sports Rugby presenter James Gemmell. Having been inspired by Lynagh’s recovery from a severe stroke and also a close family friend, he wanted to do something to raise awareness for stroke and the Stroke Association and so signed up to run the London Marathon.

Lynagh will participate in the London marathon along with seven colleagues’ from Sky Sports, including Gemmell, Dean Ryan and Tyrone Howe, who are seeking to raise money for The Stroke Association

“I and seven of my colleagues from Sky have agreed to raise money for The Stroke Association to help fund a Back to Work project.  Our main aim is to employ full time Employment Support Coordinator to who can help liaise with Stroke survivors of a working age.”

Lynagh added: “It will be almost be one year to the day, since I had a stroke.   I have been extremely lucky.  I survived, and although I have lost about 45% of my sight I function pretty well.  There are some people who aren’t so lucky. Once you leave hospital, you are on your own. I was able to rejoin my family, play with my children and return to work. There are many people who can’t do this and there is not a lot of help for them out there.”

“After a stroke, doubt creeps into your mind about who you are and what your self-worth is.  It can be a pretty dark place. I know all about this and I was one of the lucky ones. I can’t imagine how difficult it is for others. But I can at least understand a little and sympathise with them and what they are going through.”

Keep a look out for the bucket collectors at Twickenham on Saturday or to show your support for Michael and his Team Sky for Stroke colleagues, Text STROKE 5 to 70300 to donate £5 to the Stroke Association or click here for more information.

The players helped the youngsters to prepare for the RBC Race for the Kids 5k family fun run on Sunday 9 June, which will raise vital funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.

Patients and families brushed up their skills with a fun-filled training session, took an exclusive tour of the training ground and watched the Saracens players train.

Many of the children will be taking part in the RBC Race for the Kids 5k family fun run in London’s Battersea Park. The race is suitable for all ages from grandparents to grandchildren and all abilities,  participants can run, walk or jog individually or in teams.

Money raised from the event will help fund the essential redevelopment of Great Ormond Street Hospital. The modern, spacious facilities which will enable a parent or carer to stay comfortably by their child’s bedside as well as provide state of the art facilities to treat more children.

Saracens Club captain Steve Borthwick said of the day: “We really enjoyed meeting the patients and their families; the fact that they will be taking part in this year’s RBC Race for the Kids is really inspiring to us. The money raised will go towards the hospital’s redevelopment which will mean the hospital can continue its fantastic work and treat more children.”

Sign up for the Race for the Kids here.

The 100 Club at Saracens new home will be the venue for the event, 7pm for a 7.30pm start, where several awards, all based on the votes of SSA members, will be made to players.

Several members of the Saracens squad will be attending – click here to view a selection of photos from last year’s event

The cost is £45 for members and £55.00 for non-members which includes a two- course dinner.

Make sure you enter this key date in your diary and that you do not miss out on this amazing event. 

The SSA can also confirm that Ashley Rowden will be the guest speaker for the event.

Voting is also open for supporters to have a say in the awards we will present on the evening.

The five categories in this year’s SSA Awards.

•Supporters Player of the Year
•Breakthrough player of the year
•Best international performance by a Saracens Player
•Best Saracens Try of the Season
•Best Saracens Academy Player

So cast your votes now – just click here.

For more information and to secure your place for what promises to be a great night out, visit the SSA website.

Smit will be lining up against former Sharks and Springbok team mates Pienaar and Johann Muller when Saracens face Ulster in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals -  and the World Cup winning hooker has singled out the classy half-back as one of Ulster’s main threats.

He said: “I think they’ve built a good team over the last few years.  They have similar structures and similar methods in how they approach competitions, they have a quite a deep squad and they have had guys returning from injury and international commitments.

“Physically they are very difficult to approach from a set-piece point of view; their set-piece is very strong and provides them with a solid base off which to play, and with a game breaker like Pienaar at scrum half they are a very dangerous opposition.

“But they have people who can turn games all over the pitch so we can’t just focus on one player, we have to be aware of every single threat they pose and work harder than we have done all season if we are to get the result we want.”

Tickets for the match are on sale now – click here to secure your seat.

Our camera captured everyone in their seats watching the game so click on the link below and see if you can find yourself and your friends and then tag your own picture and share it on Facebook and Twitter.

Even if you didn’t make it to the sold out match, you can still be part of the picture as you can add your Facebook profile picture to the FanPic using the virtual stadium option.

To view the picture and have the chance to win a signed Saracens shirt, visit www.allianzpark.com/fanpic

The event will celebrate the highlights of the 2012/13 season and you and our guests will be able to enjoy the evening in the company of the entire squad and training ground staff at this fantastic venue.

The evening will include:

Champagne reception – Three course sit down dinner – Half bottle of wine per person • Saracens players in attendance – Special entertainment – Match action and highlights footage – Awards presentation – Auction – Live band and dancing.

Premium tables cost £2,500

Standard table of 10 costs from £1,750 +VAT

Individual places are £175 +VAT per person

For more information, click on the download link on the left hand side of this page, or contact – Arno Meintjes 020 8202 6478 / arnomeintjes@saracens.net or Tara Brady 020 8202 6478 / tarabrady@allianzpark.com

Friendly and relaxed, the Fez Club provides its Debenture members with an exclusive lounge in which to enjoy both pre and post-match

The Fez Club also represents fantastic long-term value, allowing members to secure one of the best seats in the house for a 5 season duration, protecting the seat from inflation.

The Fez Club Debenture Package – Your Lasting Legacy at Allianz Park 

·         Secure a Platinum Plus or Platinum match seat for 5 seasons – The best and strictly limited in supply

·         Outstanding long-term value – 50% discount on your season ticket fixed for 5 years

·         Exclusive use of the Fez Club lounge before and after each match day at Allianz Park

·         Private pre-match team talks with selected members of Saracens playing squad

·         Fantastic selection of food & beverages

·         Complimentary programmes & newspapers

·         Sky/ESPN coverage

·         The ability to secure an on-site hospitality car parking space

·         Debenture hosted dinner in the fez club to coincide with an England away fixture live screening

·         First right of refusal on renewing the debenture in 5 years time

Although the Fez Club will officially launch at the commencement of next season, Fez Club members will receive lounge access for the remaining fixtures of the 2012/13 season at no additional cost.

Membership is now in limited supply, so please secure your membership before 3rd May and enjoy the special introductory offer which includes your season ticket fixed at 2012/13 prices.

For more information please contact Ross McCann on rossmccann@saracens.net or call 01727 792 807

For more information and details of the hospitality packages available, please click on the download link on the top left hand side of this page.

And for fly-half Owen Farrell, it’s a quick return to Twickenham after Six Nations duty with England and the playmaker is looking forward to the challenge of knockout rugby.

“Ulster are a quality side and it’s a huge game – one that I’m really looking forward to. It’s going to be a huge occasion playing at Twickenham, and there’s been tens of thousands tickets sold already so I’m looking forward to playing in that big game atmosphere again. 

“Ulster have threats all over the park, so we know that we’re going to have to maintain this good run of form if we are to beat them.”

That good run of form continued against Wasps in the Premiership last weekend, despite the visitors trailing 13-0 in as many minutes.

Farrell said: “I thought we showed some great character to come back and score 22 unanswered points, it typifies what we are about as a group. We took our tries well, and I though Chris Ashton had a great game today; he took his try well and he was a threat to Wasps all afternoon.

“That second half was tough, but we started playing our rugby and showed good patience when we had the ball in hand, and I thought we controlled the second half very well.”

The game had added significance for the Saracens team with the return of flanker Jacques Burger.

“The dressing room was absolutely buzzing to see Jacques return.  He’s a huge player for us and his presence both on and off the field cannot be underestimated at this club.  We are all very happy that he’s back and we’re looking forward to seeing the Jacques of old when he gets out on the pitch in the coming weeks.”

Tickets for the game are on sale now – click here for more information.

The home side had raced into a 13-0 lead in as many minutes, but tries in each half for Chris Wyles and Chris Ashton, along with four Owen Farrell penalties secured the win.

Click below to view our photo gallery from the game.

The win maintains top spot in the Aviva Premiership but it also opened up an 11 point gap from third place.

Speaking after the game, McCall said: “It was an important win for us as it gives us that little bit of breathing space in the Premiership.

“We’re delighted to have won here today, given Wasps home record.  Where we have developed as a team in the last 12 months is how we deal with set-backs. The boys showed great resolve and they didn’t panic because they know that when we get going, we are capable of getting points on the board.

“We took the opportunity today to take a number of the squad who have played a lot of rugby this season out of the firing line, and I think it shows the depth of the squad we have. I also thought the bench made a huge contribution when they came on in the second half.

 “We’ve been good at taking chances in the last four or five matches but today we dropped a few over their line and missed a few other chances. But I think it’s more important that we showed the resolve to come back from 13 points down and to keep them scoreless for the last 67 minutes. It says a lot about the great spirit that we have.”

McCall also praised Chris Ashton for his try-scoring performance.

“It wasn’t just his try; it was how he played today.  I thought he was absolutely brilliant and it was the Chris Ashton we were used to seeing two years ago; popping up all over the place, getting his hands on the ball, making breaks. But he also defended very well. He was hungry work and energetic throughout.

 “We believe he’s a great player; that’s why we brought him to the club.  We leave him be, we let him play and we try to encourage him to do what he’s does best.”

The game at Adams Park had an added bonus for McCall, with the return on long-term absentee Jacques Burger.

“It’s such a big moment to have him back. The dressing room was buzzing for Jacques after the game.  I don’t think many people appreciate how complicated his injury was and it was a big deal for him.  He was really nervous before the game and it’s really good to have back again.”

The game began at a frantic pace as Wasps raced into a 13-0 lead in as many minutes but tries from Chris Wyles and a second half score from Chris Ashton, along with four Owen Farrell penalties, saw Sarries to victory.

Wasps took the lead after eight minutes with a long range Elliot Daly penalty, after Saracens were penalised for a scrum infringement.

It went from bad to worse as Wasps winger Christian Wade scored a 60-metre intercept try and outside half Stephen Jones converted to make the score 10-0.

After another Elliot Daly penalty, Saracens hit-back in the 17^th minute with an innovative score.  A quick-tap from full back Alex Goode caught the Wasps rearguard napping and the England full-back released Wyles down the left hand side who powered over to score. 

Farrell closed the gap with a penalty after 26 minutes to make the score 13-8 and that remained unchanged until midway through the second half.

Will Fraser’s rampaging run nearly ended in a score for the visitors but the try did come on 66 minutes when Goode’s grubber kick through was pounced on by Ashton in the corner.

From then, Sarries controlled the game and the visitors’ pack began to exert pressure on the Wasps eight and two penalties from scrums gave Farrell the chance to extend the lead and win the game.

Packages for 2013/14 went on sale earlier this week and following three sell out matches at Allianz Park, demand for season tickets is high.

Only 5,000 seats will be available to purchase seasonally and we encourage you to move fast in order to secure your seats.

Existing season ticket holders have their seats reserved and enjoy a 10% renewal discount until 17h00 on Friday 3rd May.

New season ticket holders can purchase any of the unreserved seats immediately.

One new benefit that we hope you enjoy is the provision of an all new 0% Direct Debit scheme. Spread your payments evenly over 12 months from as little as £17.42 per month.

Click on the download button on the top left of the page to download the pdf that contains all the details required to secure your seat and outlines the many benefits to becoming a member of the Saracens Season Ticket Holder family. 

“The next game is always the most important game at this club, and this week we are up against a very good side,” explained the second row.

“Dai Young has them well drilled, they play some expansive rugby and they have an impressive set piece.  We have ways to combat their threats but the main focus is concentrating on our game, and how we prepare ourselves to the danger Wasps pose.”

Botha comes back into the starting line-up for the game in Wycombe and talked about the responsibility to perform for the team.

He said:  “Coming back into the starting XV is massive, not just for me, but for everyone who is playing at the weekend.  We as players want to put a marker down, we have a fantastic squad here at Saracens so when it’s your chance to wear that starting shirt you have a responsibility to perform.

“We are aiming to maintain the momentum over the last few weeks where we have picked up some great wins with some impressive performances, and we want to continue that this Saturday.  It’s certainly not going to be easy, but if we work hard we can get the performance that we want.”

Nigel Wray, chairman, said: “Our matches at the HAC have become calendar events in the City, and we look forward to another fantastic occasion offering great rugby and a great atmosphere in a unique venue. The South African Barbarians stand for everything that is good in our game, and they will present talented, formidable opposition.”

Dave Kennealy, President of South African Barbarians, said: “This match against Saracens will give young South African players a valuable opportunity to play in the UK and to showcase their ability, and the event will also generate funds for the Chris Burger/ Petro Jackson fund, supporting individuals injured while playing rugby.”

Morne du Plessis, President of the Chris Burger/ Petro Jackson fund, said: “We are delighted to be associated with what will be an outstanding rugby occasion.”

Tickets for the match are on sale now – click here for more details.

In team news ahead of the game, Charlie Hodgson starts at fly half with Owen Farrell named at inside centre with Brad Barritt rested. John Smit, Petrus du Plessis, Mouritz Botha and Jackson Wray all come into the side on rotation for Schalk Brits, Matt Stevens, Alistair Hargreaves and Kelly Brown.

Neil de Kock switches places with Richard Wigglesworth to start at scrum half while Chris Wyles comes into the starting XV on the wing with David Strettle on the bench.

It’s on the bench that one name makes a welcome return with Jacques Burger back in action after more than a year out through injury. The flanker played 40 minutes for Bedford Blues earlier this month and continues his return from the knee injury that has kept him out since December 2011.

Saracens line-up vs London Wasps

15 Alex Goode
14 Chris Ashton
13 Joel Tomkins
12 Owen Farrell
11 Chris Wyles
10 Charlie Hodgson
9 Neil de Kock
1 Mako Vunipola
2 John Smit
3 Petrus du Plessis
4 Steve Borthwick (c)
5 Mouritz Botha
6 Jackson Wray
7 Will Fraser
8 Ernst Joubert

16 Jamie George
17 Rhys Gill
18 Carlos Nieto
19 George Kruis
20 Jacques Burger
21 Richard Wigglesworth
22 Duncan Taylor
23 David Strettle

Portadown-born Johns was capped 59 times by Ireland during his playing days, and the uncompromising lock forward starred for his native province before moving to Saracens in the late 90s….giving him a unique perspective ahead of the European clash.

“Ulster has a great blend of players in their squad at the moment,” he said when asked about the provinces strengths.  “Along with the Irish contingent they have added some fantastic players in key positions from abroad.  The foreign influence in the side shouldn’t be under estimated and the captain Johann Muller fromSouth Africais hugely influential for this team.

“Muller is a fantastic player and he is great operator at the set-piece. Muller has really bought into playing for the province since he’s assumed the captaincy, which is extremely important.   The players look up to him, he never shirks the responsibility that has been bestowed upon him and the Ravenhill faithful really love him.”

Other foreign stars Johns singled out were New Zealand international tight-head prop John Afoa and star Springbok scrum-half Ruan Piennar.

The quarter-final match up of Johns’ two former sides has an obvious resonance with him and Johns (who recently returned to Saracens to play in a legends match before the Harlequins game) spoke of his affection for the Saracens club.

“I had a fantastic time at this club in my playing days, and I had the chance to play alongside some truly remarkable players here, and I’ve made some friends for life. 

“Saracens will always have a special place in my heart.  Since I’ve left the club I have always looked out for their results, and I must say they have had, and certainly still do have a brilliant side that are well drilled, consistent and highly competitive.  I’m really looking forward to seeing two top sides go toe to toe with each other, it promises to be some game.” 

Tickets for the Heineken Cup quarter final between Saracens and Ulster at Twickenham on Saturday 6th April, kick off 18h30, are on sale now – click here for information.

The Game Changer rewards the player responsible for the most effective single performance each month, according to Opta’s performance statistics.

Vunipola is the sixth player this season to receive the Gatorade Game Changer Award. Each winner will then compete for the Game Changer of the Season Award in May.

Saracens’ director of rugby, Mark McCall said: ”Mako was magnificent against Exeter Chiefs. He was good at set pieces and in the loose. He’s a special player and is going to get even better.”

On being presented the Award by Gatorade, an Official Performance Partner to Premiership Rugby, Vunipola said: “It’s great to be recognised as the February Gatorade Gamechanger, especially during the first Aviva Premiership Rugby match at Saracens’ new stadium.

“The atmosphere was fantastic and really lifted the team.”

The squad will engage with the community through a series of school visits, coaching workshops and fund-raising activities, and will play a match against a Bermuda International Select XV on the evening of Friday 31 May.

It is envisaged the visit will generate in excess of $50,000 for the Beyond Rugby charity and the youth section of Bermuda Rugby Football Union.

The initiative has been driven by Gareth Nokes and David Tucker, and Nokes said: “Rugby is a game steeped in tradition. Its players and supporters feel a profound sense of community. These values and traditions develop from the first time a young player shakes hands with an opposite number, leading to a life-long passion for the game at all levels, on and off the field.  Bringing the Saracens players, many of whom have played at the highest level for many years, is exciting for Bermuda because we hope the workshops and seminars will inspire our youth to embrace the core values of the game. We recognise the generosity of the local and international business community, who have committed funding to make this tour a reality.”

Patrick Carlow, BRFU Youth Development officer and coordinator of the Beyond Rugby programme, said: “We are thrilled that Saracens will participate in the Beyond Rugby programme.  Bermuda’s ability to attract a team of this calibre will motivate the kids who may be experiencing rugby for the first time.”

Hear his thoughts ahead of the Lions tour to Australia and enjoy a sumptuous three course dinner on the evening that is supporting the work of the Saracens Sports Foundation.

For more information and to book places, see the download link on the left of this page.

Gustard, along with Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby Rob Baxter, have been asked to join the tour with two members of the current England coaching team away with the British Lions.

Subject to Aviva Premiership placings, Baxter will link up with England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster and Attacking Skills Coach Mike Catt to prepare for the match against the Barbarians at Twickenham on May 26 while Gustard will be available once Saracens’ Premiership and Heineken Cup involvement has ended.

England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “We are delighted to have two quality coaches who have come through the English system for what will be a hugely significant tour for us and a big thank-you should go to Saracens, Exeterand Premiership Rugby for supporting England in this way.

“It was important that we found two coaches who could mirror the skill set of Graham (Rowntree) and Andy (Farrell) while they are away (with the British & Irish Lions) and come in and keep developing the players within our system.

“Paul, having worked together with Andy at Saracens, already has a good understanding of how we operate and Rob, who has done a great job in developing a very competitive Exeter pack, will pick up the set piece and breakdown.

“Both will work alongside Mike Catt as part of our integrated coaching team and we are looking forward to them joining us after their club commitments finish on what is an important tour in our development as a team.”

Gustard said: “It’s obviously a great honour to be asked to assist in the preparation of theEnglandsquad. I am grateful to Saracens for giving me the opportunity to continue my development as a coach at national level.”

Goode made his first appearance in a Saracens shirt since returning fromEnglandduty in the Six Nations, and the full-back praised the whole match-day squad for their efforts in what was an impressive display over the reigning champions.

He said:  “I thought the performance was first class from everyone; it was a real team effort from one to twenty-three, everyone worked hard and put hundred per cent effort into the game and I felt the win was thoroughly deserved.

“Harlequins have a very good set-piece and that has contributed to their success over the last two years, but I thought our front five were fantastic, and the back row was equally impressive in terms of getting over the ball and carrying. Kelly Brown made a lovely break, and I thought Ernst Joubert carried superbly from the base of the scrum all afternoon.”

But Goode knows that those effort levels must be bettered when the team travels to Wasps on Saturday to face a Wasps side who are also pushing to secure a top four spot in the Premiership.

“There was a big effort across the pitch on Sunday, no more so than that last 10 minutes of the game where we battled and worked extremely hard defending our own line. We worked for each other and that typified our performance, but that is something we must build upon and continue as we face another really tough test at Wasps on Saturday.”

The programme held at Everyone Active Woodside Leisure Centre saw seven teams from Brent, Watford, Hatfield and Welwyn all perform their routines which WOWED the judges. 

Over a period of eight weeks, each team has been working with their Saracens Cheerleading Coach to put together a routine which consisted of different Cheerleading elements such as Dance, Gymnastics, Stunts, Cheers and Chants.

Kathryn Carswell from Clarmont School said ‘Thanks sooooo much to you and everyone at Saracens for arranging the Cheerleading sessions for us with Bea. I cannot speak highly enough of her. She’s worked amazingly with the Claremont pupils. I really enjoyed the event yesterday and so did the girls.’

Results from the event 

1^st Place – Capital City 

2^nd Place – Sir Fredric Osborn

3^rd Place – Monks Walk 

Runners up – Westfields, Onslow, Clarmont and Convent 

If you would like any more information on our dance programme please contact Clare Bellchambers on clarebellchambers@saracens.net

If you would like more information about the Borough Festival or the BLAST Programme please contact; joshward@saracens.net

If you would like more information about getting involved with Hendon RFC please contact David Gerschlick; dg@metrocoin.co.uk

Following three sell out matches at Allianz Park and three fantastic victories, demand for season tickets is sure to be high. Only 5,000 seats will be available to purchase seasonally and we encourage you to move fast in order to secure your seats.

Existing season ticket holders have their seats reserved and enjoy a 10% renewal discount until 17h00 on Friday 3rd May.

New season ticket holders can purchase any of the unreserved seats immediately.

One new benefit that we hope you enjoy is the provision of an all new 0% Direct Debit scheme. Spread your payments evenly over 12 months from as little as £17.42 per month.

Click on the download button on the top left of the page to download the pdf that contains all the details required to secure your seat and outlines the many benefits to becoming a member of the Saracens Season Ticket Holder family. 

Stand up for the Sar…a…cens

 Playing in his third game at Saracens new home, the hooker was spoke of the fantastic atmosphere during the game.

He said: “The most amazing thing was the brilliant support at Allianz Park and it’s fantastic for us players to come here and receive that kind of backing.  The atmosphere was incredible, and to have another sell-out crowd here was fantastic. ”

Saracens victory over Harlequins has put them five points clear of the second place Leicester Tigers, but Brits refused to get carried away with the yesterday’s result and warned his team against complacency for the rest of the season.

“The whole team played extremely well and it was a good win for us.  We didn’t treat this game differently to any other, and although it may have been billed as a “top-of-the-table clash”  we prepared for this game as if we were playing any other team in the Premiership. Every weekend in this competition is very important.”

He added: “We’ve got to keep on working hard and keep improving, and we are concentrating on that next game because if you sit back and relax for one weekend in this competition, you will get punished.”

Saracens new home was opened by Henry Fraser, Chairman Nigel Wray and Clem Booth, Member of the Board of Management Allianz SE, before the action on the pitch began and it turned out to be a memorable afternoon for the Fraser family as Will scored a try during the victory.

Earlier in the day, Sarries legends Thomas Castaignede, Paddy Johns and Kris Chesney were among those in action for the John Buckton XV against the Saracens Scimitars and they rolled back the years.

And with the matchball being delivered byLondon’s Air Ambulance and a win that took Saracens five points clear at the top of the Premiership, it was another great day out at Allianz Park.

Send us your pictures from the day!

Did you take any pictures at Allianz Park on Sunday? If so, we love to see them and share them with other fans. Please send them to facebookfans@saracens.net – thanks in advance for your help.

McCall said: “We played very well today, our attacking game caused them some problems and we scored our tries at the right times of the game and I thought it was a good overall performance.  

“I think the last 10 minutes typified us today, we were resolute and we showed great courage.  We know that our season didn’t hinge on today’s result, it was about our performance and our confidence as a team.”

Both sides had players returning from the Six Nations, and McCall paid tribute to his returning internationals: “I must take my hat off to our English guys who obviously had a hard time last week and they were desperate to play today.”

One such England returnee was Mako Vunipola who was named Man of the Match.

He said: “It was the Mako show for the first 20 minutes and I thought he was pretty special.  The best thing Mako did today was scrum against James Johnston; he was superb for a young prop that has only had one year in the Premiership.  We all know how good he is in the loose, but Mako also knows how important his work is in the tight, and he was very good today.”

Will Fraser was another player who pleased McCall, and the Saracens Director of Rugby was impressed with the flankers’ performance against an experienced Harlequins back-row.

“It’s hard to believe (the progress shown) by him, it was less than two years ago that we gave Will his debut and he played well against a very experienced back-row today and I thought he equipped himself extremely well.”

Hooker Schalk Brits and flanker Will Fraser scored the tries with England fly-half Owen Farrell kicking their other 17 points.

Saracens took the early initiative with Mako Vunipola almost powering his way through before three players hauled him down just short of the line. The early pressure produced a third-minute penalty for Farrell, cancelled out three minutes later by Nick Evans.

The New Zealander kicked Quins into a 6-3 lead after former England prop Matt Stevens was caught offside but Farrell levelled the scores after ex-England number eight Nick Easter went through on scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth at a ruck.

An excellent break by Chris Ashton split the visiting defence and released flanker Fraser, who was denied a try by Brown’s cover tackle. The combined efforts of the Quins defence prevented Fraser from recycling the ball at the cost of a yellow card for Marler.

Sarries capitalised by scoring 11 points while the prop was in the sin bin. Farrell landed the resulting penalty before kicking his fourth in the 23rd minute.

Minutes later slick five-man handling move opened up the depleted Quins defence before Brits forced his way over for the game’s first try but Farrell missed the conversion.

Five minutes into the second half Evans made amends for an earlier miss just before the interval to cut the gap to five points.

Saracens responded with Kelly Brown, Alex Goode and Ashton combining to put Harlequins in trouble again. Playing the advantage after Quins failed to release Ashton, Farrell produced a superb cross-kick into the arms of the unchallenged Fraser who touched down. Farrell converted to give Saracens a 24-12 lead.

Farrell missed a 58th-minute penalty shot but made no mistake 10 minutes later to stretch his side’s lead to 15 points.

A yellow card for Ashton in the closing minutes saw Sarries finish end the game a man down and Harlequins tried desperately to make their one-man advantage pay but Saracens kept them out.

Last year’s tournament runners-up descend on London for the clash that sees the likes of Owen Farrell, Chris Ashton and Alex Goode come face to face with Stephen Ferris, Andrew Trimble and Ruan Pienaar.

It’s going to be a massive day – so make sure you come along and cheer on the team as they look to make the last four of the competition as Twickenham hosts a quarter-final match in the Heineken Cup for the first time.

Although the home of English rugby has staged eight Heineken Cup fixtures to date, including four finals, the clash of the innovative English club and last season’s beaten finalists will be a new departure in Twickenham’s illustrious history.

Saracens earned a home tie by virtue of winning the highly competitive Pool 1 while Ulster, who will be aiming to go one better this time after losing to Leinster Rugby in the 2012 final at Twickenham, topped Pool 4.

Saracens own pack of wolves go into the sold out Aviva Premiership clash against Quins four points clear at the top of the table with just five rounds to go.

Defence and Forwards coach Paul Gustard said: “Lycanthropy is the ability or power of a human being to transform into a wolf, or to gain wolf-like characteristics and our own wolfness rating in the squad has certainly increased ahead of the Harlequins match following their visit. As we all known, wolves work and hunt together in packs and we will certainly need to be at our best again Quins on Sunday.”

Fraser, 21, was a member of the Saracens EPDG academy squad when he suffered a  serious accident while on holiday in July 2009.

Nigel Wray, chairman, said: “Henry is an important member of the Saracens family not just because his older brother Will is doing so well but because his quiet courage in adversity has touched and inspired so many people associated with the club. More than anybody, he reflects the spirit of Saracens and we are delighted he has accepted the invitation to open our new home.”

Fraser will participate in a brief opening ceremony on Sunday, joining Clem Booth, member of the Allianz Board of Management, and Nigel Wray on the pitch before kick-off.

The curtain-raiser involving the Saracens legends kicks off at 11am when the gates open at Allianz Park.

Stars from yesteryear will be appearing in the game including the former Irish Captain and Saracens lock forward Paddy Johns.

 Johns was a member of the victorious 1998 Tetley’s Bitter Cup side, and played for the Men in Black for two seasons between the years 1997 – 1999.  The Ulsterman will be making the journey to Allianz Park this weekend and he has spoken of his excitement of the chance to meet up with some old friends this Sunday.

Paddy said: “The thing I’m most looking forward to this weekend is meeting up with some old pals that I haven’t seen for a while.  I had a fantastic time at this club in my playing days, and I had the chance to play alongside some truly remarkable players and people here at Saracens, so to get the opportunity to see them again this Sunday is something I am eagerly anticipating.”

He added: “Saracens will always have a special place in my heart.  Since I’ve left the club I have always looked out for their results, and I must say they have had, and certainly still do have a brilliant side that are well drilled, consistent and highly competitive. 

“I am looking forward to watching them in the flesh against Harlequins in what should be a great occasion at Allianz Park this Sunday.”

Gates Open at 11am – Kick off is 2pm

Gates open at 11am on Sunday – so you can get to the game in plenty of time and enjoy something to eat or drink in one of the many outlets across the stadium

Happy Hour is from 11am – 12noon

Remember it’s Happy Hour in the bars from 11am – 12noon – don’t miss out.

Sunday’s match is sold out

The top of the table clash against Harlequins sold out weeks ago. It’s the third successive match to sell out at Allianz Park. Please don’t come to the ground without a ticket.

Controlled Parking Zone will be in operation

Remember that a Controlled Parking Zone will be enforced around the stadium. To avoid delay, disappointment and maybe even a parking ticket, you are strongly advised not to drive directly to the stadium and to hope for the best.

Watch Saracens Legends in action

Ex-Saracens players Thomas Castaignede, Paddy Johns, Jason Leonard and Steve Ravenscroft will be among those in action in a curtain-raiser match that starts at 11am – another reason to get to the ground early.

Use the free Saracens Shuttle

The Saracens Shuttle runs every 3 minutes between Mill Hill Broadway and Mill Hill East Stations. Every third bus, about every 10 minutes, also extends to Canons Park and will call at Edgware Station en route to Mill Hill Broadway. Edgware Station on the Northern line is closed on Sunday, but the bus will still pick up from there.

The last Saracens Shuttle leaves Pursley Road two and a half hours after the final whistle.

Man of the Match in the East Stand Bar

Don’t rush off after the game. Stay and enjoy our house band The Accidentals and also see the Man of the Match presentation in the East Stand Bar after the final whistle.

Saracens Express Leaves at 5pm

If you’ve booked a ticket on the Saracens Express, don’t forget that they leave at 5pm – still plenty of time to enjoy a drink or something to eat after the match.

Keep on the grass, but please let the players leave first

With the world’s first artificial turf pitch for professional rugby at Allianz Park, fans are invited on the pitch after the match to have a kick-around.

But please wait for the players to leave the field our staff to open the pitch access gates before you try to get on the pitch – there is no need to rush. If in doubt, please listen out for the PA announcements.

Also, please avoid taking food and drink on the pitch…but you are more than welcome to take your own rugby ball!

Wrap Up Warm

It’s almost spring…but not quite yet. Don’t forget to wrap up warm!

A third successive sell-out at Saracens new home sees Alex Goode, Chris Ashton, Brad Barritt, Owen Farrell and Mako Vunipola all return to the starting line-up after Six Nations duty with England while Scotland captain Kelly Brown is also back in the side.

Farrell starts the game at fly-half which sees Charlie Hodgson among the replacements. He is joined on the bench by John Smit, Neil de Kock and Chris Wyles.

Speaking ahead of the game, Director of Rugby Mark McCall said: “Under the guidance Conor O’Shea, Harlequins have been one of the most consistent sides for the past 18 months. It’s a top of the table match and one that everyone connected with the club is looking forward to.

“We welcomed back the international players to the squad this week after international duty and there is a real buzz around the club. The depth of the squad has been tested in the past few months and we have come through that well, giving us competition for places across the pitch. That is exactly what we want.”

Saracens line-up vs Harlequins

15 Alex Goode
14 Chris Ashton
13 Joel Tomkins
12 Brad Barritt
11 David Strettle
10 Owen Farrell
9 Richard Wigglesworth
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Schalk Brits
3 Matt Stevens
4 Steve Borthwick ©
5 Alistair Hargreaves
6 Kelly Brown
7 Will Fraser
8 Ernst Joubert

16 John Smit
17 Rhys Gill*
18 Petrus du Plessis
19 George Kruis
20 Jackson Wray
21 Neil de Kock
22 Charlie Hodgson
23 Chris Wyles

*Please be aware that following this morning’s training session, Rhys Gill has replaced Nick Auterac on the replacement’s bench.

There are many new items and you can also try on the wide range of training and leisure wear in the comfort and warmth – plus don’t forget to by one of our unique black and red replica matchballs, what else will you kick around on the pitch post-match?

Saracens fans now not only have a ground they can be proud of, but now also a store that allows you to browse and shop – away from the elements!

Plus everyone who visits the store on Sunday will be entered into a free draw for the chance to win a pro quality playing shirt – so don’t miss out.

The new store is situated in the South East corner of the ground off the Piazza and is open from 11am until an hour after the final whistle – pay us a visit.

Kick off for the Premiership clash is 2pm, but from 11am when gates open at Allianz Park, the John Buckton XV will take on the Saracens Scimitars.

The match has always traditionally been between a “Saracens Old Boys” team and the Scimitars, who still play and represent Saracens at Bramley Road where the game usually takes place.

But this year, the match will take place at Allianz Park and players from the past three decades will pull on the Saracens jersey once again.

The game will be divided into three separate sessions;

•             Session One 11.00am – 80′s team (players who joined & played in that decade)
•             Session Two  11.25am- 90′s team (players who joined & played in that decade)
•             Session Three 11.50am – 00′s ‘The Dream Team’ – (players from 2000 onwards)

The teams for the matches are:

The 1980s team

Richie Andrews, Jason Leonard, Stephen Jones, Stu Wilson, John McGurk, Lee Adamson, Dougie Cooke, Steve Kempster, Mark Brown, Sean Robinson, Ben Rudling, Martin Gregory, John Buckton, Paul Reed, Terry Barrow, Dave Tillotson, Errol Campbell, Steve Hancock, Stuart Lawrence

The 1990s team

Adam Kelly, Gregg Botterman, Mark Burrows, Mark Langley, Kris Chesney, John Green, Jeff van Poortvliet, Ben Sturnham, Brian Davies, Phil Friel, Andy Lee, Neville Simpson, Paul Butler, Dan Dooley, Steve Ravenscroft, Andy Atkinson, Tony Dalwood, Paul Hughes, Andy Tunningley

The 2000s team

Adam Kelly, Jason Leonard, Gregg Botterman, Mark Langley, Paddy Johns, Mark Burrows, Kris Chesney, John Green, Ben Sturnham, Brian Davies, Thomas Castaignede, Steve Ravenscroft, Paul Reed, Dave Tillotson, Martin Gregory, Andy Tunningley

It’s first against second at Saracens and a third successive sell out at the club’s new home, kick off 2pm, and although it will be the third Premiership match to take place at Allianz Park, it could be a first experience for Brown who has been away on international duty for the past two months.

The Scottish captain, who led his side to their best Six Nations showing for many years, was impressed with the pitch and surroundings when he trained with the rest of the squad on Wednesday at Allianz Park.

He said: “It’s fantastic to be back with Saracens.  I was training here yesterday, and for me it’s the first time I’ve been able to get a proper feel of the place, as I’ve been away since the weekend of the Edinburgh game. 

“In my time away I’ve been keeping track of the games on TV and see Allianz Park now is just unbelievable. I’m really excited after that training session and hopefully I will get the chance to play here soon.”

“We are reaching the business end of the season now and we are well aware that every team can beat each other on the day in the Premiership, so we certainly won’t be resting on our laurels,” he stressed.

“We have aimed to be peaking at the end of the year, so these last six or seven games we are planning to be playing well and most importantly winning well.  So the message is clear for us at this time of the season, we have to go out at the weekend and play well and aim to maintain that until the season’s end.”

Goode has returned to the Saracens set-up along with Kelly Brown of Scotland, and fellow England representative’s Chris Ashton, Brad Barritt, Owen Farrell and Mako Vunipola, and Goode is looking forward to helping the team with the push for honours after what was a disappointing result in Cardiff;

“I think it’s easy for us to make the transition from International rugby to club rugby.  Obviously the weekend’s result was quite painful to take, so it is good to get back to your club and the chance to play in a big game like Harlequins at home.”

He added: “It’s obviously great to be back with club.   Saracens are the club who have helped me and others getEnglandrecognition, so it’s very important that I get back and help as much as can with the team’s big push towards the end of the season.”

Make sure are in your seats five minutes into the game as our camera will capture everyone in the ground and from Monday, you’ll be able to tag your picture and share it on Facebook and Twitter.

Even if you can’t make it to the sold out match, you will still be able to be part of the picture as you can add your Facebook profile picture to the FanPic using the virtual stadium option.

So remember, five minutes into the game, make sure you’re in your seats and that you smile!

Allianz Park plays host to the annual John Buckton XV match on Sunday and for those who aren’t aware of the fixture, the game has been an annual event since its inception 10 years ago and has traditionally been staged at Saracens old home, Bramley Road.

The fixture takes its name from the ex-Saracen and England International centre John Buckton, who helped establish the concept. The match has always traditionally been between a “Saracens Old Boys” team and the Saracens Scimitars, who still play and represent Saracens at Bramley Road.

Kick off for the Old Boys match will be 11am and gates will be open in time at Allianz Park for you to watch some of the former Saracens players in action.

The game will be divided into three separate sessions;

• Session One 11.00am – 80′s team (players who joined & played in that decade)
• Session Two  11.25am- 90′s team (players who joined & played in that decade)
• Session Three 11.50am – 00′s ‘The Dream Team’ – (players from 2000 onwards)

The annual fixture will have its first outing at Allianz Park, and organiser and ex-Saracens midfield maestro Buckton has expressed his and many other ex-players excitement of playing at Saracens’ new home.

“I’ve had some great responses from my re-union players, everyone very much looking forward to trying out the new surface.”

He added: “Many of them will not have been to the stadium before, and I’m sure they’ll be impressed.  Allianz Park and the infrastructure around the stadium is starting to look great. I’ve been twice now and each time massive improvements have been made and I’m sure once the landscaping has had a chance to bed in, and some of the smaller projects are completed around the ground – it will be one of the best venues in the premiership.”

The full squads for the games will be announced on Friday.

Nigel Wray, chairman, said: “Over many years as a player, and latterly as a coach, Richard has become synonymous with the club. His formal association may be drawing to a close as he embarks on the next challenge, but he will always remain a Saracen, hugely respected and admired by everybody associated with the club.”

Speaking about the Saracens v Harlequins clash, the Sky Sports pundit said: “Is it the most important game of the season so far? Well it’s a pretty crucial swinger, but you might argue that you could drop four points the next week, and then all your good work is undone.

“You never used to believe coaches when they insisted that this was the next big game, but at this time of the season, the next fixture is the biggest as there is so much to play for.”

Both Saracens and Harlequins have been at the summit of the Premiership for the majority of the season, and Greenwood believes that both sides will be desperate to secure home status in a potential semi-final in May.

“Neither of these two teams will suffer a train crash if they don’t win.  They’ll both still make the top four, but it will put a dent into having that all important option of a home semi final.  Saracens have shown before that you don’t necessarily need a home semi-final to get to Twickenham, but it helps.”

The significance of this weekend’s game is not lost on Greenwood and he has pinpointed Saracens defence as one of many deciding factors in Sunday’s game.

 “Rugby’s such a fluid game nowadays that there are key match ups across the pitch, as your saw with the Wales vs. England game you can pinpoint one are or one match-up then something completely different dominates the game.

“Quins won’t play any differently to how they’ve played all this season.  They’ll come here, and the young kids proved at the weekend in the LV=Cup final, they’ll play from absolutely everywhere and Conor O’Shea has openly admitted at times that maybe the play in areas that they shouldn’t do.  But that’s their game.”

He went to say: “Saracens are playing some really good rugby at the moment, but they also have a very good, effective defensive squeeze. I like Sarries and I like Quins, both are cracking sides.  With a toss of coin, and Sarries being at home, I’d have say Saracens for this one.”

Gordon Banks, stadium director, said: “There is a fantastic match day atmosphere at Allianz Park, and we would like supporters of opposition clubs to enjoy themselves as much as anybody.”

These measures include:

1. Special casks of beer, produced near the visiting club, will be put on sale in the West Stand Jug Bar

2. Saracens Supporters Association representatives will make a presentation on the field to representatives of the visiting club’s Supporters Association

3. The visiting club will be invited to provide a flag to be flown above the south stand

4. The visiting club will be invited to bring their mascot to Allianz Park

5. A visiting supporter will be invited to participate in the Domino’s kicking competition at half-time

6. Visiting supporters will be formally welcomed on the giant screen.

As part of the Saracens Player Development Programme Speaker Series, Grainger told the players how the emotional and technical lessons learned after the disappointment of only winning silver in the Beijing games in 2008 spurred her on to victory in last summer’s London games.

The six time world champion and four time Olympic medallist talked through the lessons learned throughout her career and how the attention to detail and hours spent training for success ended in moments like those witnessed on the regatta at Eton Dorney.

She also explained the how teamwork, overcoming challenges, motivation, winning, communication and dealing with the pressure of expectation all peaked at that moment last summer.

Grainger is one of Great Britain’s most decorated female Olympians having competing and won silver medals at the Sydney, Athens and Beijing games before winning gold in London.

Previous sports stars who have shared their experiences with the players as part of the PDP Speaker Series include former F1 world champion Sir Jackie Stewart, England cricket captain Andrew Strauss along with 200m and 400m Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson.

The school caters for pupils with Severe Learning Difficulties aged between 2 and 19 years, and the Saracens Sports Foundation provided the youngsters with a variety of sporting and physical challenges throughout the day.

Saracens Sports Foundation Manager Sam Fulling outlined the purpose of the visit: “Today’s about us getting our Autism program up and started; we’ve had a group come in from Amwell View School to use the facilities here at Allianz Park.  The guys have come in and taken part in a variety of different activities including basic running, jumping and throwing.  It’s really about giving the children as much physical activity as possible”

He added: “The plan is very much to have The Monday Club, where we will run an evening club for anybody with Autism to come along to be able to participate in sport and group exercises.”

Allianz Park aims to be at the heart of the local community, and Stadium Director Gordon Banks outlined the importance of the club reaching out to the local community.

Banks said: “We’ve always said from the very outset that one of the main aims of the stadium is to reach out and bring as many people in from the community that surrounds us here, and the Autistic sports club is one of those. 

Banks continued: “Just spending time with the kids, and having the chance to learn about their behaviours, what they enjoy and some of things that they struggled with will really help us to develop a sports club that can meet their needs and really add value to them.”

It was a great day all round, and Amwell View School teacher Penny Warner spoke of a great experience enjoyed by all;

“It’s just fantastic.  The whole environment is brilliant for the kids and the way Saracens have provided a number of specialist staff to work with the children in separate groups has been great.  The kids have engaged really well and the whole day has been a great experience.”

Host club Saracens will be joined by Harlequins, London Irish and Wasps for regional qualification event of the tournament which is now in its fourth year.

The Series will kick off at Gloucester’s Kingsholm Stadium on Thursday 1 August, culminating in another high-octane Final at Bath’s Recreation Ground on Friday 9 August.

Former England International, World Cup winner and J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s ambassador Will Greenwood is relishing the start of the series:

“It’s a great evening of summer rugby, a show case of the exceptional young talent who are coming through the Premiership ranks,” said Greenwood.

“There’s no space to hide in this game and the J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s series offers a fantastic platform to develop their skills, their fitness and their taste of playing for their club on a big stage. It’s a cracking night of entertainment and fast flowing rugby and I for one can’t wait to get down to see all the action.”

The 2013 J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series is split into three qualifying legs, and a Final, contested by all 12 Aviva Premiership Rugby clubs. The only Sevens event where you can watch the Aviva Premiership Rugby sides battle against one another.

Pool A sees Gloucester Rugby host Bath Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, and Worcester Warriors on Thursday 1 August.

Twenty four hours later Pool B features Northampton Saints, Leicester Tigers, London Welsh, and Sale Sharks at Franklin’s Gardens.

Completing the pool stages on Saturday 2 August at Saracens’ Allianz Park; Harlequins, holders London Irish and London Wasps will take on the hosts for a place in the Final in Pool C.

The three pool stages and the final will be the first rugby union covered live on the new BT Sport channels.

POOL A
Thursday 1st August
Kingsholm, Gloucester Rugby
Pools: Bath Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester Rugby, Worcester Warriors
KO: 7.30pm

POOL B
Friday 2nd August
Franklins Gardens, Northampton Saints
Pools: Leicester Tigers, London Welsh, Northampton Saints, Sale Sharks
KO: 7.30pm

POOL C
Saturday 3rd August
Allianz Park, Saracens
Pools: Harlequins, London Irish, London Wasps, Saracens
KO: 7.30pm

SERIES FINAL
Friday 9th August
The Recreation Ground, Bath Rugby
Pools: Top 2 from each regional pool
KO: 7.00pm

To buy tickets head to: www.jpmorgan7s.com

“It’s the best match day atmosphere I’ve ever experienced,” she said, “and I have sung at sporting events all around the world. There was a great buzz at the Exeter and London Welsh matches, and I’m really disappointed to be missing the top-of-the-table clash at the weekend, and to miss out on watching the No.1 rugby club in London… again.”

Our groups raised over £180 for Red Nose day and the Sainsbury’s in Harpenden and Barnet were all cheering our groups on as they performed their 2 minute routine at the stores.

 If you would like to see our Harpenden Love to dance participants in action please click on plese go to Sarries TV. 

If you would like some more information about our Love to Dance classes which take place in Hertfordshire and Barnet please contact Clare Bellchambers on 07801691591

Wyles enthused: “It’s pretty exciting.  It’s straight after the conclusion of the Six Nations which will mean we’ll have the whole squad back together and let’s not beat around the bush, next weekend is a top of the table clash, and if we come away with a positive result we will be in a good position.”

Next Sunday’s fixture has long been sold-out, and despite the importance and local bragging rights that are associated with the clash against second-placed Quins, Wyles stressed that Saracens will be preparing for this game just like any other.

He said: “It’s our next game, which means it’s our biggest one.  Regardless of who we are playing, we treat the next opposition as the most important, and they are our priority and are at the forefront of minds.  This week we will be preparing to take on a very good Harlequins side, and our focus will just be that.  We endeavour not to get ahead of ourselves or look too far into the future.”

San Luis RFC, hail from the La Plata region of Buenos Aires, and one of their distinguished alumni includes our very own Argentinean-Italian Carlos Nieto.  Nieto is understandably happy to see his former club take on Saracens at Allianz Park this Sunday.

He said: “It’s great to have the San Luis club over this weekend.  I first started to play rugby there when I was six years old, and I stayed with San Luis until I was 20.  It’s a fantastic club, and I found it a really enjoyable place to learn my trade as a player.”

San Luis Under 18’s, who are also due to play Montpellier and Racing Metro on their European tour, will take on two teams from Oaklands College as well as Saracens’ U17 XV at 4pm, and academy coach Matt Davies is looking forward to playing host in what hopes will be a “great day of rugby”.

“There are some really talented players out there who have some fantastic potential, it promises to be a great day of rugby.  There is an England U17 game this weekend which means a number of our England lads won’t be playing, so it gives a lot of our younger lads the chance to stake a claim to get into the side for the remaining games this season, and to get into that Under 18s squad next year.”

Oaklands College students will have the chance to show their talents on Sunday when their 1^st and 2^nd XV play two San Luis teams, and Davies is pleased that the college, who are a key partner of Saracens, will have a chance to impress on the big stage.

He explained: “Oaklands are our key academic partners, and I think it’s good that they have the chance to play at Allianz Park on a great surface and in a great stadium.  Also we hope that the San Luis players enjoy the experience on Sunday, and that we all give them a nice warm welcome.”

The match schedule is;

• Oaklands 2^nd XV vs. San Luis 3^rd XV – KO 12h00
• Oaklands 1^st XV vs. San Luis 2^nd XV – KO 14h00
• Saracens U17s XV vs. San Luis 1^st XV- KO 16h00

First up the Barnet Borough Schools Year 4 tag rugby festival, which saw schools from across the Borough competing to be crowned champions. This event, supported by Saracens Sport Foundation’s work across Barnet Primary schools, was the culmination of hours of in school coaching from teachers trained by the Foundation. After 7 thrilling pool and knockout matches, Livingstone and Sunnyfields Primary Schools won through to the final, where Livingstone were the winners, outscoring Sunnyfields 3-2 in Golden time, in an exhilarating end to end contest.

Part two of the double header afternoon was a Barnet Secondary Schools fixture night as part of the Foundation’s BLAST project. Totteridge Academy, St Mary’s High School, East Barnet School and Wren Academy provided year 7 and 8 teams, to compete in a number of competitive fixtures at Allianz Park. The schools’ also had their teachers present, and they were tasked with officiating the games after recently taking part in their Entry Level Referees Award.

Luke Roberts, Head of PE at Totteridge Academy was enthusiastic in his praise “this is a fantastic opportunity for these boys to play at a Premiership rugby ground. The support Saracens have provided the school over the last two years has been a huge boost, and enabled us to set up rugby in school”

Burger, who was joined by fellow Saracens’ players Andy Saull, Jared Saunders, Jack Wilson, Luke Baldwin and Sam Stanley in the Bedford match-day squad, made his first appearance after a 14 month injury lay-off, and he was understandably delighted on his return to the field.

Burger said: “It was great to be back playing against after so long out.  I was nervous to tell truth as my first game back was such a big thing for me after spending all that time on the side lines.

“The match was like a Barbarians fixture, and the nature of the game yesterday meant I had to do a lot of running as both sides wanted to play as much rugby as possible, and I had a lot of fun out there.”

Although delighted to be back, Burger, who started at openside flanker last night, was pragmatic on the impact he had on the game.

“It was a big step up from training to a competitive game, and in terms of my performance I didn’t play incredible that’s for sure.  But I’m realistic and I know that I’ve got a long way to go to get back to where I was before.”

He added: “In regards to my injury, I’ve got a lot more work to get through in terms of getting my form back, but part of me feels very proud to have got out there last night and to have played.”

Saracens are entering a crucial part of the season with some huge games on the horizon, but the Namibian is concentrating on regaining his sharpness.

“As a club we’ve got a lot to look forward to, with some big games coming up in the Premiership and Heineken Cup.  The guys who have played this year have been fantastic and are really on form at the moment and it’ll be tough to get back into consideration that for sure. 

“I’m just looking forward to getting some more game time under my belt. I may have a few more ‘A’ team games coming up and I’ve spoken to the coaches this morning about my performance last night and they seemed happy to have me back.”

Owen Farrell has returned to the England line-up after injury with Brad Barritt, Chris Ashton and Alex Goode also in the starting line-up with Mako Vunipola named on the bench.

Welsh international loose-head prop Rhys Gill believes that a bit of “Welsh magic” will swing the game in Wales’ favour in what he thinks will be a “close game”.

Gill said: “It’ll be a close game, but I think Wales will edge it with home advantage and a passionate Welsh crowd roaring them on.

“I just think that Wales have more players out there who have experienced big occasions like Saturday’s game, and the Welsh have more guys in their squad that have actually won a championship.  Also, Wales have players who are capable of that little bit of magic on the day.”

In contrast, 12 cap England scrum half Wigglesworth has predicted that England will secure their first Grand Slam since 2003 with a victory this weekend, and Wigglesworth has highlighted the English “defence and pressure game” as what could separate the two Six Nations title contenders.

“I think England will win, but it will be a really tight affair. Wales will be up for it and the Millennium Stadium will be in fine voice but I think England’s defence and their pressure game will win it for them.   I’m going for an England win by six to nine points.”

All pupils were then presented with their certificates by their Saracens Coach and Head teacher.

The class had been putting their maths skills to the test in rugby related class room lessons, looking at the Premiership Rugby table and points system, as well as designing their own stadiums using different shapes and polygons. These sessions are complimented with an hour of tag rugby, learning the essential skills needed to become an exciting tag rugby player.

Sunnyfields Primary which is situated on the doorstep of Saracens new home Allianz Park, gave the perfect setting for the pupils in the area to learn more about the new neighbours and excite them on the prospect of seeing and using the new artificial pitch and facilities in the future.

“I’m so glad that Saracens have been able to come into our school andwork with the pupils, it has given them more of an idea about rugby andwe are all excited about the new stadium that is in walking distance for us,” said Headteacher Clare Rees.

Tackling Numbers is an award winning interactive numeracy programme for young children delivered through both classroom sessions and practical number-based rugby games. The programme is developed and delivered by Premiership Rugby in partnership with MBNA.

This five week programme aims to teach 8-9 year olds the importance of number skills in everyday life. This innovative and engaging programme makes learning about numbers fun, exciting and rewarding, inspiring children to both improve their numeracy skills and their physical health.

For more details about the Tackling Number programme please contactLewis Sones, Sport Development Officer at LewisSones@saracens.net or 07877 109778.

More than 100, coaching from across Hertfordshire and north London took part in the session called ‘Movement, Ball Carrying and Momentum’  which provided a unique insight into the key underlying concepts that the club instils in its players to suit the modern game.

For over an hour, Davies delivered a practical session utilising the Saracens Academy players.  The practical session allowed the coaches to observe a number of  drills, games and ideas that are implemented at both an academy and senior level at Saracens.

The Coach Education programme as a whole looks to facilitate coach development as well as supply coaches with ideas to take back to their clubs and implement with their own players.

The Saracens Coach Education programme provides access to some of the best coaches in the Premiership and top tips from the coaches responsible for running the best academy coaching system in the country.

In addition to this, club visits from senior community staff ensure that Saracens are able to share their ideas with grass root club coaches and also provides them with an opportunity to have a run around themselves!

For further details on our Coach Education programme please contact please contact philipchalmers@saracens.net

Young aspiring rugby players aged 6-16 will be working alongside our award winning community team on different skill stations, contributing to their personal development on and off the field.

Each camp will provide participants with a complete rugby experience including the perfect balance of intensity, fun, excitement and education whilst utilising modern training techniques and equipment. Your time with Saracens this Easter will be one to remember!!

To view full information on courses available and to book your place online (10% online discount), please click here or call the community department on 01707 285026. 

• 2nd & 3rd April – Bedford Jnr Blues RFC – Two Day Skills Clinic – £50.00
• 2nd & 3rd April – Upminster RFC – Two Day Skills Clinic – £50.00
• 4th & 5th April - Old Albanian RFC – Two Day Skills Clinic – £54.00
• 4th & 5th April – Allianz Park – Two Day Skills Clinic – £50.00
• 8th & 9th April – Saracens Amateurs RFC – Two Day Skills Clinic – £54.00
• 8th & 9th April – Dartfordians RFC – Two Day Skills Clinic – £54.00
• 8th & 9th April – Harlow RFC – Two Day Skills Clinic – £54.00
• 10th April – Luton RFC – One Day Intensive Skills Clinic – £25.00
• 10th April – Royston RFC – One Day Intensive Skills Clinic – £25.00
• 10th April – Witham RFC – One Day Intensive Skills Clinic – £25.00
• 11th April – Allianz Park – Kicking Clinic – £40.00
• 11th & 12th April – Old Albanian RFC – Two Day Skills Clinic – £54.00
• 11th & 12th April – Cheshunt RFC – Two Day Skills Clinic – £54.00

Melck suffered the knee injury in the Premiership semi-final at Leicester Tigers last season and although he is now back in first team action, the ex-Western Province and Stormers loose-forward believes that he still has some improvements to make, until he reaches his own high standards.

He explained: “I am very happy to be back playing.  Being injured and on the sidelines for a prolonged period is hard to take for most players, and I’m no different, so to get a few games under my belt recently has been great.

“I’m still not where I’d like to be in terms of my performance, and that is inevitable I suppose due to the nature of my injury, so I still have to work hard to get back hitting the kind of form I know I’m capable of.  But I’m very happy to back in contention and I think it’s extremely important that everyone at the club is ready to perform when called upon, as we have some very important games coming up.”

Melck is one of three Saracens back rows who are getting back from injury, and he took time out to put on record his pleasure of seeing the two others, Andy Saull and Jacques Burger, on the verge of a return to the fold.

He added: “It’s great to see Saully and Jacques being close to a return to action.  I know they have both had their injury problems and to see them on verge of playing again is great for the club.”

The John Buckton XV against the Saracens Scimitars has long been a regular fixture in the calendar but this year with the match being played at Allianz Park, former Saracens and England international Buckton will be leading a star-studded old boys side with kick off at 11am.

Joining the likes of Castaignede, Johns, Wallace, Leonard and Chesney in action will be former Sarries Gregg Botterman, Lee Adamson, Ben Sturnham, Andy Lee and Steve Ravenscroft with Alex Bennett and Richard Hill providing some coaching expertise from the sidelines.

This is the 10th anniversary of the annual fixture, and Buckton, a classy centre in his playing days for Saracens, provided an insight into the events history.

He explained: “This is actually the 10^th anniversary of the ‘Re-union’ match. The idea for a ‘re-union’ event was  originally hatched late one night in a bar, and the following day it still sounded like a good idea so the organisation began.”

He added: “The Club was also going through a transition from amateur to professional, and we very much wanted to celebrate some of the amateur players who had given long service to the club, and bring them back into the Saracens fold.”

Buckton emphasised the importance of maintaining the club’s links to their previous players and Bramley Road, but the former England International says he is looking forward to the fixture’s first appearance at Allianz Park.

He said: “The choice of the opposition was  interesting, we could have opted for another club’s ‘vets’ team – but in the end we decided that it would be great to play against the Saracens Scimitars, a team who still play and represent the club at Bramley Road.

“The venue was going to be Bramley Road, the ground where the majority of players would have played their competitive rugby, but this year we have been granted permission to play our re-union game at the new ground – on the new state-of-the-art surface, and my invite this year was met with a flood of emails requesting to play and it should be a fantastic occasion.”

More details and the squads for both teams will be announced nearer the match.

Gates open at Allianz Park at 11am, just in time for kick-off, so get to Allianz Park early to enjoy what should be a fantastic and entertaining curtain-raiser to Saracens v Harlequins.

As part of the ongoing relationship between the two clubs, Saracens will be providing a number of players recovering from injury, including Saull who played as a replacement for Saracens in Sunday’s LV= Cup semi-final defeat at Sale Sharks.

Sam Stanley, Luke Baldwin, Jared Saunders and Jack Wilson will also be in action.

Saull was left disappointed with the result at the Salford City Stadium but with a four-point gap over Harlequins in the league, and a Heineken Cup quarter-final against Ulster at Twickenham on April 6, he insists there is still plenty to play for.

 ”We’ve got a Heineken quarter-final and a Premiership semi-final coming up, they’re up for grabs,” said Saull.

 ”It has been known all along that sides change and play a bit more conservatively when it comes to semi-finals. As we saw on Sunday, semi-finals are close games, they’re won and lost by kicks, and we knew that.

“The wind has played a huge part at Sale, with both sides dominating with the wind behind their backs,” he added.

“I felt Sale were excellent at the break-down, we barely had any quick ball to play with. When they were camped in their own 22 their defence held up massively.

“There was no lack of effort, the boys were throwing themselves into the contact and carrying hard. There were a couple of silly penalties on our part, good forward play with a couple of good drives from them which was the difference between the two sides.”

Members of the King Edward VI School Under 18 team trained with the Saracens players and community coaches courtesy of QBE, the business insurance specialist. They are one of twelve grassroots rugby clubs across the country to be awarded a training session with three Premiership Rugby players. In addition, the club received £1,000 worth of training equipment.

The prizes were awarded to clubs who

best demonstrated the benefits of receiving expert guidance from top Premiership Rugby coaches and players. The judges were particularly impressed by King Edward VI Grammar School’s enthusiasm and passion for the game displayed by teachers and pupils alike. The judges recognised the effort of the senior pupils utilising their free time to coach the younger age groups to help develop standards of rugby throughout the whole school.

The training session provided King Edward VI School with the rare opportunity to learn from professionals and pick up specialist advice on core rugby skills and game play.

 John Davies, rugby teacher at King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, said: “We are so proud to win this fantastic prize. The school have got a real appetite for the sport and this is a great reward for the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes. It will undoubtedly benefit our players and coaches to train with professionals from Saracens.”

 Mouritz Botha, Saracens second-row forward,

said: “I think that QBE Rugby Pro is a fantastic initiative and it is great to be able to give something back to the grassroots game. It has been fun working with King Edward VI School and I hope that the access to professional players and coaches during the specialist training today will inspire them further.”

 QBE Rugby Pro is part of QBE’s Coaching Programme, which aims to improve the quality of rugby coaching in England at a grassroots level. For more information on the winning clubs and further details on QBE Rugby Pro visit www.QBErugby.com.

Sarries were beaten 21-15 at a windswept Salford City Stadium but refused to be too disappointed by the defeat and pointed out how the younger players could learn from the experience of losing a semi-final.

He said: “In the conditions, with a wind like that, if you concede a penalty, it’s a case of 50 metres or three points, and every mistake you make is magnified in these bigger games, and these young lads need to learn that.  You’ve got to understand that a lot of these guys will be starting next season, most of them will come through.

 “That’s the positive, that these guys can now do a job at this level and they have got us to this stage of the competition, and perhaps on reflection, they could take us a step further next year, who knows?”

Sanderson was asked about Nick Auterac’s performance, after the 20 year old produced another impressive display, and he was keen to praise the young loose-heads contribution.

 “He’s been playing well all season.  He’s been going really well and because Mako Vunipola has been called up to England, and Rhys Gill has been injured, he’s had to step up.

“He’s a really exciting prospect, as is Jamie George, George Kruis, and all these guys who we’ve watched for years come through the ranks at the club.”

One such player is Ben Ransom, who had another impressive outing on Sunday.  The full-back spoke of his disappointment of missing out on a cup final appearance at Worcester next week.

He explained: “We’re obviously very frustrated with the result; whenever you lose a semi-final you are bitterly disappointed.  I thought the guys played really well and in the last third they (Sale) had some luck which ultimately swung the game in their favour.

“Despite the result, and the obvious disappointment, I thoroughly enjoyed it out there today, it was a good game and it’s just unfortunate that we couldn’t get through to the final.”

The talented centre, 26, has made 135 appearances for the north London club over the past eight seasons, and has decided to embrace a new challenge with the Falcons.

Nigel Wray, chairman, said: “We have watched Adam develop over the years, and he has proved an outstanding, courageous and loyal young man. We are very sorry to see him leave and he will always be welcome and  respected at our club, but we wish him the best of luck in the future, and there is no doubt he will prove a great asset for the Falcons.”

Powell added: “I’ve had a great time at Saracens and will always wish the club well, but I’m really excited by what is happening at Newcastle under Dean Richards and I can’t wait to get started.”

The visitors held a 12-11 lead at the interval but a second half try from Nathan Fowles to add to a first half score from Tom Holmes secured the win for the home side.

Ben Spencer struck five penalties but it wasn’t enough to give the visitors a place in the final of the competition for the first time.

The icy wind blowing across the isolated Salford City Stadium did little to warm the fans in the ground in the opening periods of the game and it transformed itself onto the pitch where, despite much endeavour and effort, the action was dominated by the goalkickers.

Danny Cipriani gave the home side an early lead before Ben Spencer was on target with four efforts, two of them from long range, although another Cipriani effort made it 12-6 going into the closing stages of the half.

However, the home side reduced that advantage just before the break with a bizarre try. Throwing in on the Saracens 22, hooker Tommy Taylor made a complete mess of the throw, but the bouncing ball fell to second row Tom Holmes and he raced in to score to make it 12-11 at the break.

We had to wait nearly 20 minutes for the next score in the game as on the hour, Spencer kicked his side further into the lead. But that was only a prelude to a second Sale try.

Opting for a scrum instead of a penalty in front of the posts, the Sale pack inched forward before James Gaskell went within inches of the line before replacement scrum half Nathan Fowles smuggled the ball off the back row and touched down under a pile of bodies. Cipriani converted to give his side a three point lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Cipriani extended that lead with three minutes left on the clock which left Saracens needing a converted try to win the game but it proved to be too big a gap as Sale held on for the victory.

A win in the Premiership against Sale Sharks was followed by a narrow defeat in the pool stages of the cup competition before Christmas but Nils Mordt explained that squad are excited to be heading back to Manchester – even though they are expecting a tough challenge.

 ”We always know that going to up to play Sale is a hard game.  I think the boys are just really looking forward to it, and obviously with this being a semi-final we’ve got it all to play for.

“We’re just concentrating on ourselves really.  We know that they’re going to bring a very physical performance but we’ve just got to worry about ourselves and take care of what we have to do.”

Mordt captains the side from fly-half and will be telling his side that it’s important they build on the performances of recent weeks.

He explained: “We are looking to play with the ball in hand as much as we can as it has served us well in the last few weeks, and hopefully it will continue, but it’s hard to say as you don’t know how the game will pan out.

“It all depends on what pressures we have and we’ve just got to make sure that we play in the right parts of the field.”

Mordt has been a regular starter in the LV=Cup and he has captained the side during the competition.

“It’s been awesome.  As a squad we’ve all really committed to it, and from the outset we aimed to get to the later stages of the cup, and we’re very happy to get to the semi-finals.

“Now it’s the time for us to take one step further.”

It will be the fourth time that these two teams have met this season, the third at the Salford City Stadium. And in team news ahead of the match, the majority of the starting XV named are those who have helped the club progress to the knockout stages of the competition.

Nick Auterac, Jamie George and Petrus du Plessis make up the front row while captain Nils Mordt and Ben Spencer are the halfback pairing. Justin Melck continues his return from injury in the back row while Chris Wyles and Mouritz Botha are also in the side.

Schalk Brits, Matt Stevens, Neil de Kock and Charlie Hodgson are among those named on the replacement’s bench.

Saracens have won both league meetings between the two sides while a penalty kick proved to be the difference in Sale’s favour in the LV=Cup pool game in Manchester earlier this season.

“We have reached this stage in the past and we have not progressed so we want to get into the final as this is a cup we have never won,” said Saracens Forwards Coach Alex Sanderson.

“Going into the game it’s important that we rely on of some of things that we have done well traditionally as a side. That’s a strong defence, winning the territorial battle and taking the points when they are available. Sale are a very proud club and you expect them to compete, in every aspect and every phase of the game. It’s going to be tough up there, but we are looking forward to it.”

Saracens line-up vs Sale Sharks

15 Ben Ransom
14 James Short
13 Chris Wyles
12 Adam Powell
11 Joe Maddock
10 Nils Mordt
9 Ben Spencer
1 Nick Auterac
2 Jamie George
3 Petrus du Plessis
4 George Kruis
5 Mouritz Botha
6 Justin Melck
7 Nick Fenton-Wells
8 Ernst Joubert

16 Schalk Brits
17 Jared Saunders
18 Matt Stevens
19 Alistair Hargreaves
20 Andy Saull
21 Neil de Kock
22 Charlie Hodgson
23 Jack Wilson

Having been challenged to raise valuable funds for the Club’s charitable arm, this event promises to be one not to miss!

A great evening of hospitality at our new home will be brought to you against a back drop of entertainment, comedy from John Moloney and plenty of rugby chat from a host of our international players, starting at 7pm.

Package:

Gold Tables of 10 (limited availability) to include an international player as your host – £800

Tables of 10 – £600

Individual tickets – £60

• Drinks reception for you and your guests upon arrival
• 3 course dinner hosted in our state of the art hospitality facilities at Allianz Park
• Unique opportunity to get the inside track on the 2013 Six Nations and a look ahead to the 2013 British Lions tour
• Access to an exclusive auction on the night with money can’t buy experiences up for grabs with the players!

Places are limited so book now to avoid disappointment.

To book please contact Bethany Kinsella on 01707285026/07823441206 or email bethanykinsella@saracens.net

Touring with VU is something special. Not only are you privy to insider rugby knowledge from host and former England and Bath prop, Victor Ubogu, but you can be sure to be offered some extra touches to make your rugby tour one of the best yet.

Why Travel with VU Ltd?

Official packages: VU Ltd is an Authorised Reseller of Lions Rugby Travel Weekend Modules so you can be assured of safe tickets from the official source.

VU understands luxury: Offering only the finest hotels, each accommodation option has been recently visited or personally recommended. We wouldn’t stay anywhere else, so why should you?

Host Victor Ubogu knows hospitality: Like a homing beacon, his all-encompassing laugh will constantly remind you that you’re on tour to have fun, enjoy life and be looked after. VU Hosts will be on hand throughout your trip tending to your every need.

Exclusive additions: Every guest on the latter part of the tour will receive an invite to the exclusive VU Sydney Harbour Cruise to the third test – an exclusive celebration on board the privately chartered yacht, Magistic Two. Float to the stadium and back around Sydney Harbour, sipping champagne, indulging in fine foods and taking in every magnificent Sydney landmark along the way. Sit back and relax, it’s our treat.

Rugby Insiders: Victor’s network continues to grow and you never know who might pop into our parties. Previous guests have found themselves sharing a dessert with Jeremy Guscott, David Campese, Mark Regan, Zinzan Brooke or Jason Leonard. We’re sure to bump into some rugby royalty along the way.

A Warm Welcome: You never have to be alone. All guests are invited to Victor’s welcome dinner when you first arrive in Australia. Come along and experience the bonhomie and fun that’s remembered for years to come.

Peace of mind: All monies paid by you for the air holiday package shown [or flights if appropriate] are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 6340.

All tours include:

- Return international flight, economy class (upgrade to premium economy, business and first available at an additional cost)

- All domestic flights as per itinerary

- Official Australia v British & Irish Lions Platinum or Gold Match Tickets

-  Accommodation on a B&B basis (apart from room only at Oaks Charlotte Towers)

- Airport/Stadium/Hotel transfers as stated in the itinerary

- Welcome Dinner hosted by Victor Ubogu

- Privately chartered Sydney Harbour yacht cruise on Magistic Two to Home Bush for the final test including sumptuous buffet and beverages

- Lions merchandise

- Hosted by Victor Ubogu

- Services of a VU Travel Planner and Destination Representative

Tours available:

All 3 Tests Tour

The full Lions Rugby Tour takes you to four superb cities in Australia, watching 3 test matches in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, a provincial game vs Melbourne Rebels and  whisking you to the tropics for a relaxing break in Cairns. You won’t miss a moment of riveting rugby but still have plenty of time to enjoy the destination highlights of Australia.

1st & 2nd Tests Tour If time is a factor and you’re looking for a sampling of international rugby combined with splendid hospitality and accommodation, consider visiting Australia for the first two tests. You’ll experience sub-tropical Brisbane and chic cosmopolitan Melbourne, whilst giving yourself plenty of time for other adventures around the country.

2nd & 3rd Tests Tour Joining the end of the tour, this 12 day adventure takes in the stunning southern cities of Melbourne and Sydney, as well as a jaunt to tropical Cairns for some sunny relaxation or live-aboard excursion to dive with magnificent Minke Whales on the Great

Barrier Reef. *This dive trip is a once in a lifetime experience as it coincides with Minke season. Further details available on request.*

Featured Hotels:

Oaks Charlotte Towers, Brisbane
Rendezvous Hotel, Melbourne
Shangri-La Hotel, Cairns
Vibe Hotel, Sydney

Price for Saracens fans

All 3 tests Tour 19th June – 7th July
Public Price £7,399
Price for Saracens fans – £6,999
Single supplement £1,650

1st and 2nd Tests Tour 19th – 30th June
Public Price – £5,350
Price for Saracens fans – £4,999
Single supplement £1,066

2nd and 3rd Tests Tour 25th June – 7th July
Public Price – £5,899
Price for Saracens fans – £5,499
Single supplement £920

Flight upgrade Business Class On request

Premium Economy On request

All packages can be booked by calling VU Ltd on 0871 871 5300. Flight and hotel upgrades are available on request and full bespoke travel itineraries can be arranged, including upgrades to the ‘Full Monty’ and Indulgence Tour packages.

Be sure to mention ‘Saracens RFC’ when you call to receive your special discount.

“The LV= Cup is a great competition where the young talent can break through and this year at Saracens we have put a good campaign together to get this far.

“To get the first piece of silverware into the club and give everyone a lift towards the Premiership could prove crucial so we will be doing all we can to try and make that happen.”

Saracens sit at the top of the Premiership table and are still heavily involved in the Heineken Cup.  In contrast, Sunday’s opponents Sale are embroiled in a relegation battle and have had a turbulent season so-far, but Stockport-raised Spencer believes that Saracens will have to be“100 per cent ready” on Sunday afternoon.

“We know that Sale are a good team. They are fighting for their lives in the Premiership but they know that they can get some momentum towards the end of the season in the LV= Cup.  So we know we will have to be on the top of our game to get a result and we will go into it 100 per cent ready.”

Spencer, who broke onto the scene with a series of impressive and mature performances last season, has recently been nominated for the LV=Cup Breakthrough Player award and the potential honour is something that the classy half-back describes as a “great confidence boost”.

He said:   “It was quite unexpected to be up for the Breakthrough Player of the Year award but obviously I am delighted to be.  I obviously scored a few points in the Worcester game which was nice and might have turned a few heads but I am just really happy to have been nominated and it is a great confidence boost for me going into the semi-final with Sale.”

He added: “The strength and depth of our squad means we can compete on many levels and it has been great to be a part of that and to top it off with the award would be great.”

The glorious weather on the day allowed schools to produce some phenomenal running rugby and as a result some great team tries being run in.

All the schools competed against each other throughout the afternoon for a place in a top four play off semi final. After two grueling semi finals Finchley Catholic ran out in the year 7 final with Mill Hill County High School. After 10 minutes of high quality running rugby Finchley Catholic snuck past Mill Hill County to claim the title.

In the year 8 tournament it was a similar story, another strong semi final performance from Finchley Catholic saw them earn a place in the final against a well drilled East Barnet team. With big defensive tackles flying in from East Barnet, Finchley Catholic eventually managed to break through and get the decisive score to claim the Year 8 title.

The standard of schools rugby continues to grow within Barnet, considering three of the schools attending had only been playing rugby for two months as part of the BLAST Programme – the future is bright for these budding young players!

For more information about the Barnet Borough Festival or the ‘BLAST’ Programme please contact joshward@saracens.net

Just two weeks after going on general sale, fans from both clubs have been securing their seats for this eagerly anticipated European clash.

Tickets, starting at £20 for adults and £10 for concessions, are on sale now.

You can purchase tickets in a number of ways:

Saracens Season Ticket Holders

If you are a Saracens season ticket holder and wish to purchase tickets, please call the customer service team on 01727 792800.

Existing Saracens customers

If you have a Saracens customer number and have purchased tickets with use before, you can book online by clicking here or by calling 0844 847 1876.

General sales

For all general sales, please purchase via Ticketmaster or call 0844 847 2492

As you can see from our photo album, it looked like you had a great day out.

It’s the third time that the north London club has reached the last four of the competition having previously make the knockout stages in 2008 and 2010. 

But what is certain is that a new name will be added to the LV= Cup trophy with none of this weekend’s four semi-finalists having previously won the competition since the cross-border format was adopted for the 2005/06 campaign.

Both Harlequins and Bath, opponents in the first semi-final on Saturday, will be looking to put the agony of recent near-misses behind them and reach their first final. Last season Bath missed out by the narrowest of margins, losing 16-17 to eventual champions Leicester at the Rec, while an injury-time try from Newcastle’s Tane Tu’ipulotu at the Twickenham Stoop denied Harlequins at the same stage the year before.

Prior to that semi-final in March 2011, Harlequins had never made it past the pool stages. Bath had qualified for the last four once before, losing 26-27 in 2007 to Llanelli Scarlets in the old Powergen Cup in front of a crowd of over 50,000 at the Millennium Stadium.

Of the two sides Bath are in the best form. Gary Gold’s men have won six out of their last seven matches, while defending Premiership champions Harlequins have lost twice at home in their last three appearances.

Harlequins qualified with the best record of all the semi-finalists, winning all four games to top Pool 1 including a 21-12 success over Bath in Round 2. All the points came from kicks at goal that day, with LV= Cup Breakthrough Player Award nominee, Bath fly-half Tom Heathcote, amongst the scorers.

Sunday’s semi-finalists, Sale Sharks and Saracens, are both represented in the list of nominees in the form of hooker Tommy Taylor (Sharks) and Ben Spencer (Saracens). Taylor, 21, has put in a number of commanding shifts in the front row to help the Sharks put their league worries behind them to reach their second semi-final, while 20-year-old Spencer’s assured kicking performance in the Round 4 win over Worcester booked Saracens’ passage through to the last four.

Saracens became the third side in a row to be beaten by Sale at the Salford City Stadium, when they lost 25-23 to the Sharks in this competition in mid-November. However Saracens won convincingly the season before in the LV= Cup: 50-7 at Vicarage Road on February 6, 2011.

Sale’s only other semi-final appearance came in the second season of the Anglo-Welsh Cup, then under the guise of the EDF Energy Cup, when they lost 29-19 to eventual winners Leicester at the Millennium Stadium in March 2007. Saracens, meanwhile, are through to their third semi-final having reached this stage in 2008 (3-30 v Ospreys) and 2010 (20-31 v Northampton).

LV= Cup Semi-Finals
Harlequins vs Bath Rugby, March 9, KO 1215pm
Sale Sharks v Saracens, March 10, KO 1pm

It’s the fourth meeting of the two sides this season with Saracens winning the two Premiership matches and Sale edging the pool match in the cup competition.

But Sanderson is not expecting those results to mean much with the potential of a cup final at stake.

He said: “It’s going to be tough going up there, especially on the back of them losing to Leicester. It’s been a hard season for them but they’ll put everything, every resource they have, every player available good enough for selection out there on Sunday.”

Sanderson is no stranger to the Sale club after playing for the Sharks before a move to Saracens in 2004, and the Chester born coach predicts that they are improving in what has been, a tough season for the Manchester based club;

“Knowing their coaches and knowing their set-up as I do, and I know although many of the personnel have changed over the years, they are still a very proud club in the manner they perform,” he explained. “You expect them to compete, in every aspect and every phase of the game. Certainly at the breakdown, in defence, and at their set-piece, they have got better as the season’s gone on.”

Throughout the LV=Cup, Saracens have implemented a squad-rotation policy, and Sanderson emphasised the importance of providing some players within the squad an opportunity to impress in the starting XV.

“It’s important for the boys who don’t get the opportunity on a weekly basis to start, to prove that they can fill the boots of some of the senior players within the squad.   You look to your Jamie George’s, your Nick Auterac’s and even Petrus du Plessis’ of this world, and that’s just the front-row alone, George Kruis in the second-row, all these guys who want more regular appearances in the first team. It’s a big stage for them to perform.”

Saracens’ have been in impressive form as of late, and the Saracens forwards coach stressed that maintaining that impetus is important for the club;

“It’s important for us as a club to maintain the momentum moving forward, and we have reached this stage in the past and we have not progressed and as a club we are always continue to look to improve.  We want to get into the final and win as this is a cup we have never won.

“We’d like to continue the rich vein of form we’ve witnessed in recent weeks in terms of try scoring, but with the nature of these games it’s important that we rely on of some of things that we have done well traditionally as a side, over the last few years. That’s a strong defence, winning the territorial battle, taking the points when they are available and if the opportunities arise to go and run the ball.  But that will come on the back of winning the territorial battle, winning the set-piece and being strong in defence.”

After fracturing his thumb in the victory at Bath just before Christmas, flanker Saull came off the bench yesterday and the 24-year-old was happy with his return.

“Yeah it is fun be back out there.  Coming on for only 12 minutes after so long out it was a bit different to normal games.  I was flying around, almost running myself out of position trying to get on the end of every offload, and hit every ruck.  It was good fun to play on the pitch and it is great feeling to part of a winning team again.”

He added: “We have a great ability to learn from our own mistakes.  A few times this season we’ve had a poor first half, but we’ve been able to come in at half-time and turn it around and make the necessary changes to go on and win the game.  It’s a huge learning curve for us to be able to flick that switch when you realise you aren’t doing certain things, and react when the coach highlights where we have been going wrong.   It shows that we are heading in the right direction.”

Another flanker in the spotlight against London Welsh was Will Fraser who produced a man of the match performance in the 35-14 victory.

The England Saxon International underlined the importance of the team “tidying up” their play after what proved to be a tight contest in the first 40 minutes.

“I just think we tried to force the situation far too much in the first half, and you could see by the amount of dropped balls and poor passes we gave.  We just said at half-time, lets tidy it up and go out and play the way we know we can and the points will come.

“We all knew where we had been going wrong and we discussed what errors we had to put right, and we luckily came away with the bonus point today.  In the second half there was still plenty of stuff we can work on, but we came away with four tries and yeah, we’re pretty happy.”

Saracens secured their third bonus point win in as many games, and Fraser paid tribute to his side’s work on the training ground.

 “It’s quite a quick surface so it allows for that little bit of flair, but we’ve always had it there, but it’s just been a case of us sharpening everything up, working on it throughout the week, so we can produce it on a match day.  And in the last few weeks it has been coming out well in our performances.

 “The last few results have been massive, but we don’t tend to look too far ahead as a team, and we literally take it game by game to get a win every week.   To take that momentum in to the LV=Cup, the Heineken Cup and the Premiership is huge for us.” 

Clubs from across Hertfordshire, Essex and Kent all took part with the initial challenge to qualify as one of the top eight teams who will be invited back on 4^th May to take part in our Champions event.

The festival also provided the opportunity to battle it out to be victor on the day. Congratulations must go Harpenden U7’s and Hemel Hempstead U8’s who claimed these titles on Sunday.

Harpenden U7s second team were Runners Up and Barnet claimed the other Runners Up place in the U8 age group.

Simon Mathews from Cheshunt U7’s commented: “Just wanted to say thanks to you and the team for organising a great day. All the players and parents from Cheshunt Under 7′s thoroughly enjoyed themselves. My 7 year old hasn’t stopped talking about the tries he scored on the same pitch as his heroes, Chris Ashton, Owen Farrell and now David Strettle.”

Chris Kennedy from Ongar RFC from Upminster also fed back: “Just a quick note to thank you for such a great day. It was a great day for all – the players enjoyed the special atmosphere and playing on the pitch.”

All photos courtesy of Paul Stephens, DE Photo.

It’s very simple, just follow the details below.

If Saracens reach the final, your card will be debited for the seat you have reserved and you will be sent your final tickets automatically.  If Saracens don’t reach the final, you will only be charged a 50p registration fee which will be donated to LV= SOS Kitaid – so there’s nothing to lose.

For more information and to register your interest – click here

The victory over the Exiles saw Sarries move to the top of the Premiership table.

Click below for a picture special from the match.

Reacting to the performance that saw his side claim pole position ahead of a two week break from the league, Director of Rugby Mark McCall said: “It’s a great position to be in.  We’ve got Quins here next in three weeks time.  It’s going to be a huge game, and a game we’ll really look forward too.  In this part of the season, these last 3 or 4 games that we’ve played, is about positioning yourselves.  Having lost to London Irish and to have played so poorly, to respond with three bonus point wins is a heck of effort.” 

Saracens secured a bonus point win with a David Strettle try, and McCall again praised the England winger for his performance.

“I think David (Strettle) is playing the best he’s played, certainly in the last three seasons.  He had brilliant game out there again today, obviously he scored a try but he was instrumental in other of our try’s with one of the lines he took.  He’s playing extremely well.”

McCall though took time out to praise a London Welsh side, who contributed to a tense contest.

“They’ve won four games this year with 7 or 8 losing bonus points and you can see why out there, they compete for absolutely everything, and if you are not on your game then you’ll get a game like today.  We weren’t as good as we could have been today, especially in the first half.  Credit to them, but we didn’t do the things that we talked about doing and all of sudden you are into a contest.”

A first half penalty try was followed up by scores from Joel Tomkins, Will Fraser and David Strettle after the break to secure a third successive bonus point win in the league and take Sarries four points clear at the top of the table.

Welsh got off to a poor start when a kick in the first minute was charged down by Alistair Hargreaves, leading to a penalty and three points for Charlie Hodgson.

Saracens were having the lion’s share of possession in the early stages and soon doubled their lead when Hodgson was given another kick at goal from under the posts.

Against the run of play, London Welsh scored the game’s first try after 26 minutes when Julio Cabello’s off-load bounced nicely for Seb Stegmann on the left wing to cross.

But the visitors then lost Canadian winger Phil Mackenzie to the sin-bin and a few minutes later conceded a penalty try as a Sarries lineout led to a maul that was illegally dragged down.

To make matters worse, prop Tom Bristow was yellow-carded for the offence, but while they were down to 13 men, Henson knocked over a penalty.

However, yet more ill-discipline from the Exiles allowed Hodgson to slot another penalty before Henson reduced the gap to 16-11 with a scrappy drop goal that clipped the crossbar right on half-time.

Saracens managed to put more daylight between the sides seven minutes into the second half when a sweeping move involving Hodgson and Duncan Taylor led to Joel Tomkins holding off his tackler to score, with the former converting.

Henson struck another penalty before Sarries took a huge step towards victory just after the hour mark when Strettle found Schalk Brits, whose off-load allowed Will Fraser to just finish in the corner.

The bonus point was sealed with eight minutes remaining when Saracens sealed the bonus point after Strettle went through a gap 20 metres out to score under the posts and Hodgson added to extras to seal the game.

Saracens: Wyles, Short (Ransom 69), Tomkins, Taylor (Mordt 51), Strettle, Hodgson, Wiggleworth (De Kock 51), Gill (Auterac 21), Brits (George 62), Stevens (Du Plessis 58), Borthwick, Hargreaves (Botha 56), Wray, Fraser (Saull 66), Joubert

The two sides will have their Six Nations stars returning, and the game promises to showcase some of the finest domestic talent that the  Premiership has to offer.

Since the Premiership’s inception, Saracens have played Harlequins a total of 29 times, with Saracens edging contests between the two sides with 17 wins.     

Earlier this season when the two sides met Saracens secured an 18-16 win, with Saracens’ Fly Half Owen Farrell scoring all of his side’s 18 points in a tight contest at the Stoop.

The next match at Allianz Park promises to be equally as tense and dramatic, with both sides aiming to finish top of the table in the regular premiership rounds. 

Gill, who has been capped for Wales three times said:  “We’re taking on a side that are involved in a relegation battle and are fighting for their survival. They will be dogged, and I’d imagine every game now is massive for them.”

Saracens are playing the Welsh exiles after two impressive try-bonus-point wins against the Exeter Chiefs and Leicester Tigers, and the Welsh loosehead prop believes the team is performing well in what is an important time of the season: “The team is going pretty well at the moment.  We need to keep building momentum as we have a few important games coming up, but we just need to focus on our gameplan and keep trying to improve week by week.”

Gates open at Allianz Park at 11h15 and with the final tickets for the round 17 match being sold this morning, it means that the first three games at Saracens new home have now sold out following Exeter Chiefs two weeks ago, London Welsh tomorrow and Harlequins on March 24.

Don’t forget that if you are traveling to Allianz Park tomorrow, leave your car at home and use the Saracens Shuttle. More than 5,000 fans used the free service from Mill Hill East Underground and Mill Hill Broadway Station two weeks ago.

As part of a tour to the UK organised by Touraid last month, 18 children, most of whom are orphans, arrived at Heathrow after a long and exhausting journey from the Kingdom of Lesotho. They were met by members of Braintree RFC, Allianz and Touraid, who helped facilitate their rugby based tour to the UK.

Touraid supports orphanages, projects and schools for disadvantaged children in Africa, Asia and the West Indies. The belief is that real changes can be made to help inspire the next generation of leaders, role models and mentors in their own communities and Saracens are very much in support of the great work the charity does.

Day one was a trip to the local schools with their hosts. A great experience for all involved. The next day was a visit to Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School. Time was spent in various lessons, ranging from creating explosions in chemistry to doing still life in art and of course finishing with a rugby session.

After a day relaxing with their host families, the boys were very excited about spending the day at the new home of Saracens, Allianz Park. The boys were thrilled to learn new skills from the community team at Saracens as par tof the Saracens Rugby Camp Programme.

The next adventure was a trip to No. 10 Downing Street followed by a visit to Buckingham Palace, the Lesotho high commission. A day to remember!

The final day of the tour saw the boys from both TY academy and Braintree rugby club play a rugby tournament for the ‘Lesotho Cup’ with TY taking the spoils. After some emotional goodbyes, the boys were on the way back to Heathrow on the last leg of an amazing adventure, where they were welcomed home as heroes.

But please wait for the players to leave the field our staff to open the pitch access gates before you try to get on the pitch – there is no need to rush. If in doubt, please listen out for the PA announcements.

Also, please avoid taking food and drink on the pitch…but you are more than welcome to take your own rugby balls!

The cups a designed to be re-usable, so please take them back to the bars or hand them in at collection points throughout the day.

Domino’s Pizza delivered to your seat is already a huge success with the Allianz Park faithful and visiting fans all wanting a slice of the action!.

Every match day Domino’s will be selling pizza from their order kiosk located in the North East end of the ground. Order and pay for the 9” pizza before the match and it will be delivered to your seat in the stands as soon as the whistle blows to end the first half.

But this delivery service is only offered to the first 50 customers on match days – so get your order in early to avoid missing out on a piping hot pizza at half time.

As you can see from our the photo from the London Welsh match, some lucky fans had the Wolf and Matt Hankin and Max Crumpton as their delivery boys! Who will be delivering your pizza Sunday?

Situated on the West side of the ground between the demountable seats and permanent stand, Sunday’s offering on Saracens Street includes delicious food from India, Austria, the USA and you can also get a refreshing fresh juice while supporting a local charity with drinks from the Barnet Mencap Juice Bar.

In Saracens Street on Sunday are:

Bhangra Indian  – serving delicious authentic Indian spiced burgers and lamb wraps with the spiced lamb rumps griddled in front of you.

Fine Food offer us Chicken and Lamb Spiced Wraps – a meal full of meat spices and condiments with delicious Indian chicken and lamb wraps with Mango chutney and yoghurt dips.

Speckmobile – offers authentic Austrian pork schnitzel and Ham Dumplings freshly cooked in front of you and finished off with Austrian Apple Strudel.

Big Apple offers New York style hot dogs -  Big Apple Hot Dogs are hand-made inLondon using only natural casings and using free-range pork, prime beef and the buns come fresh from local bakers

Barnet Mencap Juice Bar – watch them blend a range of fresh fruit smoothies and hot drinks…so whether you want a winter warmer or refreshing fresh fruit smoothie visit them to see the fruit blended and also have some of your five a day.

In team news ahead of the game, Director of Rugby Mark McCall makes two changes to the team that beat Leicester Tigers at Welford Road last weekend with Duncan Taylor starting the match at inside centre. The other change to the starting XV sees George Kruis partner captain Steve Borthwick in the second row.

On the replacement’s bench, Andy Saull makes a first appearance since before Christmas having recovered from a fractured thumb while Jamie George, Mouritz Botha and Ben Ransom all come into the matchday squad.

“London Welsh have been a highly competitive team all season and they bring a high level of intensity and work rate to matches,” explained McCall. “The challenge for us on Sunday, and for the remainder of the season, is to continue to build on our performances and concentrate on our own game plan. If we get those things right, we will give ourselves a good chance of getting the outcome that we want.”

Saracens line-up vs London Welsh

15 Chris Wyles
14 James Short
13 Joel Tomkins
12 Duncan Taylor
11 David Strettle
10 Charlie Hodgson
9 Richard Wigglesworth
1 Rhys Gill
2 Schalk Brits
3 Matt Stevens
4 Steve Borthwick ©
5 George Kruis
6 Jackson Wray
7 Will Fraser
8 Ernst Joubert

16 Jamie George
17 Nick Auterac
18 Petrus du Plessis
19 Mouritz Botha
20 Andy Saull
21 Neil de Kock
22 Nils Mordt
23 Ben Ransom

Saracens Pioneers will be on hand to direct you to the Shuttle stop outside the stations and then on arrival at the Allianz Park stop in Pursley Road.

Edgware Station is closed on Sunday but the bus will stick pick up from there.

Saracens Shuttle services will also run to the stations after the game until two and a half hours after the final whistle.

Remember that a Controlled Parking Zone will be enforced around the stadium. To avoid delay, disappointment and maybe even a parking ticket, you are strongly advised not to drive directly to the stadium and to hope for the best.

Be sure to arrive early and take advantage of the happy hour in the bars around the ground from 11h15 to 12h15 where all lager and bitter will be just £2 per pint and of course, the famous Saracens Laverstoke Pies, priced just £4, are also on sale.

There will be live music in the East Stand bar before and after the game and at 110m long and 16m wide, there is plenty of room in the biggest bar in world rugby.

You can also explore the new Piazza in the South East corner of the ground that will also contain a number of food and beverage units – it’s well worth a visit.

Just 11 points separate the top six teams while at the foot of the table, London Irish in 10^th are only five points ahead of Sale Sharks at the foot of the table.

Round 17 fixtures

Friday 1^st March
Bath v Gloucester
Worcester Warriors v Wasps

Saturday 2^nd March
Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks
Northampton Saints v London Irish
Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs

Sunday 3^rd March
Saracens v London Welsh

Round 17 Previews

Bath v Gloucester

Bath Rugby’s run of six straight victories in all competitions ended with their narrow 23-25 reversal at Northampton last Saturday. Bath’s only defeat at The Rec in their last eleven games in any tournament since September was 0-22 to Saracens in Aviva Premiership Rugby on 22 December. Gloucester Rugby have won two of their last three matches in the Premiership, whilst their only away victory in the competition since the end of September was 27-11 at Northampton on 9 February. Gloucester have won their last five Premiership contests against their local rivals since Bath’s 24-8 victory at The Rec on 27 December 2009 – their only win over Gloucester in their last ten encounters in the tournament.

Worcester Warriors v Wasps

Worcester Warriors have slipped to five successive Aviva Premiership Rugby defeats since their 13-6 home win over London Welsh on 21 December. The Warriors’ only victory at Sixways in any tournament since then was 71-19 over Spanish side Gernika in the European Challenge Cup on 19 January. London Wasps’ five game winning run in Aviva Premiership Rugby ended with their 19-30 reversal at London Irish on Sunday. The Londoners have not suffered back to back Premiership defeats since September. Wasps won 10-6 when the two sides met at Adams Park in round six, whilst Worcester’s only victory over Wasps in their last five Premiership fixtures was 6-0 at Adams Park on New Year’s Day 2012.

Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks

Leicester Tigers’ only win in their last four games was 28-12 over London Welsh at Welford Road in Aviva Premiership Rugby on 9 February. Tigers slipped up 27-32 at home to Saracens on Saturday evening but have not lost back to back encounters at Welford Road since October 2011. Sale Sharks’ four match winning run in all competitions ended with their 21-30 home defeat to tabletopping Harlequins on Friday night. The Sharks have won their last two away games in all competitions but have not won three in a row on the road in the same season since October 2006. The Tigers have won their last six fixtures with the Sharks since Sale won 15-12 at Edgeley Park on 4 September 2009. The Sharks’ only victory at Welford Road since November 2003 was 14-11 in the Premiership on 23 February 2008.

Northampton Saints v London Irish

Northampton Saints have won three of their last four Aviva Premiership Rugby matches and remarkably have won only two of their last five fixtures at Franklin’s Gardens in the tournament. London Irish beat Wasps 30-19 at Madejski Stadium on Sunday and have now won three of their last four games in the competition. The Exiles only away win this season in Aviva Premiership Rugby was 18-12 at Gloucester in round 13. London Irish beat Northampton 39-17 when the two clubs met at Madejski Stadium in round six. The Irishmen have never before achieved a league double over the Saints. The Exiles won on their most recent visit to Franklin’s Gardens: 14-13 on 17 September 2011.

Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs

Harlequins’ only defeat in their last 13 contests in all competitions was 16-17 to London Wasps at the Twickenham Stoop in Aviva Premiership Rugby on 9 February – this represents their only defeat at the venue this season. Exeter Chiefs’ five match winless run in the Premiership ended on Saturday with their 47-16 victory over London Welsh at Sandy Park. The Devonians have not won on the road in Aviva Premiership Rugby since their visit to London Irish on 25 November. Exeter are one of only four sides to have beaten Harlequins in the Premiership this season, and are chasing a first ever league double over the Londoners. The Chiefs have lost on all three previous visits to the Stoop in all competitions.

Saracens v London Welsh

Saracens only defeat in their last eleven encounters in all competitions was 16-29 at London Irish in Aviva Premiership Rugby on 9 February. Saracens have not lost any home game at their seven different home venues since Clermont Auvergne won 22-3 at Vicarage Road in the quarter-final of last season’s European Cup. London Welsh have slipped to six successive Premiership defeats since beating London Irish 15-9 at Kassam Stadium on 1 December. The Exiles’ solo away victory in the competition remains at 29-19 when they visited Sale on 21 September. Saracens won 28-23 at Oxford in their only previous Premiership encounter with London Welsh, whilst the Welshmen’s only previous league win over Saracens was 23-7 way back on 12 September 1987 at Southgate in league division two (London Welsh’s very first league game).

The following players will be involved in the upcoming U18 matches for England, Wales and Ireland respectively, as well as the FIRA competition in France in April:

ENGLAND U18 Nick Tompkins (Oaklands College) Nathan Earle (Oaklands College) Hayden Stringer (Oaklands College) Josh Sharp (Oaklands College) Maro Itoje (Harrow School) Sam James (The Bishop’s Stortford High School)
WALES U18 Ben Calder (Oaklands College)

IRELAND U18 CLUBS Jack Cullen (The Bishop’s Stortford High School)

Jack Maplesden (Woodhouse Grove School) and George Perkins (Oaklands College) have just returned from England U17 camp, and will be looking to gain selection for their upcoming game against Georgia.

In addition to the U18 international programme, the England U16 programme is also starting. The following players have been selected from Saracens:

Alex Munday (Berkhamstead Collegiate School, Herts) Billy Walker (Great Baddow High School, Essex) Dominic Morris (Newhall School, Essex) Matt Gallgher (Colfe’s School, Kent) Alex Everett (Judd School, Kent)

Despite an ankle injury suffered at Worcester earlier this season, the 22-year-old has battled his way back to full fitness and has picked up where he left off on his return to action.

“Apart from the set-back with my injury, the last year has been pretty good,” explained the Essex raised back row.  “I’m feel I’m starting to make an impact in the team in what is a competitive area within the squad, and I feel that my game has come along leaps and bounds due the calibre of players who are around me, and hopefully I can continue to do so.

“I feel like I was playing some of my best stuff before the injury and I hope that now I’m back playing, I can kick-on and reproduce some of the form and establish myself in the side. It’s also important we build on our recent performances as we really enter the business end of the season – and that starts against London Welsh on Sunday.”

A very limited number of tickets remain on sale for Sunday’s game – click here for more.

Saracens fought back from 17-3 down at Welford Road to not only win the game, but also claim a bonus point and it is those battling qualities that Smit believes will stand his side in good stead for the remainder of the season.

“Backing up from last weekend, we need to take our second half performance into the game against London Welsh at Allianz Park,” he explained.

“London Welsh are a team who weren’t easy opponents away from home earlier this season, and we are going to have to take the good form we’ve had over the last couple of weeks and use that to the best of our ability this Sunday.”

Smit also paid tribute to those who have come into the team in recent weeks with a number of the squad away on international duty.

“This will always been one of the trickiest times of the season for any team, when players are absent with the Six Nations, and you know it’s a tell tale sign of a good team when the squad is operating well and the guys who get to come in continue the good form of the club.”

He added: “There’s a big responsibility for those who are playing in the Saracens shirt while the internationals are away with their respective countries, and I think in their time away, there have been some really good signs from those who have played.  It’s getting close to the business end of the season, so it’s a good time for us to be playing good rugby and getting good wins like Leicester away which is a massive result.  There’s a long way to go, but it’s a good time to be playing well.”

The 16-acre site is home to cats, dogs, pigs, goats, horses, rabbits and one solitary sheep.  The centre has seen a worrying increase of animals being abandoned recently, and donations to the centre have begun to dry up, due to relatively uncertain financial climate.

Pavey said: “Here at Southridge we need all the help we can get to help re-home the animals.   We have over 60 dogs, 100 cats, rabbits, horses and sheep at the centre and with Justin and John coming along today they got to meet some of these animals.”

“We explained to the guys how difficult it is to maintain and run the centre.  A centre of this size requires about £2,000 per day to keep it going, which is why we need as much help and assistance as we can get.”

“So we at Southridge RSPCA are indebted to Saracens, and John and Justin in particular, for sparing their time to come along and see the animals.”

Southridge RSPCA centre has some fantastic animals, which are in need of a new home and a fresh start. For any more information about the centre, please check out the Southridge RSPCA website by clicking here.

Andy Duckworth, Marketing Director, said: “The feedback has been really useful, and it’s good to know so many of our supporters enjoyed the first Premiership match at our new stadium. However, we are always looking for ways to improve, and the sheer volume of feedback has been fantastic.”

The following issues are among items being addressed:

Car parking excess demand

The main South car park is scheduled to be open for the match against Harlequins on March 24; until then, a domino effect has caused some additional demand in P1, P2 and P3, affecting seasonal parking bookings at Copthall and Dollis schools. Some customers have now been upgraded to the Power League car park for the remainder of the season, easing the problem. Parking at Hasmonean Boys School was withdrawn just before the Exeter match, but it will be fully operational on Sunday.

Saracens Ale selling out

Our own home brew has proved extremely popular, selling out at both the matches against Cardiff Blues and Exeter. There will be more ale on sale on Sunday. Drink us dry again?

Queues in the Main Bar, East stand

The completion of the main piazza in the south-east corner of the ground means the East will be fully operational, with temporary bars as well as the two permanent bars. We will also be introducing a voucher system whereby you can buy your half-time pints before the match and be given a token, which you can instantly redeem for your pint during the interval.

Finding the right Saracens Express bus to go home

Signage on the coaches parked in P3, the parking area adjacent to Gate C, will be improved, ensuring it is easy to locate the correct bus.

Access to the pitch after the match

Nobody will need to climb over billboards because there will be easier, signed access to the pitch after the Saracens players have completed their lap of honour.

Man of the Match presentation

Richard Hill will make the formal presentation to the Man of the Match in the Main Bar, East stand, roughly 45 minutes after the final whistle.

Thank you for your continued feedback, as we work together – club and supporters – to make Allianz Park exactly what we want it to be – a fantastic home.

Four second half tries against Leicester Tigers earned the visitors their second bonus point win in as many seasons at Welford Road; this despite trailing 17-3 with just a few minutes left in the first half.

De Kock said: “It was a tale of two halves! In the first half we really struggled to get into the game due to their intensity, and in the second half we decided to throw everything at them and offensively I think we really saw the difference.  We were outstanding in the second half, we threw everything at them and we came away with the result.”

Flanker Will Fraser also paid tribute to Saracens’ team spirit and how they ‘pulled together’ after a poor first-half showing

He said: “It’s something we at the club pride ourselves on, and that is to play for each other.  We knew at half time that our performance let them off the hook a little bit so we knew we had not performed anywhere near our potential.  To score four tries in one half at Welford Road is almost unheard of, so it’s a massive credit to the team on how we pulled together.

“It’s a huge result.  To come up here and get any form of result is tough, but to come up here and get a bonus point in effectively 40 minutes is right up there.”

Hooker Schalk Brits returned to the starting line-up and highlighted how his side’s leadership group played a pivotal role in the amazing second half turnaround at Welford Road.

“At half time we just spoke about focusing on the basics and the boys looked pretty amazing in the second half,” explained Brits.

“After the break we came off the line a lot quicker, we carried harder and it is the desire that this team has to perform and be successful every weekend, not every other weekend.  To come to Welford Road is quite nice, you’ve always got a big crowd and it’s always a tough, physical game, and playing the Tigers you know what to you’re going to get.  We didn’t face up in the first half, but the boys came out firing in the second half. It’s great result.”

The bonus point victory against Leicester Tigers lifted Sarries back to within a point of Harlequins at the top of the Premiership table and Strettle, who crossed the line twice in the win, praised the character of the side to come back from 17-6 down at half time.

The England wing said: “In the first half we didn’t do the things that we had set out to do and Mark McCall reminded us of that at half-time.  In the second half we brought the physicality to Leicester, stuck to our game plan and we played the kind of rugby that we all know we could.

“As soon as we upped the physicality in the second half, we started to win the gain-line battle, and the ball at the breakdown speeded up. Any side is difficult to stop when they have quick ball available, and Leicester proved that in the first-half.  Their breakdown speed was great and we struggled to defend against them and our usual line-speed, which is something we pride ourselves on, wasn’t up to scratch.”

Along with a superb James Short effort, full-back Wyles completed the scoring and secured the try-scoring bonus point.

“It was fantastic feeling scoring the bonus point try,” said Wyles. “Obviously our backs were against the wall when we came in at half time and to come back in the second half and score four tries shows the strength of character, and the grit and determination this squad has.