Wing
Position: Wing
Born: 29 Mar 1987
Height: 5ft 11in (1.82m)
Weight: 14st 6lb (92kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2012
Previous Clubs: Wigan Warriors; Northampton Saints
Honours: England (34 caps)
Debut: vs London Irish (01.09.12)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 21
Player Sponsor: Franke Coffee / Smart IPX
Chris Ashton is a new signing to the Saracens squad for the 2012/13 season after joining from Northampton Saints. A regular with England since making his debut in 2010, he has been a prolific try scorer at club and international level since he switched codes from Wigan Warriors in 2007. Becoming only the second England player to score four tries in a Championship match and the first for 97 years hangs lightly on the shoulders of Ashton, who achieved the feat in the 59-13 win over Italy in February. His exploits brought the man of match award. With two tries already tucked away against Wales, it took him to a RBS 6 Nations Championship equalling best of six in a season in the 2012 tournament. Ashton also headed the try list in the European Challenge Cup in 2008-09 and was the Premiership Player of the Season in 2009-10 and the competition’s top try-scorer with 16. A product of St John Fisher Catholic HS, he emerged through Wigan’s development system. Rugby runs in the family. His father Kevin appeared for Wigan RUFC and brother David played for Swinton Lions RLFC.
Scrum Half
Position: Scrum Half
Born: 15 Sep 1990
Height: 5ft 10in (1.79m)
Weight: 12st 10lbs (81kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2006
Previous Clubs: Tunbridge Wells RFC
Honours:
Debut: 09.11.10 vs USA
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 5
Player Sponsor: The Coulthard Family
Scrum Half Baldwin has come through the ranks of the Saracens Academy and gave fans a glimpse of his talents in helping the club to win the JP Morgan Asset Management Sevens title at the start of the 2010/11 season. Strong performances continued throughout the season in the A-League for the youngster who has also been dual registered with Bedford Blues for the past two years – that eventually led to him earning his first team debut against the USA in 2010. The scrum half has made four appearances for the club and is a regular for the Saracens Storm. Baldwin will spend the 2012/13 season on loan with Championship club Bedford Blues.
Centre
Position: Centre
Born: 07 Aug 1986
Height: 6ft 1in (1.86m)
Weight: 15st 2lb (96kg)
Date Joined: 12 Aug 2008
Previous Clubs: The Sharks
Honours: England (16 caps), England Saxons
Debut: vs Gloucester (16/11/08)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 112
Player Sponsor: Nigel & Cindy Goodman
Now in his fifth season with Saracens, the 2011/12 season saw Barritt make his full England debut as he reflected his consistent club form in a red rose shirt to play all five 2012 Six Nations matches and earn a sport on the summer tour to South Africa. He joined Saracens from The Sharks in 2008 and since his arrival he has been one of the mainstays of the Saracens squad and was also named the club’s Player of the Season in the 2009/10 campaign. He was also nominated for the Aviva Premiership Player of the Year Award in 2012. His performances for Saracens quickly caught the eye of the national selectors and he was part of the England Saxons touring squad in the summer of 2009 and he went on to produce two excellent displays for the Saxons in friendlies in early 2010. He was called up for England’s tour to Australia and New Zealand later that summer where he played the midweek match against New Zealand Moari before getting his full honours in 2012.
Second Row
Position: Second Row
Born: 12 Oct 1979
Height: 6ft 6in (1.98m)
Weight: 17st 7lb (111kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jun 2008
Previous Clubs: Preston Grasshoppers, Bath
Honours: England 57 caps
Debut: va Harlequins (6/9/08)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 117
Player Sponsor: Peter Rabin
The decorated second row is now in his fifth season with Saracens and he has captained the club since his arrival from Bath in 2008.
Borthwick led Saracens to their first ever Premiership title in the 2010/11 season and his performances in the set piece and loose always catch the eye.
Borthwick has 57 England caps and that included a two year spell in which he was England captain from 2008 – a position he held until the final game of the 2010 Six Nations when a knee injury saw him ruled out of the match.
A product of Preston Grasshoppers, Borthwick was a lynchpin in the Bath pack since making his Premiership debut for the West Country club in the 1998/99 season and has captained the West Country side for three seasons.
He led the club to their first trophy in a decade in 2007/08 when they defeated Worcester Warriors to lift the European Challenge Cup – his final match for the club before joining Saracens.
Second Row
Position: Second Row
Born: 29 Jan 1982
Height: 6ft 6ins (1.98m)
Weight: 18st (115kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2009
Previous Clubs: Bedford Blues
Honours: England (10 caps), England Saxons
Debut: vs London Irish (5/9/09)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 111
Player Sponsor: Nigel and Cindy Goodman
Mouritz Botha started the 2009/10 season having just signed from National League One side Bedford Blues, but just two years later he had lifted the Premiership title and became a mainstay of the England side. The 6ft 6in lock forward was one of the cornerstones of the Bedford Blues pack where he made 57 appearances after joining the club in 2006 after being spotted rising through the ranks at Bedford Athletic. Botha, who was born in Vryheid, South Africa, helped Saracens to win the Aviva Premiership title for the first time in May 2011, having played club rugby in Cape Town and arrived in the UK in October 2004. He is now qualified by residence. After signing to play for Bedford Athletic in what was then National Three North, he worked as an office assistant before being made redundant and then found a temporary job in a carpet washing factory and did six tonnes of them each day.
Next up was stripping asbestos out of houses in Bedford. By then his club had been relegated to Midlands One but Botha continued to play there until Bedford Blues awarded him a full time contract and he made 57 appearances for the Goldington Road club before signing for Saracens in 2009-10. As a stand out player for the Blues, he had won East Midlands’ selection for the 2009 Mobbs Memorial match against the Barbarians. His first England cap was off the bench against Wales at Twickenham ahead of the 2011 World Cup. He missed out on selection but when on to play in all five of England’s 2012 Six Nations matches and was part of the summer touring party to South Africa later that year.
Hooker
Position: Hooker
Born: 16 May 1981
Height: 5ft 10in (1.82m)
Weight: 15st 10lb (100kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jun 2009
Previous Clubs: Stormers, Western Province, Cats
Honours: South Africa 3 caps
Debut: 5.9.09 vs London Irish
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 111
Player Sponsor: Franke Coffee Systems UK / Smart IPX
There is little that hasn’t been said in terms of superlatives to describe the dynamic hooker Brits and his performances in the past three years and have seen him earn accolades across the domestic game. He signed for Saracens at the start of the 2009/10 season, bringing with him a wealth of talent and experience at Super 14 and international level. He joined from The Stormers franchise where he was a regular in the Super 14 and has also been a mainstay of the Western Province side in the Currie Cup. Brits made his Springbok debut last summer as a replacement against Italy before featuring in the Tri Nations against New Zealand and Australia.
He won the Man of the Match award when he played for the Barbarians against England at Twickenham in May 2009 – giving Saracens fans an early clue of what they could expect from the popular hooker over the next 12 months and there weren’t to be disappointed in a season that also saw Brits named as the RPA Player of the Season and nominated for the Premiership award. Brits continued to collect accolades in the 2010/11 season, being nominated for Premiership Player of the Year and winning the Try of the Season Award. He was also named Man of the Match in Saracens victory over Leicester Tigers at Twickenham in May 2011 to lift the Premiership trophy. He started the 2012/13 season by signing a new contract with the North London club.
Back Row
Position: Back Row
Born: 08 Jun 1982
Height: 6ft 4in (1.93m)
Weight: 16st 10lb (106kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2010
Previous Clubs: Glasgow Warriors
Honours: Scotland 57 caps
Debut: 4.9.10 vs London Irish
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 60
Player Sponsor: Northwood Prep
Kelly Brown’s first season with Saracens saw him lift the Premiership title and just a few months later he was part of Scotland’s World Cup squad in New Zealand.
As one of the mainstays of the Scottish back row since being named as the SPRA Player of the Season in 2007, his impressive performances for both club and on the world stage saw Saracens move quickly to sign him at the start of the 2010/11 campaign.
He made his Scotland debut in 2005 and has been a regular on the international stage ever since having represented his country at U18. U19 and U21 levels. His pace and power were also evident when he helped Scotland to reach the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup 7s in 2005.
He missed the final few months of the 2011/12 campaign through injury, but he is on course to be fit and ready for the start of the 2012/13 season.
Back Row
Position: Back Row
Born: 29 Jul 1983
Height: 6ft 2in (1.88m)
Weight: 16st 10lb (106kg)
Date Joined: 24 Dec 2009
Previous Clubs: Griquas, Bulls
Honours: Namibia 29 caps
Debut: vs Worcester Warriors (13/2/10)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 51
Player Sponsor: The Vickers Family
The back row has quickly earned a reputation as one of the toughest tacklers in the league following his arrival midway through the 2009/10 season – and his performances also haven’t gone unnoticed among as his peers as he was named the Saracens Player of the Year in 2010/11.
The Namibian international was the stand out performer for his country in the 2007 World Cup in France – displays that saw him earn a contract with Super 14 outfit the Bulls. His performances in the 2011 tournament in New Zealand were equally impressive where he captained his country.
He is capable of playing anywhere across the back row, but has played much of his rugby as a flanker on either side of the scrum.
He missed much of the 2011/12 season through injury, but he remains one of the most feared back rows in Europe.
Scrum Half
Position: Scrum Half
Born: 20 Nov 1978
Height: 5ft 9ins (1.77m)
Weight: 12st 12lb (82kg)
Date Joined: 03 Sep 2006
Previous Clubs: The Stormers (SA), Western Province
Honours: South Africa 10 caps
Debut: v London Irish (30.9.06)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 175
Player Sponsor: Stephen Thomas
In his first full season with Saracens, Neil de Kock captained the side to a semi-final place in the Heineken Cup and his performances have been just as impressive ever since.
It didn’t take the South African international scrum half long to make his mark at Saracens and already he is regarded by many supporters to have been one of the club’s most successful overseas signings.
An example of that came in the 2006/07 season – his first with Saracens – when only a few months into his spell he was offered an extended contract. He made an instant impression on the side following his arrival from Western Province in October of that season.
Such was his impact in his first year that he was the players’ choice to lead the side as captain for the 2007/08 season.
He was a regular with the South African province and also with the Super 14 side The Stormers and is widely regarded as one of the most talented scrum halves in South Africa where his passing, kicking game and all round awareness saw him win 10 caps for the Springboks after making his debut in 2001 against Italy. He was also part of the country’s 2003 World Cup squad.
He signed a new deal with the London club at the start of the 2012/13 season.
Prop
Position: Prop
Born: 31 May 1981
Height: 6ft 1in (1.85m)
Weight: 18st 1lb (115kg)
Date Joined: 22 Mar 2010
Previous Clubs: Nottingham
Honours:
Debut: vs Newcastle Falcons (28/3/10)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 62
Player Sponsor: The Coulthard Family
Tighthead prop Petrus du Plessis joined Saracens in March 2009 having impressed the coaching staff with his stand out performances for Championship side Nottingham.
The South African born but English qualified prop was due to join the Premiership side from the start of the 2010/11 season, but injuries in the front row hastened his arrival.
He made his debut against Newcastle Falcons that season and he quickly adapted to life in the Premiership.
The qualified physiotherapist started his career with Sedgeley Park before being snapped up by Nottingham. It was while with the Meadow Lane club that his performances caught the eye and earned him a move to the Premiership.
The prop began his interest in physiotherapy when he started playing rugby from a very young age. After school (Hermanus High School – 1999), he went to Stellenbosh University in 2000 and finished a Sports Science and Marketing HND.
After coming to the UK in 2002 he wanted to pursue his career in Physiotherapy and started working for the NHS as a physiotherapy assistant. In 2004 he enrolled into a part-time Bsc (Hons) Physiotherapy course at Salford University in Manchester, whilst continuing to play rugby and working as an assistant.
He graduated in 2008 as a chartered physiotherapist and started working full-time in the NHS in St. Helens as a physiotherapist. He also branched out to become a lecturer in “violence in the workplace” for NHS staff, speaking at major conferences and developing techniques in physical intervention.
Centre / Fly Half
Position: Centre / Fly Half
Born: 24 Sep 1991
Height: 6ft 2in (1.88m)
Weight: 15st 2lb (96kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2007
Previous Clubs: Harpenden, Wigan RL
Honours: England (16 caps)
Debut: vs Llanelli Scarlets (5/10/08)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 73
Player Sponsor: Gemalto
Few could have written the script for Owen Farrell for the past two season that has seen him win a Premiership title with Saracens and become a full England international.
Farrell began the 2010/11 season as one of a group of players dual registered with Bedford Blues, but injury problems at fly half midway through the season saw Farrell promoted to the first team and he never looked back.
He guided the team to their second successive Twickenham final before a flawless kicking display of 17 points saw Sarries to their first ever title.
The year also saw him nominated for the Young Player of the Season by both the Premiership and RPA.
Last season, he continued to develop and shared the fly half duties with Charlie Hodgson and his performances caught the eye of England coach Stuart Lancaster who gave him his debut against Scotland at Murrayfield in the 2012 Six Nations.
He appeared in all matches for England and was named in the summer touring party to South Africa.
He won the 2012 Premiership and RPA Young Player of the season awards.
Back Row
Position: Back Row
Born: 11 Aug 1986
Height: 6ft 1in (1.86m)
Weight: 16st 11lb (102kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2012
Previous Clubs: Western Province, Stormers
Honours:
Debut: vs London Welsh (07/10/12)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 9
Player Sponsor: Neil and Alison Pearson
Back row Nick Fenton-Wells joined Saracens at the start of the 2012/13 season from Western Province.
He was part of the WP side to lift the Vodacom Cup in 2011, his performances saw him called into the Stormers Super 15 squad for the 2012 tournament.
The University of Cape Town graduate is a fearless tackler and is comfortable playing anywhere across the back row.
Back Row
Position: Back Row
Born: 29 Oct 1989
Height: 6ft 2ins (1.88m)
Weight: 16st 3lb (102kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2005
Previous Clubs: Dulwich College, Fullerians
Honours: England Saxons
Debut: 09.11.10 vs USA
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 43
Player Sponsor: Brendon Street Investments
Will Fraser ended the 2011/12 season as a regular in the Saracens back row in a breakthrough season for the flanker that saw him make 16 first team appearances.
International call-ups and injuries gave the former Academy player his first team chance which he took with both hands and he also crossed the line twice during the final matches of the season to help his side into the semi-finals.
Fraser has been dual registered with Championship side Bedford Blues and his development was also aided by the six month spell he spent with the Western Province Academy in 2009.
Hooker
Position: Hooker
Born: 20 Oct 1990
Height: 6ft (1.83m)
Weight: 17st 2lb (109kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2008
Previous Clubs:
Honours: Eng U16s, U18s, U20s
Debut: vs Northampton Saints (14/11/09)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 64
Player Sponsor: The Coulthard Family
Jamie George forced his way into the Saracens first team during the 2010/11 season and was an integral part of the squad that won the club’s first ever Premiership title.
The hooker is a product of the Saracens Academy having also represented England at U16, U18 and U20 level and it surely won’t be long before further international honours are to follow.
His strong performances continued in 2011/12 when he made 24 appearances and captained the side in the LV=Cup matches
Prop
Position: Prop
Born: 30 Oct 1986
Height: 6ft 1in (1.83m)
Weight: 17st 7lb (111kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2009
Previous Clubs: Cardiff Blues
Honours: Wales (3 caps)
Debut: 5.9.09 vs London Irish
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 104
Player Sponsor: Roger Thomas Business Coaching Services
Rhys Gill’s performances in the 2011/12 season saw him named the Saracens Player of the Year and win a second cap for Wales in the 2012 Six Nations.
Unable to establish himself in the Cardiff Blues first team squad, he left Wales for North London in 2009 and within five months, he was a first team regular for Saracens and also a member of the Welsh Six Nations squad.
He made his debut from the bench against Ireland at Croke Park in 2010 but he had to wait until 2012 for his second cap and was part of the Welsh squad to tour Australia in the summer of that year.
He made his Cardiff debut against Ebbw Vale on September 3 2005 and went on to become a member of the Wales under-21 squad that season.
He finished his first season for the club with 18 appearances and made his blues debut against Munster in Thomond Park in May 2006.
Full Back
Position: Full Back
Born: 05 May 1988
Height: 5ft 11in (1.81m)
Weight: 14st 8lbs (92kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2006
Previous Clubs: Bath, Cambridge
Honours: England (11 caps), England Saxons, U20s
Debut: v Bristol (10.5.08)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 127
Player Sponsor: Cheviot Asset Management
Alex Goode’s performances at full back in the past few seasons have seen him thruust into the spotlight at international level and he earned a place on England’s tour to South Africa in the summer of 2012 where he made his test debut.
Equally at home at full back and fly half, he made his debut against Bristol at the end of the 2007/08 season but it was the following year that marked his breakthrough into the first team. England honours with the Saxons soon followed after coming through the ranks of the Saracens Academy.
He enjoyed a fantastic 2008 U20s Six Nations campaign that saw England lift the Grand Slam and his performances in Saracens Guinness A-League matches meant he was pushing for a place in the first team all season.
He joined Saracens from Cambridge RFC and although he shares the same name as the Leicester Tigers fly half Andy Goode, he is no relation. However, he does have famous sporting relations as Alex is the nephew of Olympic badminton couple Andy and Jo Goode.
Second Row
Position: Second Row
Born: 29 Apr 1986
Height: 6ft 7in (2.01m)
Weight: 114kg
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2012
Previous Clubs: The Sharks
Honours: South Africa (4 caps)
Debut:
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 22
Player Sponsor: The Donner Family
South African international second row Alistair Hargreaves is a new addition to the Saracens squad for the 2012/13 season.
Capped four times by the Springboks, Hargreaves joins from Super 15 region the Sharks for who he appeared more than 50 times since his debut in 2005.
The Durban born second row was part of the Springboks U19 and U21 sides before making the transition to the full side where his appearances include playing against Saracens at Wembley in 2009.
Fly Half
Position: Fly Half
Born: 12 Nov 1980
Height: 5ft 10in (1.78m)
Weight: 12st 12lb (82kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2011
Previous Clubs: Sale Sharks
Honours: England (38 caps), British & Irish Lions
Debut: vs Wasps (3.9.11)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 54
Player Sponsor: AT Bone & Sons
England and British Lions international playmaker and all time Premiership leading points scorer Charlie Hodgson joined Saracens at the start of the 2011/12 season.
It took Hodgson only 80 minutes to blaze across the England rugby firmament when scoring a record 44 points on his Test debut against Romania at Twickenham 11 years ago.
Between February 2003 and November 2006, Halifax-born Charlie started all except one of the 24 Tests for which he was available. He had helped England towards a Grand Slam in 2003, missed the subsequent RWC, required a second operation on an anterior cruciate ligament injury and was absent for eight months.
He helped Sale Sharks win the Premiership title in 2006 and has also toured with the British and Irish Lions.
A shrewd and experienced playmaker, Hodgson is the Premiership’s leading points scorer and his performances for Saracens saw him return to the England side in the 2012 Six Nations where he formed a midfield partnership with his club colleague Owen Farrell.
Following England’s tour to South Africa in the summer of 2012, Hodgson announced that he would be retiring from international rugby.
No.8
Position: No.8
Born: 05 Aug 1980
Height: 6ft 4in (1.93m)
Weight: 16st 12lb (107kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2009
Previous Clubs: Lions
Honours:
Debut: 5.9.09 vs London Irish
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 116
Player Sponsor: The Vickers Family
Ernst Joubert was a new and somewhat unknown signing for Saracens fans when he made the move to London at the start of the 2009/10 season – but he is now regarded as one of the best No.8s in England after three seasons with Saracens.
Those three seasons spent in North London means he is now qualified to play for England.
The powerful ball-carrying skills and broken field running and work in the lineout made him one of the Premiership’s best performers and he was named in the shortlist for player of the season in his first campaign in England…and he remains consistently one of the league’s top performers.
A natural leader, the back row made the move to London from Super 14 outfit the Lions where his last appearance for the team came as a replacement against the British and Irish Lions on their tour to South Africa in 2009.
Injury to captain Steve Borthwick saw Joubert take up the armband for the last two months of the 2009/10 campaign where his and the team’s achievements included the club’s first ever win against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.
Joubert was a key member of the squad that lifted the 2011 Premiership title and seen by many pundits as the best No.8 in the competition.
Second Row
Position: Second Row
Born: 22 Feb 1990
Height: 6ft 6in (1.98m)
Weight: 17st 9lb (112kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2009
Previous Clubs: Barking, Dorking
Honours: England Saxons, U20s
Debut: Vs Northampton Saints (14/11/09)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 59
Player Sponsor: Martin & Anne Flower
George Kruis cemented regular a first team place in the Saracens squad in the 2011/12 campaign, making 27 appearances and fast establishing himself as one of the best young second rows in the country.
His performances caught the eye of many pundits – especially with Man of the Match performances against Wasps and Northampton Saints in front of the TV cameras.
He made his full debut for the club at Northampton Saints in the LV=Cup in 2009 and forced his way into first team reckoning before a fractured wirst early in the New Year interupted his campaign.
The same season, he was part of the IRB Junior World Championships with England U20s and if he maintains his impressive performances, further honours for England should not be far away.
Wing
Position: Wing
Born: 20 Dec 1978
Height: 5ft 8in (1.73m)
Weight: 13st 8lb (86kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2011
Previous Clubs: Benetton Treviso, Bath, Canterbury Crusaders
Honours: NZ Moari
Debut: vs Bath (10.9.11)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 20
Player Sponsor: Franke Coffe Systems Ltd / Smart IPX
Joe Maddock was a new signing to the Saracens squad for the 2011/12 season.
The wing made his professional debut for the province Canterbury in 2001, scoring two tries against Buller in a Ranfurly Shield match. In two years with Canterbury, Maddock ran in 27 tries in 30 appearances.
Maddock marked his Crusaders debut in 2002 with a try against the Highlanders. He scored a further two tries in his freshman season for the Crusaders as they won the Super 12 title undefeated. In 2003, Maddock was selected for the New Zealand Maori squad for their England tour in 2003 – scoring 8 tries in 8 games for the Maori.
Maddock joined Bath from Canterbury in summer 2004 and in the following season, regularly topped the club’s try scoring charts and was the Premiership leading try scorer in the 200/09 season.
He left Bath at the end of the 2009/10 season to join Benetton Treviso following their inclusion to the Magners League.
No.8 / Back Row
Position: No.8 / Back Row
Born: 04 Jan 1983
Height: 6ft 2in (1.88m)
Weight: 16st 10lb (106kg)
Date Joined: 02 Feb 2009
Previous Clubs: Western Province, Stormers, Munster
Honours:
Debut: vs Wasps (29/3/09)
Status: Injured
Total Appearances: 71
Player Sponsor: Enstar
Now in his fifth season with Saracens, Melck’s ability to play anywhere across the back row has made him a valuable member of the Saracens squad.
After joining up with Saracens on trial while the squad was in South Africa, the No.8 / Back Row forward returned home with the team as cover for the injured Michael Owen.
Melck began his career with Western Province and was also a regular with the Super 14 side the Stormers. He captained Western Province during their 2007 Currie Cup campaign and last season had a four month spell with Heineken Cup champions Munster.
He suffered a knee injury in the final league match of the 2011/12 season which will rule him out for the opening months of the new campaign.
Centre
Position: Centre
Born: 05 Dec 1983
Height: 6ft 1in (1.85m)
Weight: 14st 8lb (93kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2010
Previous Clubs:
Honours: England Saxons / 7s
Debut: 19.09.10 vs Leeds Carnegie
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 31
Player Sponsor: Brendon Street Investments
Nils Mordt brought with him a wealth of experience and the ability to play across the backline when he signed for Saracens in the 2010/11 season.
The England Saxons centre started his career at London Irish and he spent six years at the Exiles where he pace and ability with the ball earned him call-ups for the Saxons and England 7s squads and was a member of the England side that won the 2007 Churchill Cup.
He moved to Northampton Saints in 2008 and spent one season with the midlands side before moving back to London and spending last season with Harlequins before making the move to Saracens.
He played an important role in the club reaching the semi-finals of the Premiership in the 2011/12 season as he deputised at fly half with Owen Farrell and Charlie Hodgson performing with England at the Six Nations.
A few weeks later, he led the Saracens 7s side to victory at the prestigious Melrose 7s.
Prop
Position: Prop
Born: 25 Jun 1976
Height: 6ft 1in (1.85m)
Weight: 17st (108kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2009
Previous Clubs: Gloucester, Viadana
Honours: Italy 31 caps
Debut: vs London Irish (5/9/09)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 100
Player Sponsor: Collect Services
The evergreen Italian international joined Saracens from Premiership rivals Gloucester at the start of the 2009/10 season bringing with him a wealth of domestic and international experience.
A regular for the Cherry and Whites following his move from Viadana in 2006, the tight-head prop was originally born in Argentina but moved to Italy as a youngster and has featured for the Azzuri 31 times.
Nieto made his Italy debut against England in the 2002 Six Nations but it wasn’t until he was recalled to the national side in 2005 that he established himself in the first choice front row.
He was a regular on the 2005 tour to Australia and Argentina and was one of his country’s best players in the 2006 Six Nations.
He has been a cornerstone of the Saracens side in the past three season where his scrimmaging displays make his one of the most feared props in the competition. He signed a new contract at the start of the 2012/13 season.
Centre / Wing
Position: Centre / Wing
Born: 06 Nov 1983
Height: 6ft 3ins (1.90m)
Weight: 15st 6lb (98kgs)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2006
Previous Clubs:
Honours: Fiji, Pacific Islands – 21 caps
Debut: v Newcastle (17/9/06)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 111
Player Sponsor: Rift UK Ltd
Kameli Ratuvou has been one of the mainstays of the Saracens squad since his debut in 2006 and his versatility to play at either wing or centre has made him an integral part of the Saracens squad.
The Fijian flyer was one of the stars of the 2007 Rugby World Cup as he and his Fiji team mates upset Wales to make the quarter-finals of the competition before losing out to eventual winners South Africa.
In his first year with Saracens, he was one of the contenders for Player of the Year having scored 11 tries in 2006/07 in what was also his first year of professional rugby.
His involvement in the World Cup saw him miss the opening stages of the following season, but he still went one better and was again the leading try scoring – this time with 12.
Ratuvou first broke onto the international scene in 2005 in a Test against Samoa but it was while on Fiji’s Autumn tour to Europe that he sealed a regular place in the side with his appearances against Wales and Italy.
Has also represented Fiji at Sevens level and been part of the Pacific Islands squad.
Flanker
Position: Flanker
Born: 27 Aug 1988
Height: 6ft 1in (1.86m)
Weight: 16st 5lb (103kg)
Date Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Previous Clubs: Woodford RFC
Honours: England U16s, U19s, U20s, Saxons
Debut: v Bristol (4.11.07)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 123
Player Sponsor: Jed Hunter
Andy Saul has quickly earned the reputation as one of the best open side flankers in the country and in just four seasons has made more than 100 appearances for the club.
Many pundits are tipping the back row to add to his honours for England Saxons and the U20s side if he continues to perform at the highest level for Saracens.
He made his full debut for Saracens in 20007/08 against Bristol in the EDF Energy Cup just months after finishing his A-Level studies. He was also part of the England U20s squad which won the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2008 although he missed much of the previous season with a broken leg.
Saull started his rugby career at Woodford RFC in Essex during the past three years has been studying for a degree in Financial Economics at Birkbeck College in London.
A regular in the team in the 2010/11 title winning season, a knee injury in the final weeks of the 2011/12 season ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign.
Second Row
Position: Second Row
Born: 22 Aug 1988
Height: 6ft 5in (1.96m)
Weight: 17st 1lb (109kg)
Date Joined: 14 Oct 2011
Previous Clubs: Blackrock College, Leinster
Honours: Ireland U18, U19, U20
Debut: vs Worcester Warriors 29.01.12
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 9
Player Sponsor: Rift UK
Second row Eoin Sherriff joined Saracens midway through the 2011/12 seaons on trial from Irish province Leinster.
The former Gorey Community School pupil and Blackrock College player impressed the Saracens coaching staff in the Aviva A-League before being given his full debut against Worcester Warriors in the LV=Cup in January.
He has represented Ireland at U18, U19 and U20 levels and the latter age group saw him winning nine caps.
Wing
Position: Wing
Born: 15 Oct 1989
Height: 6ft (1.82m)
Weight: 14st 7lb (92kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2007
Previous Clubs: Tonbridge
Honours: England U20s
Debut: vs Bath (8/11/09)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 74
Player Sponsor: Brendon Street Investments
James Short continued his try scoring exploits in the 2011/12 season to add to the winner he scored the previous campaign to help club win the Aviva Premiership final.
Short, a graduate of the Saracens Academy, spent the initial part of the 2010/11 season on loan at Bedford Blues and he finished the year scoring the only try of the game at Twickenham as Saracens beat Leicester Tigers 22-18 to win the title.
A regular in the Saracens Storm side for the past three season’s the wing had already demonstrated his try scoring abilities and he continued that form when he broke into the first team.
His strong running and strength in the tackle has made him one of the breakthrough players in the Premiership in the Premiership.
Hooker / Prop
Position: Hooker / Prop
Born: 03 Apr 1978
Height: 6ft 2in (1.88m)
Weight: 18st 5lb (117kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2011
Previous Clubs: Sharks, Clermont Auvergne
Honours: South Africa (111 caps)
Debut: vs Benetton Treviso (13.11.11)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 46
Player Sponsor: SafCap Investments
One of the most decorated players in world rugby, John Smit joined Saracens at the conclusion of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Smit joins the 2010/11 English Champions from the Sharks but it has been on the world stage where Smit has become one of the most respected players of his generation having captained the side since 2004, leading them to World Cup glory in 2007.
In 2010, he became only the 15th Springboks to play 100 test matches and ended his international career at the world cup in New Zealand having amassed 111 caps.
He made his debut for Saracens against Benetton Treviso in the Heineken Cup when he came off the bench to score a try. His experience and knowledge have been vital to the club both on and off the field and his ability to play at prop and hooker saw him make 18 appearances for the club in 2011/12
Prop
Position: Prop
Born: 01 Oct 1982
Height: 6ft (1.83m)
Weight: 19st 5lb (123kg)
Date Joined: 19 Jan 2011
Previous Clubs: Bath
Honours: England (44 caps)
Debut: vs Sale Sharks (6.2.11)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 63
Player Sponsor: Anita Kinsey
Prop Matt Stevens joined Saracens joined Saracens in January 2011 and within months had helped the club to its first Premiership title and was part of England’s World Cup campaign.
Capable of playing either side of the scrum, he is fast approaching a half century of caps for England after making his debut in 2003. Born and raised in South Africa, he earned representative honours at Western Province before joining Bath in 2002.
More than just a strong scrummager, Stevens is no stranger to popping up in the backline and has a good turn of pace with the ball in hand.
He went on be part of the British and Irish Lions touring squad in 2005 and was a member of the 2007 England World Cup squad that reached the final in France and went with England to the 2011 tournament in New Zealand.
Off the field, Stevens has also shown his singing talents and reached the final of The X Factor: Battle of the Stars on ITV in 2006.
Wing
Position: Wing
Born: 23 Jul 1983
Height: 5ft 11in (1.83m)
Weight: 13st 5lb (85kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2010
Previous Clubs: Rotherham, Harlequins
Honours: England (13 caps)
Debut: 12.09.10 vs Sale Sharks
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 80
Player Sponsor: Brendon Street Investments
The 2011/12 season saw David Strettle cross the line five times and earn a place back in the England side for the 2012 Six Nations.
He joined Saracens from London neighbours Harlequins at the start of the 2010/11 season.
Strettle marked his first team debut with a try against Leeds Carnegie and the flyer had an impressive campaign in which he made 30 appearances.
A try scorer on his debut for England against Ireland at Croke Park, Strettle’s most recent Test cap came against New Zealand in Auckland in June 2008.
He had created IRB Sevens history when scoring five first-half tries on his debut against Papua New Guinea. In the winter of 2010 he bagged a try in both Saxons’ matches against Ireland A and Italy A.
He played rugby league from the age of five, switched to Lymm RUFC and had football trials for Manchester City, Everton and Liverpool.
He was educated at Lymm HS and Sheffield Hallam University, where he obtained a Sport Science degree and joined Harlequins in 2006-07 from Rotherham Titans, for whom he had scored a hat trick of tries on his debut.
The PRA Young Player of the Year in 2007, he had taken steps along his mazy path to top level by playing for Cheshire, the North of England Under 21s and British Universities.
Centre
Position: Centre
Born: 05 Sep 1989
Height: 6ft 3in (1.89m)
Weight: 14st 7lb (92kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2011
Previous Clubs: Bedford Blues
Honours: Scotland A
Debut: vs Wasps (3.9.11)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 29
Player Sponsor: The Domoney Family
The strong running centre impressed the Saracens coaches with his performances for Bedford Blues in the Championship in the 2010/11 season and he joined Saracens as a dual registered player at the start of the 2011/12 season.
He went on to make 10 first team appearances for the club and was a regular in the Saracens Storm where his ability to play across the backline saw him turn in some impressive performances.
Back
Position: Back
Born: 21 Mar 1987
Height: 1.90m
Weight: 100kg
Date Joined: 11 Nov 2011
Previous Clubs: Wigan Warriors
Honours: England Rugby League; England Saxons
Debut: vs Worcester Warriors (29.1.12)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 35
Player Sponsor: Capital Markets Consulting
Joel Tomkins joined Saracens in November 2011 after a cross-code switch from Wigan Warriors Rugby League.
He made his Wigan debut in 2005 at the age of 18 and never looked back in the 13 man game, going on to make 125 appearances until his switch to Saracens.
A second row forward for Wigan, Tomkins is seen by the Saracens coaching staff as a player who could feature anywhere across the backline and prior to moving South, he demonstrated his skills by scoring a length of the field try in the 2011 Challenge Cup final to help Wigan to a 28-18 win. He also won the 2010 Super League Grand Final with the Warriors.
An England international, he made his debut for his country against France in 2010 and has won four caps.
He made his Saracens debut in the LV=Cup against Worcester Warriors and scored two tries. He made a total of five appearances in the 2011/12 season.
Prop
Position: Prop
Born: 13 Jan 1991
Height: 5ft 11in (1.80m)
Weight: 20st 6lb (130kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2011
Previous Clubs: Bristol
Honours: England (9 caps), England U20s, U18s
Debut: vs Bath (10.9.11)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 36
Player Sponsor: Roger Thomas Business Coaching Services
England U20s prop Mako Vunipola was a new signing for Saracens at the start of the 2011/12 season after making the move from Championship outfit Bristol.
A regular for the U20s side in the past year, he played in every game in the IRB World Junior Championships in Italy in the summer of 2011 that saw England lose to New Zealand in the final.
He also featured at England 18 level alongside his brother Billy and comes from a rugby dynasty with their father Fe’ao, a hooker, emigrated to Wales to play for Pontypool in 1998 and won 32 caps for Tonga, including appearances in the 1995 and 1999 Rugby World Cups.
He also featured at England 18 level alongside his brother Billy and comes from a rugby dynasty with their father Fe’ao, a hooker, emigrated to Wales to play for Pontypool in 1998 and won 32 caps for Tonga, including appearances in the 1995 and 1999 Rugby World Cups.
Scrum Half
Position: Scrum Half
Born: 09 Jun 1983
Height: 5ft 9in (1.76m)
Weight: 13st 6lb (85kg)
Date Joined: 01 Jul 2010
Previous Clubs: Sale Sharks
Honours: England 12 caps
Debut: 4.9.10 vs London Irish
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 70
Player Sponsor: The Domoney Family
Richard Wigglesworth is now in his third season with Saracens having joined from Sale Sharks at the start of the 2010/11 campaign. His form for Saracens saw him earn a recall to the England set-up and he was part of the 2011 World Cup squad but in his first game on his return to Saracens, he suffered a knee injury that was to rule him out for six months. He fought his way back from injury to play a part in the final matches of the Premiership season and also featured for England against the Barbarians. A talented left-footed goalkicker, he can also play at fly half or on the wing and as of the summer 2012, has 12 England caps.
Back Row
Position: Back Row
Born: 10 Nov 1990
Height: 6ft 2in (1.88m)
Weight: 15st 12lb (101kg)
Date Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Previous Clubs: King John School, Westcliff, Barking RFC
Honours: England U16s, U20s
Debut: 14.11.09 vs Northampton Saints
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 54
Player Sponsor: GGR Communications
A Man of the Match performance against Bath in front of the TV cameras in the first half of the 2010/11 season gave fans a glimpse of what is to come from this talented back row forward and he was to show that again in the 2011/12 season when he made 23 appearances.
A graduate of the Saracens Academy and Oaklands College programme, Wray has been a regular in the Saracens Storm side for the past two seasons and was also a member of the squad that won the JP Morgan Asset Management Sevens in 2010.
He is another player to have benefitted from the experience of the club’s partnership
with Bedford Blues where he was dual registered for the 2010/11 season..
Full Back / Wing
Position: Full Back / Wing
Born: 13 Sep 1983
Height: 6ft (1.83m)
Weight: 14st 8lb (93kg)
Date Joined: 24 Aug 2008
Previous Clubs:
Honours: USA 28 caps
Debut: vs Sale Sharks (12/9/08)
Status: Fully Fit
Total Appearances: 122
Player Sponsor: Capital Markets Consulting
The USA international is no stranger to Saracens having followed the club as a youngster growing up in Harpenden.
Born in America, the young Wyles then moved back to the UK with his English parents and developed his rugby skills at Haileybury College in Hertford.
While at university in Nottingham, he also played for the Championship side before a brief spell with Northampton Saints.
He returned to the US but while at the 2007 world cup in France, his performances impressed the then Saracens Head Coach Eddie Jones and he joined the club on secondment from USA Rugby.
He quickly adapted to the pace of the Premiership and he signed a permanent deal with the club at the start of the 2009/10 campaign – a season which was to see him become one of the club’s and Premiership’s most consistent performers.
The 2010/11 season was no different and he demonstrated his versatility by finishing the year at outside centre.
On the international scene, Wyles has helped his country reach the 2011 World Cup and he made his debut for the US Eagles against England Saxons in the 2007 Churchill Cup.
