Premiership
Saracens Men squad confirmed for 21/22 season
Saracens is pleased to confirm our squad for the 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership season.
The return to the top-flight was secured back in June with the play-off victory over Ealing Trailfinders, and now the Men in Black can reveal their full squad for the new campaign.
They head to Bristol on Friday evening in the curtain raiser to the new season, fresh from two matches against Ulster in preparation for Ashton Gate.
NEW DEALS
Ethan Lewis, who joined during the Championship campaign on loan from Cardiff has now signed a permanent contract and will be remaining at StoneX Stadium for two years. Tim Swinson, who came out of retirement for a spell at Sarries has also put pen to paper on another year after his relentless performances saw him voted the Players’ Player of the Season.
ACADEMY GRADUATES
Two players have made the step up to the first team on a permanent basis. Ben Harris, who starred at the Olympics during the summer has signed a long term deal, and he showed his potential with a hat-trick after coming on as a replacement in the pre-season victory against Ulster.
Sam Wainwright, the Wales Under 20s prop is also now with the senior squad and will be eyeing up some opportunities throughout the 21/22 campaign.
ARRIVALS
Four new players made the move to StoneX Stadium in the summer and have added further depth to the squad. Scrum halves Ivan Van Zyl, who has six caps for the Springboks as well as Ruben de Haas who is a USA international have bolstered the number nine department.
Italian prop Marco Riccioni signed from Benetton, and will be completing with the likes of Vincent Koch and Alec Clarey for a spot on the right of the front-row. Theo McFarland also joined the North Londoners, the back-rower who previously represented Samoa at basketball is seen as a real prospect after putting pen to paper on a long term contract.
LOAN RETURNS
Four of Saracens’ most successful academy graduates who spent last season on loan are back and ready to return to action at StoneX. Alex Lozowski won the European Rugby Challenge Cup during his time at Montpellier, as did both Max Malins and Ben Earl at Bristol, whilst Nick Isiekwe had a year at Northampton Saints.
Alex Goode and Nick Tompkins returned towards the end of the Championship campaign to add more firepower to the back-line.
DEPARTURES
Michael Rhodes, who made over 100 appearances for the club including three Premiership titles and three European cups left at the end of the season, as did Calum Clark who retired to take up the position of Wellbeing and Personal Development Manager at the club.
A number of players who played their part in the Championship winning season left including Tom Whiteley to Bristol, Alex Day to Bedford, Harry Sloan to Agen, Juan Pablo Socino to Leicester, Ali Crossdale to Wasps. Will Hooley and Josh Ibaunokpe also departed, as did Jon Kpoku who is now at Coventry.
Everyone at Saracens would like to wish our departing players all the best in their new ventures.
FULL SQUAD LIST
Props
Alec Clarey
Mako Vunipola
Ralph Adams-Hale
Richard Barrington
Vincent Koch
Eroni Mawi
Marco Riccioni
Sam Wainwright
Hookers
Jamie George
Tom Woolstencroft
Kapeli Pifeleti
Ethan Lewis
Locks
Maro Itoje
Tim Swinson
Callum Hunter-Hill
Joel Kpoku
Nick Isiekwe
Back Row
Andy Christie
Ben Earl
Billy Vunipola
Jackson Wray
Janco Venter
Sean Reffell
Theo McFarland
Scrum-Halves
Aled Davies
Ivan van Zyl
Ruben de Haas
Fly-Halves
Owen Farrell
Manu Vunipola
Centres
Alex Lozowski
Dom Morris
Duncan Taylor
Nick Tompkins
Elliot Daly
Back Three
Alex Goode
Alex Lewington
Elliott Obatoyinbo
Rotimi Según
Sean Maitland
Max Malins
Ben Harris
DEPARTURES
Michael Rhodes
Will Hooley
Harry Sloan (Agen)
Alex Day (Bedford Blues)
Josh Ibuanokpe
Calum Clark (Retired)
Tom Whiteley (Bristol Bears)
Juan Pablo Socino (Leicester Tigers)
Ali Crossdale (Wasps)
Jonathan Kpoku (Coventry)
Source – Saracens
Sale Sharks can confirm that fly-half George Ford suffered a tear to his right quad during the early stages of the Gallagher Premiership round two game at Saracens on Saturday. Following a positive consultation with a specialist it was decided that George does not require surgery and he will now begin his rehab ahead of a busy period for club and country.
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Alex Sanderson has made six changes to his starting XV to face Gloucester Rugby in the first game of the season under the Salford Stadium Friday night lights, while summer signing Le Roux Roets appears in a matchday squad for the first time (Discovery+, 7.45pm KO).
Josh Beaumont, Ernst van Rhyn and Rouban Birch come into the pack following the round two defeat at Saracens, while Sam Bedlow, Will Addison and Arron Reed are picked in the backs to face George Skivington’s men.
In total, 12 of the XV and 19 in the matchday 23 have come through or spent time in the Sharks Academy.
The Sharks front-row remains intact from the trip to the StoneX as England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up once again between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and loosehead Si McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Ben Bamber teams up with Josh Beaumont.
With Ben and Tom Curry as well as JL du Preez all missing as they undergo their return to play protocols following head injuries, Ernst van Rhyn returns alongside fellow flanker Sam Dugdale and Birch at number 8.
Gus Warr starts again at scrum-half but with George Ford injured (quad) he’ll have skipper Rob du Preez for company at half-back. After coming on as a replacement against Saracens, Bedlow starts alongside Addison, who makes his first start since re-joining the club in the summer.
Speedster Arron Reed makes his first appearance of the season alongside Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter.
Hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper cover the front row from the replacements bench with England U20s lock Tom Burrow and summer signing Le Roux Roets covering the rest of the forwards. Nye Thomas, Tom Curtis and Waisea Nayacalevu cover the backs.
Sale Sharks starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Will Addison, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Josh Beaumont 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Rouban Birch.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Tom Burrow, 20. Le Roux Roets, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Waisea Nayacalevu.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Injuries have forced Alex Sanderson to make three changes to his starting XV to face Saracens at the StoneX on Saturday (3.05pm KO, Saturday 28th September, live on TNT Sports).
Si McIntyre replaces last week’s Player of the Match Bevan Rodd (hamstring), while Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale come in for Ernst van Rhyn and Tom Curry who are both undergoing their return to play protocols after leaving the field during the round one win over Harlequins.
With Sam Bedlow returning to the bench to make a 5-3 split, the matchday squad features 16 players who have come through or been involved with the Sale Sharks Academy.
In the front-row, England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and returning loosehead McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Bamber teams up with Hyron Andrews.
Openside flanker Ben Curry captains the side again and he and Dugdale will pack down either side of Jean-Luc du Preez at number 8.
The backs are unchanged from the narrow win over Quins, with Gus Warr starting again at scrum-half alongside fly-half George Ford, and Rob du Preez and Waisea Nayacalevu outside them in the centres.
Alex has picked a familiar back three once again with Tom O’Flaherty, Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter hoping to provide the spark.
The replacements bench is an exclusively Sharks Academy affair with hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper covering the front row. Josh Beaumont and Rouban Birch make up the rest of the forwards, while Nye Thomas, Bedlow and Will Addison cover the backs.
Sale Sharks Starting lineup:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Waisea Nayacalevu, 12. Rob du Preez, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Sam Dugdale, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Rouban Birch, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Will Addison.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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