Welwyn RFC are proud to be a Saracens Partner Club.

CLUBS UPDATE, 4th August 2005

Team News

Saracens have signed Emmanuel Amapakabo following a successful trial with the club.

The 31-year-old former Stade Francais, Grenoble and Brive flanker impressed Head Coach Steve Diamond during the trial spell and has been awarded a full time deal.

Diamond said: “We’ve been looking for a player in the back row position to add strength and depth to the squad and we’re delighted that Manu has decided to join us.

“He has a great deal of experience in French rugby, is a strong ball carrier and has impressed us while on trial. He has the qualities that we are looking for and will be an important addition to the squad.”

The Frenchman had a brief spell with Stade Francais in the French Championship before joining Grenoble and then Brive, with who he stayed for five seasons before joining the Men In Black.

He said: “I’m very pleased to have signed for Saracens. I’m very happy to be part of the club and will work hard to be successful. This is my first experience of rugby in England and I am enjoying it very much.

“Saracens are a very professional club and it has been fantastic to be training with such excellent players and am looking forward to being part of the club.”

And Manu explained that Saracens French connections made his decision even easier.

He added: “I knew about Saracens and followed them in France with Thomas Castaignede playing for the club and before that Alain Penaud. I know Alain and he told me Saracens is a good club so I was obviously delighted when the chance came to join.”

The 6ft 5in flanker, who can also play second row, is also looking forward to living in London. He said: “I’ve been lucky with my rugby in France in that I’ve been able to play for a few different clubs and sample life in different parts of the country – now I’ve got that to look forward to in London.

He is now also getting used to life at the new Saracens training centre at the University of Hertfordshire's Sports Village but he will still come face to face with his countrymen when Saracens face Biarritz in the Heineken Cup this season.

“Of course it will be good to face them, but the important thing for us now is to work hard in training and get ready for the start of the season.”

Shane Byrne arriving soon

Irish international hooker visited the training centre last week and also looked at properties in the local area. Following his Lions duty this summer, he will start full time training with Saracens on August 8.

Mike Ford returns

Saracens’ coach Mike Ford has returned to the club after coming back from duty with the British & Irish Lions where he was one of the Defence and Skills coaches.

After being part of Sir Clive Woodward’s coaching teams and heavily involved with the Lions unbeaten midweek side, Mike is now back in England and held his first training session at the new Saracens training facility at the University of Hertfordshire’s Sports Village earlier this week.

“The Lions was a great experience and I’m really glad that I was part of it,” explained Ford. “You are always looking to improve as a coach and I feel I did that. Working with elite coaches and players always gives you new ideas and the chance to put your own methods forward. The organisation, training facilities and planning that went into the trip were second to none.

“New Zealand are a very good side and it’s always going to be difficult to put a side together from the home four nations in a short space of time. We suffered through injuries early in the first test, then had the sin binning and that put us on the back foot straight away.

“But as I have said, it was a great experience and if I was asked to go again I would.”

With the Lions tour behind him, Ford is now working in his part-time role with the club. Ford will be leaving his current post with the Irish national team at the end of November, following the permanent TSB November International series.

He will continue in his part-time role with Saracens until November at which time he will take up a full-time position with the Men In Black.

Ford added: “It’s nice to be back at Saracens and there is a tremendous buzz around the place. When I flew back into the country, I was met by Steve Diamond, Nigel Ashley-Jones, our video analyst Adam Grainger and Team Manager James Clark. Even on that night the desire to succeed shone through all of them and that is the general feeling at the training centre.

“I had my first few sessions this week and now we are building up towards the pre-season friendlies with more rugby work and the contact starts next week. We’ve struck a good balance between the fitness preparations and skills work. From day one we’ve had the ball in hand for most of the work we’ve been doing with a big emphasis on core skills.

“That will continue as we build up towards the pre-season fixtures and then the start of the campaign. As I said before, there is a great atmosphere around the place and everyone is working very hard.”

Pre-season Friendly in the community

Saracens will entertain NEC Harlequins in a pre-season friendly on Saturday 27th August in a game that will take place at Harpenden RFC - kick off 3pm.

In a move which will take professional rugby out to the Saracens community in Hertfordshire, the squad will be put through their final paces before the start of the Guinness Premiership the following weekend.

Saracens Chief Executive Mark Sinderberry explained: "The pre-season game at Harpenden is a good opportunity for the club to go out into Hertfordshire and further strengthen our links with the rugby community.

"Vicarage Road is unavailable on that date with Watford FC having a home fixture and we want to play on the Saturday, allowing the team to have enough time to prepare for the London Double Header seven days later. But moving the game to one of our partner clubs is something we have been looking at all summer. I'm sure it will be a great day out and everyone will enjoy the excellent facilities and welcome we'll receive at Harpenden."

Saracens will also travel to Bedford Blues on Saturday 20th August for a pre-season friendly at the Goldington Road club. Kick off is at 3pm with tickets available on the gate at £10.
Please contact the ticket office on 01923 475222 for further details

Other News

Club Partnership Programme

Our first Coach Development session of the new season has been planned for Thursday 18th August at the team’s new Training Centre at the University of Hertfordshire’s Sports Village. Times are to be confirmed, as the training schedule for that day is yet to be fully finalised, but the day is likely to run from 9.00am – 12.00pm.

This is your chance to come and watch the team train as they make their final preparations before the start of the season. The session is open to all coaches (and players over 16, as long as they are accompanied by an adult) from our partner clubs who are interested in seeing behind the scenes at the training ground. Limited places are available on a first come first served basis. If you would like to book yourself a place on this day, please email davehesketh@saracens.net with your name and which club you are from.

Masterclass...

Nearly 200 youngsters worked on improving their rugby skills at the Summer Masterclass held at Old Albanians last week in preparation for the new season.

Aimed at players aged U7-U16, the Masterclass not only gives player top quality coaching throughout the week, but participants also get the chance to receive top tips from the likes of Richard Hill, Hugh Vyvyan, Taine Randell, Thomas Castaignede and other members of the squad who are also involved on the course.

The course was sold out months ago, however, a few places still remain on the course to be held at Hertford RFC from Monday 22nd - Friday 26th August. This course is also expected to sell out - so book now to avoid missing out.

For more details call 01923 475 231



 

 

 

 

 

 

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