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Club Update 13/03/06

NEXT HOME GAME…

Saracens vs Worcester Warriors

Sunday 26th March

Kick Off 15:00

‘The Alternative Mothering Sunday’

Headlines…

Saracens back to winning ways at Sale...

Saracens held on for a magnificent 9-15 win at Edgeley Park on Friday night.

Fantastic defence, committed in the tackle and deserved winners were phrases that came to mind after this display – which included a spell of being down to 14 men after the break.

Ben Johnston gave Saracens the perfect start with a try midway through the first half, but Valentin Courrent hit back with three penalties to give Sale the lead.

However, Glen Jackson touched down in the second half and a penalty from the fly-half extended the lead. As Sale threw everything forward in the late stages, terrific defence saw Saracens home to a deserved win

Jones touches down at Saracens...

After flying into the UK Eddie Jones spent last Wednesday morning meeting with Head Coach Mike Ford and looking around the club’s training centre in Hatfield as he begins his role with the club for the rest of the season.

The former Wallabies coach took time out to chat to www.saracens.com about his role for the rest of the season and the challenge of moving the club clear of relegation trouble.

Jones said: “I’m coming here in a consultancy capacity to guide Mike in his role, but also fulfilling the position of Director of Rugby, reviewing the structure of the organisation and having a hands-on role with the team. I’ll also be assisting both Mike and CEO Mark Sinderberry in terms of player recruitment for next season.

“I’ve had a good chat with Mike this morning and we’ve already gone through some planning and logistical issues and I’m looking forward to starting work with the players. I’ve watched Saracens recent matches and have also been looking at the opposition in the coming weeks so I’ve got a reasonable idea of where the club is. However, being here means it will be much easier to make an impact.

“There are only six games left, but clearly they are six very important games – starting this week at Sale. I won’t have had the chance to do any work with the players, but we’ve then got a two week break before the Worcester game and that will give us a chance to be able to work with Mike and look at how we improve the side.”

Although only with the club for three months, Jones is looking forward to working in the Guinness Premiership.

“I’m very excited about it,” he added. “I’ve always wanted to coach in this league and this is a chance for me to learn about the Premiership and hopefully improve Saracens.

“Obviously, with the club’s current position there is the threat of relegation. We don’t have that in Australia so it’s something I’ve not encountered before. It can put a great deal of stress on an organisation and you have to take that into consideration, but I don’t believe that external pressure should affect the way you train and perform each day.”

Since leaving the Wallabies just before Christmas, Jones has been busy in his role working with the IRB in Tonga and Samoa and also working in China.

He added: “I’ve just come back from a week in Beijing where I held a number of coaching clinics which also included sessions with the Chinese 7s team who are preparing for the Hong Kong Sevens. Before that I was in Tonga and Somoa as part of a project with the IRB in terms of looking at their coaching structure and how they can improve their performance in the build up to the 2007 World Cup.

“That’s been a fantastic experience. When you get there you realise how poor they are in terms of resources and it’s amazing how they can compete on the world stage. I’ve also been coaching in Japan so it’s been pretty busy, but now I’m looking forward to getting stuck in to the Saracens job and working in the Guinness Premiership.

Ford - defence and desire won us the game...

Saracens got back to winning ways on Friday night - beating league leaders Sale Sharks 15-9 at Edgeley Park.

Ben Johnston's try got the Men In Black off and running in the first half, but three late penalties from Valentin Courrent saw the home side edge in front at the interval.

However, with the base of a fantastic defensive performance which even included a spell with them reduced to 14 men, Saracens were able to get back into the game with Glen Jackson crossing the line and also adding a penalty to secure the win.

Delighted Head Coach Mike Ford praised the performance of his team after the break that will give the side a good foundation on which to build for the five remaining Guinness Premiership fixtures.

He said: "When you've been on a losing run as we have been, it's hard to rebuild confidence even when you have been training as well as you can. Even at half time tonight at 7-9 down, we looked like we were losing our confidence, so we said that we'd just concentrate on our defence and I think everyone could see how desperate we were in that department. We pounced on any loose balls like tigers and that's what won us the game.

"We did score two very good tries, but defensively it was a super effort. We had to have a good start to the second half. We played very well when we were down to 14 men and if anything, I thought we looked like the side more likely to score during that period as we had two good opportunities either side of the field. It's a credit to the players that they held out defensively and looked dangerous when we were in attack."

However, Ford is not getting carried away with the win and realises there is still work to be done.

"We're obviously pleased and this is something to build on," he added. "But we're not under any illusions. We know that Sale have had a number of players out, as have we, but they were missing a lot of influential members of their squad. With Leeds losing, it doesn't mean we're safe and we saw last season when they were in this position that they come out fighting and of course we still have to play them. We've just got to look to take the confidence out of this and build on the result."

And despite only joining up with the club on Wednesday, Ford was also quick to praise the involvement of Eddie Jones.

He added: "Having Eddie on board has already helped. There has been a great improvement and we seem to have rediscovered our edge in training. When you have something with his world experience and influence, then you hang on every word. He said a few things before the game and offered some pointers at half time, so he will be fantastic for the squad and the whole organisation."

Player News…

Ibanez to play at Vicarage Road...

Four more international players have been confirmed for the World XV side for Richard Hill’s testimonial match at Vicarage Road in May.

A Saracens XV will take on a side full of stars from around the world game and the latest four players to commit themselves to playing in the match boast more than 200 caps between them.

Scottish prop Tom Smith, England hooker Mark Regan, Australian back row Owen Finegan and former Saracens star Raphael Ibanez have all signed up for the match which takes place on Sunday 21st May.

With 61 caps, Smith is one of the most experienced props in the Guinness Premiership while Regan was an important part of the England World Cup winning squad of 2003. Finegan was a stalwart of the Australian side, winning 55 caps before his move from the ACT Brumbies to Newcastle Falcons at the start of the season.

And Ibanez spent two years at Saracens before his move to Wasps in the summer and the former French captain has won a total of 74 caps for his country and is back in the France side for the current Six Nations campaign.

Tony Diprose, Kyran Bracken and Kris Chesney are some of the players to have signed up for the Saracens side for the game with the likes of Carlos Spencer, Justin Marshall, Matt Burke, Olivier Magne, Mark Robinson and Bruce Reihana also confirmed in the World XV squad

Other News…

Kick off time brought forward for Wasps game...

Saracens Guinness Premiership Round 20 game against London Wasps, which takes place on Sunday 16th April, has been selected by Sky as their LIVE game for that weekend.

The only change to the fixture is that the kick off time has been brought forward 15 minutes to 2.45pm.

Leeds game switched to Friday...

Saracens Guinness Premiership clash at Leeds Tykes has been switched and will now take place on Friday 7th April, kick off 8pm.

With the game originally scheduled for the following Sunday, the match has now been changed in order to avoid a clash with the Powergen Cup Final which takes place on that day.

Make Mother’s Day – with the Sequoia Spa at The Grove…

As a thank you to all the Mums who are going to spend their Mother’s Day with us (when we take on Worcester Warriors at Vicarage Road on Sunday 26th March), we are giving them the chance to win a ‘Relax’ day spa package at the Sequoia Spa at The Grove, Chandlers Cross - the ideal opportunity to escape from the stresses and strains of life as a busy mum!

To enter, just let the Ticket Team know when booking your tickets if one of them is for a Mum and we will take her details – or, if you are a mum who already have a season ticket, or match ticket, just call the Ticket Team on 01923 475222, let them know you’ll be there, and they’ll enter you into the half time draw. (If you book online, you will need to e-mail helendavies@saracens.net with the name and address of the mum in your party and she will ensure they are entered).

The 'Relax' day spa package includes nearly four hours of heavenly treatments!

 - Welcome Foot Ritual & Consultation

 - Salt and Oil Scrub

 - ESPA Holistic Back Face and Scalp Massage with hot stones

 - The ESPA Holistic Foot and Nail Treatment

On top of this, you will also receive:

 - Two course lunch - healthy or not so healthy! Choose from the spa cuisine menu in the tranquil surroundings of the Spa Garden Room

 - Unlimited use of the indoor pool, fitness and exercise studios and spa facilities

 - Relax and unwind in the Vitality pool with its therapeutic saline water and hydrotherapy jets

 - Enjoy the crystal steam rooms, saunas, tropical rain or cold mist showers; then escape to the luxurious relaxation rooms where heated electric loungers with personal music systems await you

 - Jog or take a brisk walk around The Grove’s specially designed trail with marked exercise points

 - Cycle around our 300 acres of parkland and woodland

 - Mineral water and fresh fruit juices are also provided within the relaxation areas

And if all this wasn’t enough, the lucky winner will also receive a complimentary E'Spa gift set, which includes the perfect selection of skin care essentials!

COMMUNITY NEWS…

Tag Festivals well under way...

Last week Saracens began the delivery of their Powergen Tag Festivals. The first festival was held at Old Merchant Taylor's RFC with over 20 schools and 200 children in attendance form the Three Rivers area. This was an opportunity for schools involved to further display the skills they have been developing over recent weeks in conjunction with the Powergen National Community Rugby Programme and the coaching that our Community staff have been delivering to them.

Despite the wet weather the rugby was of a fantastic standard and everyone involved commented on the high level of skills on display. With some close games and some even closer final group positioning it was Kingsway Primary School and Harvey Road Primary School who made it through to the final. In close run final it was Kingsway who came out on top and successfully defended their tile having won the competition last year as well.

On Thursday Letchworth RFC were hosts for the North Herts Saracens Foundation Tag Festival. In even wetter weather and muddier conditions the festival incorporated 17 teams and over 170 children displayed their newly developed rugby skills. Teachers had in previous weeks been delivering the sessions they had learnt 6 weeks ago on their Saracens Tag Rugby INSET; this was evident through the high standard of rugby on display.

Wilbury junior School played Codicote Junior School in the final with Wilbury proving the victors between two strong teams. Saracens would like to offer their congratulations to the winning teams and also thank all teams who participated in recent festivals. We hope the experience has provided you with a desire to continue to participate in the game...

Our next Tag Festivals will be taking place at Stevenage RFC, Welwyn RFC and Fullerians RFC; All primary schools within the clubs local area have been invited to attend the festivals as Saracens continue to deliver the PNRCP and the Saracens Foundation Tag Programme.

If you require further information regarding our Tag Programme or the PNRCP please email richardgregg@saracens.net

Don’t forget your toothbrush…

Whilst many of us in England will enjoy a happy mother’s day, things are often very different out in Romania.  Statistics from UNICEF released at the beginning of this year show that 4000 newborns are abandoned every year in maternity wards while 5000 are abandoned in pediatric hospitals in Romania.

Romania Relief is a Romanian charity set up by 19 year old Sarah Wade. Wade originally went out to Romania for 6 weeks, however 4 years later she could not leave without doing something about the appalling conditions.

This Mothers day, Saracens are trying to help bring a little happiness to thousands of forgotten orphaned children and babies. Hannah Pirnie one of our Foundation staff is due to go out later in the year, to help set up an outdoor play ground for some of the orphans that Wade works with.

These children have nothing, not even milk formula. Many are tied to their beds because overworked doctors and nurses don’t have the time to spend with the young children.

You can help by bringing along baby products to the Worcester game.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Toothbrushes

Toothpaste

Baby Lotion

Plasters

Disposable Nappies

Vitamins for children

Cough medicine/ Calpol

Baby Wipes

Cotton Wool

Baby Soap

Shampoo

Bottles

Baby Cups

Dummies

New Baby gros

Children’ pyjamas

Cot Mobiles

For more information please contact Hannah Pirnie: hannahpirnie@saracens.net

 

 

Any comments, additions, errors or omissions send an email