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Wikipedia

Saracens Women

May 01, 2024

This article is about the women's rugby union team. For the men's team, see Saracens F.C.
For other uses of 'Saracen' or 'Saracens', see Saracen (disambiguation).

Saracens Women (/ˈsærəsənz/) are an English women's rugby union club based in Hendon, London. They were established in 1989 and currently play in Premiership Women's Rugby, the top level competition of women's rugby in the country.[11] Saracens are the most successful team in the history of the Premier 15s, having won the league a record three times – in 2017–18, 2018–19 and 2021–22. They are also the women's team of Saracens Amateurs, who themselves are affiliated to men's Premiership club Saracens.

Saracens Women
Full nameSaracens Women[1]
UnionMiddlesex RFU
Nickname(s)Sarries, Women in Black, Wolf Pack
Emblem(s)Star and crescent
Founded1989; 35 years ago (1989)
LocationHendon, Greater London, England
Ground(s)StoneX Stadium[2] (Capacity: 10,500[a])
ChairmanNeil Golding
CEOMark Thompson[3]
Director of RugbyAlex Austerberry[4]
Coach(es)Lewis Sones[5]
Mouritz Botha[6]
Duncan Taylor[7]
Captain(s)Lotte Clapp[8]
Marlie Packer[9]
Most appearancesSonia Green[10]
329 (All Competitions)
League(s)Premiership Women's Rugby
2022–233rd (Semi–finals)
1st kit
2nd kit
Largest win
Saracens 105–0 Worcester Valkyries
(Barnet Copthall, London, England)
13 January 2018
Largest defeat
Saracens 7–53 Gloucester-Hartpury
(Barnet Copthall, London, England)
10 December 2022
Official website
www.saracens.com
Current season

History edit

Saracens Women were originally founded in 1989 by a group of nine players – which included England internationals Emma Mitchell, Janis Ross and Sam Robson, and Wales internationals Amanda Bennett and Liza Burgess – who had identified a need for another women's rugby club in north London.[12] The founding members gained approval to establish the team, after agreeing to assist with the commercial operations of the Saracens men's team, who had just been promoted into the top flight for the 1989–90 season.[13] In their debut season, they won the second division and achieved promotion to the Women's Premiership for the 1990–91 season. The team then claimed their first silverware at the national sevens tournament in 1990, and earned a total of 17 trophies over the ensuing decade, including domestic trebles in 1993 and 1998.[14]

Upon entering the new millennium, Saracens Women were crowned Premiership champions in 2000, before new coaching staff were appointed in 2001, headed by former Saracens men's player Lee Adamson and club co-founder Amanda Bennett.[15] Adamson held both coaching and administrative positions at Saracens, until he departed in 2007 to coach the Scotland women's national rugby union team.[16] The team won the league again in 2002, under the captaincy of England international Claire Frost, and then achieved a sequence of four consecutive titles between 2006 and 2009.[17] Throughout those four years, Saracens remained unbeaten in the competition – a feat not achieved before or since at the top level of English women's rugby.[15] Prominent players during this period included England's most capped hooker Amy Garnett and flanker Maggie Alphonsi, who played her entire career at Saracens and was later named a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to rugby.[18]

Off the back of this dominant spell, Saracens Women went five years without silverware, recording three second-place finishes in the league. In 2014, Rob Cain was installed as head coach, and the club proceeded to achieve a league and cup double in 2015.[19] Cain continued as head coach through to the launch of the Premier 15s, after which he left to take the helm of the United States women's national rugby union team in 2018.[20] Saracens secured the 2017–18 Premier 15s title, following a season notable for the breakthrough of a new generation of future England internationals who graduated through the club's academy pathway via Welwyn RFC, including prop Hannah Botterman and half-backs Zoe Harrison, Helena Rowland and Ella Wyrwas.[21]

Led by new head coach Alex Austerberry and captain Lotte Clapp, Saracens Women cemented themselves as the dominant team in the Premier 15s, which operated as the highest level of women's domestic rugby union competition in England between 2017 and 2023, until it was rebranded as Premiership Women's Rugby.[22] During this period, the club won the title in 2018, 2019 and 2022, while also achieving five consecutive first-place finishes in the regular season league tables.[23] In September 2019, Saracens also announced that it would double its financial investment in the women's team, in addition to increasing alignment with the resources attached to the men's squad.[24]

Until 2014, Saracens Women played their home games at Bramley Sports Ground in Enfield, London, and occasionally at Vicarage Road – the home of Watford FC – when the Saracens men, to whom they are affiliated, moved there in 1997. Subsequently, Saracens Women reached an agreement to play home matches at the men's home ground, StoneX Stadium, in Hendon. This ground continues to be their home ground for Premiership Women's Rugby fixtures.[25]

Historically, the club has held rivalries with fellow London sides Richmond and Wasps.[26] In more recent years, their main rivals have been Harlequins, with the two teams contesting three consecutive Premier 15s finals between 2018 and 2021.[27] Since the 2020–21 season, they have competed in an annual showpiece match, known as The Duel.[28] This fixture is notable for holding the attendance record for a Saracens women's game, drawing the club's highest ever live crowd of 3,071 supporters on 10 February 2024.[29]

Current squad edit

For player movements before or during the 2023–24 season, see List of 2023–24 Premiership Women's Rugby transfers § Saracens.

The Saracens Women senior squad for the 2023–24 season is:[30]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
May Campbell Hooker   England
Bryony Field Hooker   England
Daisy Fitzgerald Hooker   England
Chloe Flanagan Hooker   England
Nic Haynes Hooker   Scotland
Jodie Turl Hooker   England
Bryony Cleall Prop   England
Kelsey Clifford Prop   England
Jess Crockett Prop   England
Mica Evans Prop   Wales
Akina Gondwe Prop   England
Mica Gooding Prop   England
McKinley Hunt Prop   Canada
Jeanina Loyola Prop   Spain
Maya Montiel Prop   Canada
Donna Rose Prop   Wales
Carmen Tremelling Prop   England
Rosie Galligan Lock   England
Sonia Green Lock   England
Chloe Langdale Lock   England
Fiona McIntosh Lock   Scotland
Louise McMillan Lock   Scotland
Sophie Tansley Lock   England
Emma Taylor Lock   Canada
Joia Bennett Back row   England
Poppy Cleall Back row   England
Sophie de Goede Back row   Canada
Georgia Evans Back row   Wales
Sharifa Kasolo Back row   England
Lucy Lawford-Wilby Back row   England
Grace Moore Back row   Ireland
Marlie Packer (cc) Back row   England
Taryn Schutzler Back row   Ireland
Player Position Union
Chloe Broom Scrum-half   England
Anna Goddard Scrum-half   England
May Goulding Scrum-half   Ireland
Leanne Infante Scrum-half   England
Tori Sellors Scrum-half   England
Ella Wyrwas Scrum-half   England
Zoe Harrison Fly-half   England
Katie Johnson Fly-half   England
Amelia MacDougall Fly-half   England
Flo Williams Fly-half   Wales
Beth Blacklock Centre   Scotland
Sophie Bridger Centre   England
Hannah Casey Centre   Ireland
Kirsty Exley Centre   England
Coreen Grant Centre   Scotland
Sydney Gregson Centre   England
Cara Wardle Centre   England
Lucy Biggs Wing   England
Jess Breach Wing   England
Lotte Clapp (cc) Wing   United States
Abi Evans Wing   Scotland
Paige Farries Wing   Canada
Suzie Flowers Wing   England
Lottie Kissick-Jones Wing   England
Isla Alejandro Fullback   Scotland
Jemma-Jo Linkins Fullback   England
Sarah McKenna Fullback   England

Note: Players listed in bold have received at least one senior international test cap.

Academy squad edit

The Saracens Women academy squad for the 2023–24 season is:[30]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Niamh Watts Hooker   England
Scarlett Coleridge Prop   England
Keira Muir Prop   England
Annie Shelswell Prop   England
Madison Lawrence Lock   England
Phoebe Woodhead Lock   England
Erin Delea Back row   England
Jess Taylor Back row   England
Jessica Wood Back row   England
Player Position Union
Maisy Herbert Scrum-half   England
Tilly Buckland Fly-half   England
Poppy Murray Fly-half   England
Casey Castelyn Centre   England
Charli Knibbs Centre   England

Club staff edit

The current Saracens senior management and coaching staff, as of the 2023–24 season, is as follows:

Notable former coaches edit

The following former Saracens Women coaches have gone on to serve in high-profile positions at international level, or at other top-tier clubs in the women's or men's game:[39][40][41][42]

Playing kit edit

The kit is currently supplied by Castore, from the beginning of the 2021–22 season.[43] The club's principal sponsor is City Index, a subsidiary company whose parent is owned by Saracens' principle partner StoneX.[44] The replica kit featured the logo of the Saracens Foundation, a charity operated by the club and £5 of proceeds from each jersey are donated to the foundation.[45]

Recent kit designs edit

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home: 2006–2009
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home: 2009–2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home: 2012–2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home: 2014–2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home: 2015–2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home: 2016–2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Away: 2006–2009
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Away: 2009–2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Away: 2012–2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Away: 2015–2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Away: 2016–2017

Summary of kit manufacturers and sponsors edit

The following organisations have manufactured and sponsored the Saracens playing kit since the 1996–97 season:[46][47][48][49][50][51][52]

Notable players edit

Rugby World Cup edit

The following players have been selected to represent their national teams at the Rugby World Cup while at Saracens (tournament winners are listed in bold):[53][54]

Tournament Host nation Number selected   England players Other national team players
1991   Wales 5 Emma Mitchell,
Jane Mitchell,
Janis Ross 		Amanda Bennett,
Liza Burgess  
1994   Scotland 8 Karen Almond (c),
Annie Cole, Emma Mitchell,
Jane Mitchell, Janis Ross 		Amanda Bennett,
Liza Burgess  
Michelle Cave  
1998   Netherlands 15 Susie Appleby, Helen Clayton,
Trudi Collins, Maxine Edwards,
Claire Frost, Claire Green,
Emma Mitchell, Teresa O'Reilly,
Nicky Ponsford, Janis Ross 		Geraldine Baylis,
Liza Burgess,
Claire Donovan,
Eleanor Green  
Michelle Cave  
2002   Spain 9 Helen Clayton, Assunta de Biase,
Maxine Edwards, Claire Frost,
Amy Garnett, Emma Mitchell
Teresa O'Reilly, Jenny Phillips 		Leslie Cripps  
2006   Canada 6 Maggie Alphonsi, Karen Andrew,
Rachael Burford, Helen Clayton,
Amy Garnett 		Leslie Cripps  
2010   England 5 Maggie Alphonsi,
Charlotte Barras,
Amy Garnett 		Leslie Cripps (c),
Sarah Ulmer  
2014   France 3 Maggie Alphonsi Kerrie-Ann Craddock,
Hannah Casey  
2017   Ireland 7 Poppy Cleall, Vicky Fleetwood,
Marlie Packer, Emily Scott 		Olivia DeMerchant  
Valeria Fedrighi  
Jeanina Loyola  
2022   New Zealand 20 Holly Aitchison,
Hannah Botterman,
Jess Breach,
Poppy Cleall,
Zoe Harrison,
Leanne Infante,
Sarah McKenna,
Marlie Packer 		Georgia Evans, Kat Evans,
Donna Rose  
Coreen Grant, Louise McMillan,
Jodie Rettie  
Alysha Corrigan, Alex Ellis  
Lotte Clapp, Alev Kelter  
Catha Jacobs  
Rachel Laqeretabua  

Club captains edit

The following players have held the position of Saracens Women club captain since it was established in 1989:[55][56][57][58][59]

International players edit

The following Saracens Women players, past and present, have represented their respective national test or sevens teams during their rugby union career (current squad members, as of the 2023–24 season, are listed in bold):[60]

England   edit

Britain and Ireland edit

Other nations edit

Notes edit

  1. Mackenzie Carson first represented Canada at test level between 2018 and 2019, before switching her allegiance to England in 2023.[61]
  2. Eloise Hayward first represented England in rugby sevens, before switching her allegiance to Wales in 2022.[62]
  3. Lotte Clapp first represented England at test level between 2016 and 2018, before switching her allegiance to the United States in 2022.[63]

Final XVs edit

Premiership Finals edit

The following graphics show the starting line-ups for Saracens in all five of the club's Premiership Women's Rugby Final appearances:

Key
  Denotes that the team ended the final as league champions
  Denotes that the team ended the final as league runners-up

Allianz Cup Finals edit

The following graphics show the starting line-ups for Saracens in both of the club's Allianz Cup Final appearances:

Key
  Denotes that the team ended the final as cup champions
  Denotes that the team ended the final as cup runners-up

Personnel honours and records edit

World Rugby Awards edit

The following Saracens players have earned recognition at the World Rugby Awards (presented annually since 2001):[64][65][66][67]

Key
Player (X) Name of the player and number of times that they had been nominated for the award at that point (if more than one)

Six Nations Championship Awards edit

The following players have been named in the Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship or Team of the Championship shortlists while at Saracens:

Premiership Women's Rugby Awards edit

The following Saracens players have been named in the annual Premiership Women's Rugby awards:[77]

Key
Player (X) Name of the player and number of times that they had been nominated for the award at that point (if more than one)
§ Denotes that the club was also the winner of the Premiership Women's Rugby competition during the same season
† Denotes that the club was also the runner-up of the Premiership Women's Rugby competition during the same season

Rugby Players' Association Awards edit

The following Saracens players have achieved recognition at the annual RPA Awards:[78][79][80]

End-of-season club awards edit

The following Saracens players have earned recognition at the club's annual Big Bash end-of-season awards:[86][87][88][89][90]

Before 2018 edit

Season Players' Player of the Season Young Player of the Season Best Newcomer of the Season Captain's Player of the Season
2015–16†   Sonia Green   May Campbell   Brooke Sim   Lauren Newman
2016–17   Zoe Harrison   Emma Uren   Garnet Mackinder Not awarded
2017–18§   Helena Rowland —

After 2018 edit

Season Players' Player of the Season Coaches' Player of the Season Fans' Player of the Season Captain's Player of the Season
2018–19§   Sarah McKenna   Rosie Galligan   Poppy Cleall Not awarded
2022–23   Sharifa Kasolo   Georgia Evans   Poppy Cleall (2)   Louise McMillan

Top scorers edit

The following lists denote the top try scorers and top point scorers for Saracens in recent Women's Premiership and Premier 15s seasons: