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Earl included as Saracens name extended 32-man squad for Ulster

02 Sep 2021

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Saracens boss Mark McCall has chosen to bring a 32-strong squad with him to face Ulster in Belfast on Friday night in a pre-season friendly just two weeks before the Londoners play their first match back in the Gallagher Premiership on September 17.

The newly-promoted Championship title winners are set to travel to Bristol in a fortnight’s time as top-flight title favourites for the new 2021/22 league season in England and McCall is using the first of two friendly matches against his old club Ulster to run through his non-Lions tour options before taking on Pat Lam’s Bears at Ashton Gate.

Friday’s game in front of 10,000 fans in Belfast will see Ben Earl, Nick Isiekwe and Alex Lozowski all in line to play for Saracens for the first time since their respective season-long loans at Bristol, Northampton and Montpellier, deals arranged while the Londoners spent a season outside the Premiership.

Springboks No8 Duane Vermeulen on the injury that kept him out of the recent Lions series

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Springboks No8 Duane Vermeulen on the injury that kept him out of the recent Lions series

Club debuts are also in the pipeline for a trio of new signings – prop Marco Riccioni, second row Theo McFarland and scrum-half Ivan van Zyl after McCall selected an extended squad featuring 19 forwards and 13 backs. Ben Harris, the recent Team GB Tokyo Olympian, is also included after he recently agreed to a long-term deal following his 7s stint.

“We are excited at the prospect of playing again and in front of such a vibrant crowd as is always the case when you play Ulster,” said McCall. “It’s an opportunity for our players, on the back of five weeks of hard work, to test themselves against quality opposition and to gain crucial match fitness as we edge towards the start of the Premiership.

How last Thursday's Lions squad announcement played out at the Saracens training ground… and how they all felt over what happened to Billy Vunipola#LionsRugby #Lions2021
https://t.co/ERE9T0jOjm
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 12, 2021

“It’s great to have our players who were out on loan last season back in our playing squad, as well as some players who are new to the club who will form a big part of our future.” Following Friday’s match, Saracens will host Ulster next Thursday at the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) in London.

SARACENS SQUAD (vs Ulster)
Forwards: Ralph Adams-Hale, Harvey Beaton, Andy Christie, Alec Clarey, Sam Crean, Ben Earl, Callum Hunter-Hill, Nick Isiekwe, Joel Kpoku, Ethan Lewis, Eroni Mawi, Theo McFarland, Sean Reffell, Marco Riccioni, Tim Swinson, Janco Venter, Billy Vunipola, Tom Woolstencroft, Jackson Wray (joint capt);
Backs: Aled Davies, Alex Goode (joint capt), Ben Harris, Alex Lewington, Alex Lozowski, Sean Maitland, Dom Morris, Elliott Obatoyinbo, Rotimi Segun, Nick Tompkins, Manu Vunipola, Ivan van Zyl, Charlie Watson.

'Some of the hotels, especially the one in Dublin, Jesus Christ, honestly like, it was something else. Like there was silverware at the tables'
Witty, charming, unabashed; @Saracens prop & Durham lad @alecclarey is a breath of fresh air, w/ @heagneyl ???https://t.co/x5ePjGRcxz
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 28, 2021

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GS 3 minutes ago

James O'Connor, the Lions and the great club v country conundrum

Whilst I dislike what is occurring with the French clubs, they are not the only parties involved in this activity. You can also look to Ireland and its “Project Player” Scheme, or how Scotland picks players with zero background who have never lived in Scotland.

But market forces will dictate where players will end up.

If RA wants to retain these players, then it should offer them remuneration in line with or better than what the French clubs can. The NZRFU should have offered Aki, Lowe, or Fergus Burke a higher salary than what was offered by the likes of Irish Rugby, Sacarens, etc., if it wanted to retain them.

These kids going to France and the aforementioned Kiwi players are attempting to build a career and financial security in a career that can end with one injury. Think about that—one bad injury, and your career is over, so just like anyone, they have to make the smart, informed decision that is right for them and their families.

If the likes of Oz and NZ can’t or are not prepared to match the $$$, so be it - this is the reality of professional rugby, and whilst it turns the international game into a glorified club comp, I’m not sure if there is any solution.

And let’s remember it’s not all negative. This movement of players from Nth to South gives kids like Blair Murray or Taine Plumtree the ability to earn good $$ and experience international rugby, when let’s face it, they would at best be on the fringes of a Super Rugby squad - so it’s not all bad!

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GabrielArthur 5 minutes ago

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JW 7 minutes ago

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It was good (and somewhat relieving) to finally see a full crowd for Moana after weve had decades of fervent support from the Samoan and Tongan communities for the rugby teams, helped by some names of course but you’d like the think the way both teams are playing too.

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JH 9 minutes ago

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..and most telling. How many Kiwis and Aussies are propping up the Samoan and Tongan sides these days. Even Fiji has some, although compared to those two, they’re relatively light on the poaching.

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JH 11 minutes ago

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Given how conservative they were last year, to the surprise of many, I’d expect Razor and co to stick with Reece and Clarke. Unfortunately.

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JH 14 minutes ago

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Think you’ll find MP is set up to poach Kiwi and Aussie born players. That’s why most of their roster is NZers and based in NZ.

Also AB’s one of the most-home grown sides in international rugby, with most of their ‘foreign’ players having come here as kids with their parents. You can’t say the same for the Tongan and Samoan squads these days, which much like MP, are filled with Kiwis and Aussies. So, who is poaching from who. Exactly. You’re welcome.

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BH 48 minutes ago

Kini Naholo powers Hurricanes to upset win over Brumbies In Canberra

What a douchey comment, but I’ll bite. Pacific Islanders have been coming to New Zealand to live and work to provide for their families for generations. Of course there are players that are going to represent NZ at some point. Unlike some other countries. Meanwhile, how many Kiwis are in the Irish team? A few Saffas walking around in Scotland. How many Africans in the English team? How many New Caledonians and PI players in the French team? Should the Dutch South African players go back to representing Holland? It’s a global sport.

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BH 52 minutes ago

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There is no clear “favourite” team so far this year. The Chiefs, Crusaders, Brumbies, and Reds all have the capability to beat each other, while other teams like the Waratahs, Force and Hurricanes could upset any of them at any point.

Let’s not forget that the Crusaders were absolutely embarrassed by the Chiefs and Moana Pasifika earlier this year and won games they shouldn’t have (Hurricanes and Blues), so they’re not quite as invincible as previous Crusaders outfits. And the Chiefs lost games against the Waratahs and Drua. The Chiefs have the superior bench however and have found their mojo again.

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BH 55 minutes ago

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Finally a level-headed comment from someone other than GP or anyone with “Saders” in their name.

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BH 59 minutes ago

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Cantab 1 hour ago

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Flauran Wilz 1 hour ago

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JW 2 hours ago

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It will be a real marker Cantab. Canes are now playing the best footy of any team, much like they had been last year with the likes of Higgins at second five, Love is a step up. Thank god Laidlaw finally heeded the calls to give him time at 10 (though it’s still so strange to me they didn’t see Harkins as a started their instead of 15).

But as we’ve seen with the All Blacks, and the Canes quarter final against the Chiefs, big teams can easily bully an opposition not in the right mindset, causing havoc with the nice fancy running plays teams may be able to use against a ‘normal’ sort of defence. The Canes have only been clicking for a couple of games now and they’ve already be tested heavily, still the timing couldn’t be more perfect for them to find out.

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Bob Salad II 2 hours ago

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Leinster’s attack coupled with Exeter’s defense sounds about right. Kind of.

I’m a Bears fan and can’t believe how they are now - with Bath (H) and Sale (A), looking likely to not secure a top 4 finish after sitting in 2nd for most of the season. Only saving grace is Bath may send a weakened side to AG given they’ve already secured a home play off birth. Glos. On today’s showing at least, probably deserve 4th spot.

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Clinton Marshall 2 hours ago

Don't get out over your skis on the Highlanders

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