Saracens lock-in ex-England U20s fullback as Harlequins sign 'powerful' teenager

Both Saracens and Harlequins have locked-in two exciting prospects ahead of the 2019/20 season.

Saracens – Matt Gallagher

Gallagher has signed a contract extension at the Saracens. The full-back, who has featured nine times in all competitions this season, will remain at Allianz Park until the summer of 2020.

Gallagher joined the Sarries academy aged 14 and has risen through the system, impressing frequently for Storm and catching the eye when called upon for first-team duties.

He made his senior debut against Ospreys in the 2014/15 LV= Cup before spending a season with Old Albanian in National Two South to further his development.

In the summer of 2016, the 22-year-old starred for England Under-20s as they went on to lift the World Rugby U20 Championship and later that year gained experience in the Championship at Bedford Blues as well as making his Premiership bow for Saracens.

This season, Gallagher started and scored in the Men in Black’s opening home match of the campaign and made his European debut in the pool-stage victory over Glasgow Warriors.

In total, he has made 25 club appearances.

Director of Rugby Mark McCall added: “Matt is an extremely hard-working player who is always looking to develop areas of his game and is improving all the time as a result.

“His performances this season have been really impressive and his progression has seen him make a deserved European debut. We’re delighted he is continuing his journey with us.”

Harlequins – Cadan Murley

Harlequins have confirmed that Murley has signed a new contract with the club, after a brilliant start to the season for the young winger.

The 19-year-old joined full-time last season and only made his senior squad debut in January 2018 against Scarlets in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.

But he has made an explosive start to this season with Quins under Head of Rugby Paul Gustard, making nine appearances and scoring two tries as the Club have risen to third in the Gallagher Premiership and reached the Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

Gustard said: “We have been so pleased with Cadan’s work-rate, as well as his unquestionable skill and he thoroughly deserves his new contract with the club.

“The way he has already become such a valued member of matchday squads in such a short space of time is testament to the energy he brings to the group in which he has helped create the winning mentality that we are establishing at the Club.

“He is like an extra forward the way he approaches the game. He is very tough, he is quick and powerful through contact and he is a very good defender.

“He has impressed me personally with his tenacity, fight, eagerness to learn and hunger to get better. He is a joy to coach and I am confident he will prove to be a quality player for this club for a long time. There is so much more to come from Cadan and I am sure he will also be able to play at 13 for us as he develops his all-round skill set.

“He is a brilliant kid, his maturity and self-awareness were made very clear to me in pre-season when he excused himself from a squad excursion to represent the Club in the 7s which showed me the kind of attitude that I know is crucial in squads that win championships.”