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Saracens make emergency signing after losing Louie Johnson until 2025

Tim Swiel of Newcastle Falcons during the Greene King IPA Championship match between Yorkshire Carnegie and Newcastle Falcons at Headingley Carnegie Stadium, Leeds on Sunday 19th January 2020. (Photo by Mark Fletcher/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Saracens have signed former Harlequins and Newcastle Falcons fly-half Tim Swiel on a short-term deal as cover for Louie Johnson, who has been ruled out for three months with a biceps tear.

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Johnson arrived at the StoneX Stadium from Newcastle as one of two fly-half signings Saracens made over the summer, alongside Fergus Burke, as the London outfit entered their post-Owen Farrell era.

With the Premiership Rugby Cup getting underway in November, the versatile Swiel, capable of playing at fly-half and full-back, has come in to boost Saracens’ stocks with a handful of backline players away on international duty.

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Since leaving Newcastle in 2020, the English-born, South African-raised Swiel has enjoyed stints in South Africa, Japan and Scotland, but trained with Saracens last season, where he proved to be a popular figure according to director of rugby Mark McCall.

Johnson, meanwhile, has recently undergone surgery on his left arm following the injury.

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“Tim was a very popular member of the group when he trained with us last year so we are delighted to have him back,” McCall said after signing the 31-year-old.

“His experience will be valuable to the younger players and we are excited to see him steer the group through the Cup calendar.”

Swiel added: “I’m really pleased to be back here at Saracens. After training with them at the end of last season I could see how much quality there is in the group, and I’m looking forward to playing my part with this new-look squad.”

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reginaldgarcia 46 minutes ago
Crusaders rookie earns 'other than Dupont' praise from All Blacks star

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JW 1 hour ago
Kyren Taumoefolau All Blacks stance splits opinions on eligibility

MP are a NZ side through and through, NZ is even having to pay for it.

Yes they caved to public demand, I bet it accomplished a lot of internal goals. They could have left it to the other groups, but I’m of the belief that they weren’t showing the capability to make it work as being a good reason for NZR to jump in and do it. I think it’s actually funded 50/50 between NZR and WR though.

(when nothing was stopping a pi player playing for any side in Super Rugby)

Neither is that fact true. Only 3 non NZ players are allowed in each squad.


I see you also need to learn what the term poach means - take or acquire in an unfair or clandestine way. - Moana have more slots for non eligible players (and you have seen many return to an NZ franchise) so players are largely making their own choice without any outside coercion ala Julian Savea.

Not one of these Kiwis and Aussies would go live in the Islands to satisfy any criteria, and I’d say most of them have hardly ever set foot in the islands, outside of a holiday.

Another inaccurate statement. Take Mo’unga’s nephew Armstrong-Ravula, if he is not eligible via ancestry in a couple of generations time, he will be eligible because he plays his rugby there (even if he’s only their for rugby and not living there), that is a recent change made by World Rugby to better reflect examples like Fabian Holland and Fakatava.

It’s becoming the jump-ship/zero loyalty joke that international League is.

Look I understand you’re reason to cry and make an example at any opportunity, but you don’t really need to anymore, other recent changes made by WR are basically going to stop the Ireland situation, and time (perhaps no more than a decade) will fix the rest.

26 Go to comments
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