Saracens Women

Saracens Women (/ˈsærəsənz/) are a women's rugby union club based in Hendon, London, England. They were founded in 1989 and play in the Premier 15s.[1] They are the current reigning Premier 15s champions. They are also the women's team of Saracens Amateurs, who themselves are affiliated to Premiership Rugby team, Saracens.

Saracens Women

Full name	Saracens Women
Union	Middlesex RFU
Founded	1989
Location	Hendon, London
Ground(s)	StoneX Stadium (capacity: 10,500)
Captain(s)	Lotte Clapp (1st XV), Kate Skelton (2nd XV)
League(s)	Allianz Premier 15s
Current season

History

Saracens Women were formed in 1989, starting in and winning the second division in its first season and making it to the Women's Premiership for the 1990 - 91 season. They have rivalries with fellow London sides, Richmond Women and Wasps Ladies.[2] In 2006, Saracens won the Women's Premiership. In 2007 they retained their title by going unbeaten through the league season.[3] In 2005, Saracens Ladies II had points deducted for fielding an underage and unregistered player.[4] In 2007, Saracens Ladies II finished second in the league after losing their final game against Bath Ladies after having been unbeaten until that match.[5]

In more recent times Saracens Women have achieved success in the Premiership and Cup.

Until 2014 Saracens Women played their home games at Bramley Sports Ground and occasionally at Vicarage Road, the home of Watford FC, when the Saracens men's team, to whom they are affiliated, moved home games there in 1997. In 2014, Saracens Women agreed with the Saracens team that they could play home matches at the men's recently opened home ground Copthall Stadium in Hendon. That continues to be their home ground for Allianz Premier XVs and A League games.

Saracens Women currently field two teams, the First XV in the Premier 15s, and the Development XV in the Premier Development league.

Saracens have won the Premier XVs in 2018 and 2019.

Current squad

[6]

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union May Campbell Hooker England Mackenzie Carson Hooker Canada Katharine Evans Hooker England Jodie Rettie Hooker Scotland Hannah Botterman Prop England Rochelle Clark Prop England Bryony Cleall Prop England Kelsey Clifford Prop England Lauryn Dacres-Kamm Prop England Sophia John Prop Jude Stephenson Prop England Jenny Orriss Prop Jodie Turl Prop Vicky Fleetwood Flanker England Bronwen Jackson-Turner Flanker England Marlie Packer Flanker England Kayleigh Searcy Flanker Sarah Bebbington Back row Lauren Newman Back row Donna Rose Back row Chrissy Siczowa Back row Rosie Galligan Second row England Ellie Gattlin Second row England Kathryn Robinson Second row Milly Thurman-Newell Second row England Sonia Green Forward England Libby Lockwood Forward England Poppy Cleall Number 8 England

Player Position Union Rebecca Bushell Scrum-half Anna Goddard Scrum-half England Eloise Hayward Scrum-half England Jade Knight Scrum-half Wales Jodie Mallard Scrum-half England Zoe Harrison Fly-half England Ellie-Louise Lennon Fly-half England Lisa Martin Fly-half Scotland Rowan White Fly-half England Hannah Casey Centre Ireland Sydney Gregson Centre England Lauren Cattell Centre England Cara Wardle Centre England Charlotte Clapp Wing England Melissa Lancaster Wing Georgie Lingham Wing England Amazigom Mayes Wing Chantelle Miell Wing England Bluebell Nicholls Wing Amelia Roberts Wing Madelene Vaughan-Johncey Wing Laura Westlake Wing Sarah McKenna Fullback England Nina Vistisen Fullback England

Notable players

Saracens Women have provided players to the England women's national rugby union team including founder England players Sam Robson, Emma Mitchell, Janis Ross, Jane Mitchell, Fiona Barnet and Welsh international Liza Burgess. England's most capped hooker, Amy Garnett played for Saracens.[7] Maggie Alphonsi, who also was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to rugby, played for Saracens Women until her retirement, after winning a league and cup double, in 2015.[8] Lee Adamson coached Saracens Women before leaving to coach the Scotland women's national rugby union team in 2007.[9] Poppy Cleall, Marlie Packer, Vicky Fleetwood are World Cup runners up from the 2017 World Cup and currently at the club.

References

1. "Saracens Women". RFU. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
2. "RFU Premiership kicks off this weekend with triple bill of London rivalry clashes". Sportsister. 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
3. "Saracens crowned champions". ESPN. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
4. "Saracens Women docked league points". RFU. 2005-10-27. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
5. "Win at Saracens was three-year high says coach Deane". Bath Chronicle (archived at Highbeam). Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
6. "Squads". Saracens F.C. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
7. "England Women clinch Grand Slam". BBC News. 2006-03-18. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
8. Orchard, Sara (2013-11-07). "Maggie "The Machine" Alphonsi purring again". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
9. "Adamson named Scotland coach". ESPN. Retrieved 2014-02-28.