New boy Matt is looking as sharp as ever
MANY heads have been turned with our four big signings at Saracens this week, but it’s only reaffirmed what we’ve known for a long time: that this club is going places.
England internationals Matt Stevens and Richard Wigglesworth, Scotland’s Kelly Brown and Tongan powerhouse Soane Tonga’uiha will all be joining us at Vicarage Road next season and become a part of a new revolution at Saracens.
Of the new additions, Matt’s arrival was undoubtedly the biggest surprise, but I have no doubt whatsoever he will become a great signing for the club once he can return to the action next January.
I met up with Matt – he is a fantastic person who made a silly mistake. He is only 27 and desperate to get back into first-class rugby and will be the perfect replacement for Carlos Nieto when he retires. Matt is keeping himself fit with ju-jitsu and I have to say he’s looking in better condition now that when he was playing.
Wigglesworth is a natural replacement for Justin Marshall when he retires. At Saracens we like our No9s with a good all-round kicking game to suit our style and Richard fits the bill.
Soane is probably the best loosehead prop in the Premiership and a fantastic singing for the club, while Kelly comes to us as, perhaps, the least known of the four, but I believe he will be the biggest revelation.
Fans will get the first chance to see our Namibian back-row Jacques Burger in action for the first time in the tough trip to Leeds in the LV Cup tonight.
He’s been fantastic in training and I think he’s going to become a firm favourite with the Vicarage Road crowd.
Brendan Venter is head coach of Saracens. For box office, call 0844 847 2482.