Saracens Women
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| Full name | Saracens Women | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Union | Middlesex RFU | ||
| Nickname(s) | Sarries, Women in Black | ||
| Founded | 1989 | ||
| Location | Hendon, London | ||
| Ground(s) | StoneX Stadium (Capacity: 10,500[a]) | ||
| Chairman |  Neil Golding | ||
| CEO | Lucy Wray | ||
| Director of Rugby | Alex Austerberry | ||
| Coach(es) |  Juan Figallo Lewis Sones | ||
| Captain(s) |  Lotte Clapp Marlie Packer | ||
| League(s) | Premier 15s | ||
| 2021–22 | 1st (Champions) | ||
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| Official website | |||
| www | |||
 Current season | |||
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 three-time Premier 15s champions. They are also the women's team of Saracens Amateurs, who themselves are affiliated to Premiership Rugby team, Saracens.
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 home ground, StoneX Stadium, in Hendon. That continues to be their home ground for Allianz Premier XVs and A League games.
Saracens Women have won the Premier 15s competition in 2018, 2019 and 2022. The club currently field two teams – the First XV in the Premier 15s, and the Development XV in the Premier Development league.
Current squad
This is the Saracens Women squad for the 2022–23 Premier 15s season:[6][b]
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.
Club officials
The current Saracens senior management and coaching staff is as follows:
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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.[12] 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.[13] Lee Adamson coached Saracens Women before leaving to coach the Scotland women's national rugby union team in 2007.[14]
Rugby World Cup
The following players have been selected to represent their national teams at the Rugby World Cup while at Saracens (winners are listed in bold):
| Tournament | Number selected | England players | Other national team players |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5 | Emma Mitchell, Jane Mitchell, Janis Ross |
Amanda Bennett, Liza Burgess 
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| 1994 | 7 | Annie Cole, Emma Mitchell, Jane Mitchell, Janis Ross |
Amanda Bennett, Liza Burgess Michelle Cave 
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| 1998 | 7 | Helen Clayton, Claire Frost, Claire Green, Emma Mitchell, Janis Ross |
Liza Burgess Michelle Cave
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| 2002 | 6 | Helen Clayton, Assunta de Biase, Claire Frost, Amy Garnett, Jennifer Phillips |
Leslie Cripps 
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| 2006 | 5 | Maggie Alphonsi, Karen Andrew, Helen Clayton, Amy Garnett |
Leslie Cripps
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| 2010 | 5 | Maggie Alphonsi, Charlotte Barras, Amy Garnett |
Leslie Cripps (c), Sarah Ulmer
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| 2014 | 3 | Maggie Alphonsi | Kerrie-Ann Craddock, Hannah Casey 
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| 2017 | 4 | Poppy Cleall, Vicky Fleetwood, Marlie Packer |
Valeria Fedrighi 
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| 2022 | 20 | Holly Aitchison, Hannah Botterman, Jess Breach, Poppy Cleall, Zoe Harrison, Leanne Infante, Sarah McKenna, Marlie Packer |
Georgia Evans, Kat Evans, Donna Rose Coreen Grant, Louise McMillan, Jodie Rettie Alysha Corrigan, Alex Ellis Lotte Clapp, Alev Kelter Catha Jacobs  Rachel Laqeretabua 
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Club captains
The following players have held the position of Saracens Women club captain:[15]
- 1989–1992 - Liza Burgess
- 1993–1995 - Katie Ball
- 1995–1997 - Janis Ross
- 1997–1998 - Janice Byford
- 1998–2002 - Claire Frost
- 2002–2004 - Helen Clayton
- 2005–2007 - Leslie Cripps
- 2007–2009 - Amy Garnett
- 2010–2012 - Louise Horgan
- 2012–2015 - Maggie Alphonsi
- 2015–2017 - Sonia Green
- 2017–present - Lotte Clapp
Personnel honours and records
World Rugby Awards
The following Saracens players have earned recognition at the World Rugby Awards (presented annually since 2001):[16]
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Premier 15s Awards
The following Saracens players have been named in the annual Premier 15s awards:[17]
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End-of-season club awards
The following Saracens players have earned recognition at the club's annual Big Bash end-of-season awards:
| Season | Players' Player of the Year | Coaches' Player of the Year | Fans' Player of the Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Sarah McKenna |
Rosie Galligan |
Poppy Cleall
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Club honours
Saracens Women
Saracens Women IIs
Saracens Women 7s
Season summaries
| League | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Competition | Final position | Points | Play-offs |
| 2002–03 | Women's Premiership | 3rd | 16 | N/A |
| 2003–04 | Women's Premiership | 2nd | 57 | |
| 2004–05 | Women's Premiership | 3rd | 49 | |
| 2005–06 | Women's Premiership | 1st | 61 | |
| 2006–07 | Women's Premiership | 1st | ||
| 2007–08 | Women's Premiership | 1st | 52 | |
| 2008–09 | Women's Premiership | 1st | ||
| 2009–10 | Women's Premiership | 2nd | 55 | |
| 2010–11 | Women's Premiership | 4th | 44 | |
| 2011–12 | Women's Premiership | 2nd | 50 | |
| 2012–13 | Women's Premiership | 6th | 26 | |
| 2013–14 | Women's Premiership | 2nd | 62 | |
| 2014–15 | Women's Premiership | 1st | 59 | |
| 2015–16 | Women's Premiership | 2nd | 61 | Runners-up |
| 2016–17 | Women's Premiership | 4th | 45 | Semi-finals |
| 2017–18 | Tyrrells Premier 15s | 1st | 79 | Champions |
| 2018–19 | Tyrrells Premier 15s | 1st | 84 | Champions |
| 2019–20 | Tyrrells Premier 15s | 1st | 59 | Season annulled[c] |
| 2020–21 | Allianz Premier 15s | 1st | 79 | Runners-up |
| 2021–22 | Allianz Premier 15s | 1st | 77 | Champions |
Gold background denotes champions
Silver background denotes runners-up
Pink background denotes relegated
Notes
- ^ Stadium capacity can be increased up to 15,000 with temporary seating.
- ^ a b Flo Long is on short-term loan from Worcester Warriors.[7]
- ^ The 2019–20 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
References
- ^ "Saracens Women". RFU. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
- ^ "RFU Premiership kicks off this weekend with triple bill of London rivalry clashes". Sportsister. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
- ^ "Saracens crowned champions". ESPN. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
- ^ "Saracens Women docked league points". RFU. 27 October 2005. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
- ^ "Win at Saracens was three-year high says coach Deane". Bath Chronicle (archived at Highbeam). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
- ^ "Squads". Saracens F.C. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "Flo Long joins Saracens on short-term loan". Saracens. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ^ "Saracens Women confirm coaching structure for 22/23 season". Saracens. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ "SARACENS LIMITED - Officers (free information from Companies House)". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ "Club Statement: Consortium of investors acquire controlling stake in Saracens". Saracens. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ "Saracens complete £32m takeover deal with consortium of investors". BBC Sport. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ "England Women clinch Grand Slam". BBC News. 18 March 2006. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
- ^ Orchard, Sara (7 November 2013). "Maggie "The Machine" Alphonsi purring again". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
- ^ "Adamson named Scotland coach". ESPN. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
- ^ "Club Captains". Saracens Amateur RFC. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- ^ "Past Winners". World Rugby. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "Allianz Premier 15s Team of the Season Announced". Premier 15s. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ "Saracens beat Harlequins on historic afternoon for rugby union". The Guardian. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "MATCH REPORT: Saracens Women 33 – 17 Harlequins Ladies". Saracens. 27 April 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Saracens defeat Exeter Chiefs to reclaim Premier 15s title in front of record crowd". The Independent. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Women's rugby breaks new ground at Singha 7s Final". Ruck.co.uk. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2022.