Saracens (Rugby)

|- | colspan=" 2" style=" text-align: center; padding: 0.5em; " bgcolor=" white" | |- | Club founded in | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| 1876 |- | Colors | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| Black |- | Stage | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| Vicarage Road
(22 000 places) |- | Seat | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| Vicarage Road Stadium
Watford Hertfordshire
WD18 OEP |}

The Saracens Rugby Union Football Club is a club of Rugby English which evolves/moves in the Guinness Premiership. The club is based in the town of Watford, in the north-western suburbs of London, and plays in the stage of Vicarage Road, which it divides with the football club of Watford FC.

History of the club

Black origins and years

The Saracens were founded in 1876 by people of the Philological School of Marylebone. In 1892, Saracens move Crown Lane with Firs Farm , but they will play on nine different grounds until 1939 when they settle with Bramley Rd .

The club will know good performances during the the Seventies with in particular a semi-final in Coupe of England. The beginning of the the Eighties will be less glorious. The club nevertheless will take share with new the Championnat of England which has just been created. Under the control of its trainer Tony Russ and of his captain Floyd Steadman, the club will finish first of the second division in 1989, and thus will join the elite of English Rugby. On this impetus, Saracens will finish their first season in Premiership in the fourth place.

Following one difficult season 1992-93 and a reorganization of the first English division, which passes from 13 to 10 clubs, Saracens are retrogressed in the second division. After two years of purgatory, the club gains the championship of the second division in 1995 and thus goes up in the elite. This increase could have been of short duration but thanks to a change of payment, which this time is favorable for him, the club avoids the descent of little in 1996.

The first successes

In November 1995, Nigel Wray' , a British millionaire, becomes the new owner of the club. This arrival is accompanied by financial means superiors who allow to recruit players of talents like Michael Lynagh, Philippe Sella, François Pienaar and Kyran Bracken. In spite of that, the team finishes only in the seventh place and spleen the qualification in Coupe of Europe. The club still changes stage for that of the Enfield FC .

The season 1997-98 is revolving for the club. First of all on the level of the structures, Saracens move with Vicarage Road , the stage of 22.000 places of the Watford FC, which they will divide. The club also recruits Peter Deakin as marketing director, it will make the happiness of Sale later a few years. Then on the sporting level the season is a success. Many players come to pack still a little more manpower: Danny Grewcock, Roberto Grau, Gavin Johnson and Ryan Constable. The effect is immediate since the club finishes the season with three defeats and fails the second place of the championship with only 1 point of the Champion, the Newcastle Falcons. But the club finally encloses this beautiful season by crushing the Wasps of the Coupe of England on a score of 48-18.C' is after this beautiful year that Michael Lynagh and Philippe Sella takes their retirements.

At the time of the following seasons, the club does not cease being reinforced to take down the title which has escaped him of if little in 1998. It is Alain Penaud, to begin, which arrives for one season in 1998-99, then thereafter Mark Mapletoft, Thierry Lacroix, Scott Murray and daN Luger at the time one season 1999-00 when the club has the first budget of Premiership. It is finally Thomas Castaignède and Tim Horan which unloads with Vicarage Road for the season 2000-01. In spite of all these stars, the club will chronologically finish third, fourth and fifth of the championship during these three years.

It is thus François Pienaar which takes the reins of the team for the season 2001-02. Exit the Danny Grewcock, daN Luger and other Paul Wallace, the team will be based on the young people for this springtide. This hemorrhage of International leaving the club is enclosed by poor a tenth place in championship. The following year, it is the New Zealand legend Wayne Shelford which becomes trainer, the group is reinforced by new players experienced like Andy Goode, Christian Califano, Craig Quinnell, Morgan Williams and Nicky Little. After disappointing an eighth place, it is Rod Kafer which deals with the team. It is accompanied by again player like Alex Codling, Simon Raiwalui, Andy Kershaw, Raphael Ibanez and Taine Randell. But this season 2003-04 will be still worse than the preceding one since Saracens finish tenth.

It is thus with new chamboulement that the season 2004-05, since Steve Diamond and Mike Ford directs the team, Glen Jackson starts and Hugh Vyvyan is also recruited. The club finishes in the fifth place of the championship, their best classification since 2001, and is qualified for the Coupe of Europe.

Manpower 2006-07

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Players emblematic

List trainers

Prize list

Victorious of the Cut of England: 1998

Cut of England

Bonds

Official site

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