After a long wait, the new season is soon to begin. More excitingly, new signings are being announced all over the country and it’s looking to be one of the most exhilarating years in the battle for victory. For those itching for the Premiership to start, it might be good to get to know your club’s new faces a little better.
Finishing as runners-up in both the Heineken Cup and Aviva Premiership last season, Saracens will be hoping to do one better and get back the champion status they held in 2011. Director of Rugby Mark McCall has already expressed his excitement at being able to secure the new signings, who seem to have been on Saracens radar for some time. Ahead of the 2014/15 season, these are the new additions joining a “stable, successful and developing squad”.
Aviva Premiership Saracens Signings
Jim Hamilton
Age: 31
Height: 6’8”
Weight: 19st 9lbs
Position: Lock
‘Big Jim’ joins Saracens after a year with Montpellier, where he made 16 appearances for the Top 14 side. Previously, he experienced the Premiership with Gloucester for three years (captain for the 2012/13 season) and before that, Leicester Tigers. He became part of the Tigers academy in 1999 and was a member of their Under-21 Championship winning side of 2002/03. The lock made his Premiership debut in September 2003, went on to achieve 64 caps and score four tries for the Midlands based side until his departure to Edinburgh Rugby in 2008. Internationally, Hamilton made his debut for Scotland in 2006 and has gone on to rack up 56 caps and five tries, scoring his first against Argentina in 2010. As part of both the 2007 and 2011 World Cup teams, it is safe to say this powerhouse has a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Juan Figallo
Age: 26
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 17st 9lbs
Position: Prop
With the departure of Matt Stevens to Natal Sharks, Sarries have brought in Figallo to compete for the tighthead spot with Johnston and de Plessis. Despite having two years left on his contract with Montpellier, a ‘G3’ injury that the prop sustained whilst playing for Argentina means that he is no longer allowed to play in top-flight rugby in France (due to French rugby rules). For Argentina, he came through the youth-teams and the hard-hitting forward now holds 22 caps for his country since his debut against France in 2010. He played in the 2011 World Cup and, even though he went into the tournament with only four caps, was named the ‘Player of Pool B’.
Kieran Longbottom
Age: 28
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 17st 11lbs
Position: Prop
Alongside Figallo, Longbottom will vie for a starting position as tighthead, although he can switch to loosehead if required. Moving from Western Force, he has played in 54 games for the Super Rugby side since his debut in 2008, where they were victorious over the Chiefs 22-21. Despite being born and raised in Western Australia, the intimidating prop also qualifies to play for England.
Mike Ellery
Age: 24
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 16st 1lb
Position: Winger
Arriving off the back of a successful two years with England Sevens, Ellery returns to the 15-a-side game in the form of a Saracens player. He began his career as part of the Newcastle Falcons academy before joining Championship side Moseley in 2010, where he scored nine tries and appeared 38 times in his two seasons there. The speedy youngster then joined England Sevens and went on to play in events in Hong Kong, Dubai and Gold Coast, to name but a few, and was part of the World Cup team that eventually finished as runners-up to New Zealand. Most recently, Ellery featured as a member of the squad who won a silver medal at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. With 17 tries scored during his time with the Sevens team, Ellery is a skilled winger who will bring flair and pace to Saracens’ back line.
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