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They say it never rains but it pours and the forecast is certainly beginning to look cloudy in North London.
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If the rumours circulating that Alex Lozowski could leave Saracens at the end of the season and return to his former club Wasps weren’t enough, the reigning European champions also face stiff competition to retain wing Nathan Earle.
The Junior World Championship-winner has had a tough time with injury since graduating from the England age-grade side, but began to breakthrough for Saracens last season, finishing the campaign as part of Eddie Jones’ England squad that toured Argentina.
He may have not gone on to make his international debut on that tour, but it has led to him starting the season in good form for his club, occupying both the left and right wing starting spots over the opening two weeks of the tournament.
His dynamic counter-attacking, footwork, speed over the ground and deceptive strength singled him out as a player to watch during his time with the England U20 side, something he backed up during a loan spell at Canterbury, playing an important role in their 2016 Mitre 10 Cup-winning campaign.
With Alex Goode, Liam Williams, Chris Wyles and Sean Maitland all available at Saracens, he will have to work hard for further playing opportunities, but his extended injury-free run is clearly allowing him to put together a body of work in training sufficient enough to impress Mark McCall and earn game time with the first XV.
The 22-year-old is in the last year of his contract and keen to stay at the club, but with Saracens facing several key decisions regarding contract renewals, recruitment and the salary cap, the news that he is prized by six other Premiership clubs won’t make for happy reading for McCall and his team.
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RugbyPass understands that Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks, Bath, Exeter Chiefs, Harlequins and Bristol are all keen to add the flyer to their ranks for the 2018/19 season and are ready to contend for his signature once the new year rolls around.
Earle is keen to stay at Allianz Park and become an integral part of a side that is fast approaching dynasty status and the onus is on Saracens to secure his future before other Premiership clubs can start speaking to him.
If they can’t come to an accord, however, the talented wing will be one of the most sought-after free agents in the northern hemisphere next year.
Comments on RugbyPass
Hey Ben, Thanks for your opinion article. As a die hard rugby tragic and loyal supporter of the game can I say your article seems a touch negative so I would like to offer a slightly different spin on it. I am assuming that the sole purpose of the Super Rugby competition is not just to be a training camp for the International teams but an independent event and competition in its own right with sponsors, media companies and teams that need a financial return. Now, from this rugby fans perspective, I am enjoying the last few weeks of the competition and enjoying the fact that most teams can still make the play offs and nobody wants the wooden spoon. Most rugby followers would agree to it being a travesty if the Crusaders or the Waratahs now made it to the final but history tells us it is very unlikely with the importance of home ground advantage. Playing each team once and a four team final would give the competition integrity and a level playing field for all teams but I would be surprised if it could satisfy the financial demands of the TV rights. Maybe a six team finals series might be a possible compromise.
3 Go to commentsAll good choices John, even the Tah players ha ha. Others that might be worth a look would be ; Cale, Tom Lynagh, Uru, Keunzle, Anstee and maybe Rory Scott because we need a backup to McReight and he has improved a lot from last year and Tim Ryan.
1 Go to commentsWe only have 12 teams - and probably should only have 10. If we cut it down to 10, had a single round robin format, and only had semi-finals and a grand final, the final game would be on the first weekend of May. Meanwhile the AFL (similar to the NRL) runs until the last weekend of September and starts almost a full month after Super Rugby. At least the players would get plenty of rest!
3 Go to commentsAs article says re Japanese Final. Todd Blackadder up against his old mentor/ coach at Canterbury and the Crusaders , Robbie Deans. Both legends in this part of the world. Richie Mo’unga, ( another legend), playing brilliantly for Toddy’s team.Great to hear.
1 Go to commentsNo doubt Razor will want to kick the 2024 campaign off with a decisive selection of the top match fit players to insure his selection as the appointed coach has maximum impact. We the supporters and critics will settle for nothing less because historically it is what we have become ingrained and accustomed to. With that in mind and the distinct fall from grace of his beloved crusaders we will expect him to stamp his mark in the same way he left his old post.
9 Go to commentsI would've expected a better turn around in response to the changes within the team and its management. Lacking in my opinion is the skill sets that once was and now seemingly vacant within the squads regular front runners. Furthermore there seems to be no set game plan, the accuracy that once was is no more, the quality off the bench were poor matchups and frankly I feel a lot has to do with the coaching. Never thought i’d be critising the sadas to this degree.
5 Go to commentsAverage AB captain by recent standards. Speaks to the wider issue
9 Go to commentsWholesome lad, but no longer test level. At all
9 Go to commentsThis game was always going to be close, Canada have such a dominant pack and the Black Ferns have come unstuck in that area against teams like France and England in the past.
2 Go to commentsA distinct discomfort with the officiating they were probably selected from the local IRA narcos branch along with the commentators bloody fly tippers.
1 Go to commentsWow, never thought I would read that
2 Go to commentsExcellent match. Great to see Keenan and Ryan back for Leinster. Super result for Ulster. Season is turning around.
1 Go to comments“We need eight or nine new players, who are hard-wearing and durable and experienced Premiership performers”. So why are they scouting a retired fullback who himself admits that his “body is broken”?
1 Go to commentsBrumbies hand, knocked a Crusaders hand. Therefore, knock on in goal. Crusaders, goal line drop out should’ve been awarded. most likely after that 24 each at full time, so extra time would’ve been the right an entertaining outcome. Act Jim
1 Go to commentsSpeell cehck
1 Go to commentsColeman is gaawwwwnnn.
1 Go to commentsnext SA head coach?
3 Go to commentsGreat try by van Poortvliet.
1 Go to commentsThey have been cruelled by injuries but almost nobody (Sevu Reece and Fletcher Newell big exceptions) has played above himself which regularly happened before. Surely Scott Robertson had maintained the recruitment programme and it looks like a reasonable squad. Last in this competition will stall a lot of careers. Penny seems likeable. But it’s not enough even though this was better. We haven’t been good enough and it’s not helped by the “it’s been 15 years since… “etc “after nearly every match. Seems somehow a soft gifting of something once valuable. Kieran Read giving comments last week almost choked describing the easy surrender of possession by the forwards. I’d love to think that the senior players some of whom are back can show enough pride in the jersey to test the Blues next week.
5 Go to commentsWho will Joe select for the back three with so many in form candidates? Just hope he doesn’t get shafted like Dave Rennie and to a lesser extent Deans.
8 Go to comments