Gallagher PREM 2025/26 squads rated: Saracens

Other than the retired Alex Goode, Saracens haven’t lost too many players of note and have welcomed back a couple of old club favourites in Owen Farrell and Max Malins.

Both will be hoping for a more positive campaign than in 2024/25, when both were struck down by varying degrees of injury. However, finding the right combinations around them in the backline might take some time.

With a large cohort of 16 players signed up to the senior academy, Mark McCall will be hoping that his policy of blooding youngsters bears fruit again, especially in areas where they are thin in numbers.

Here’s how we rate the depth of their squad.

Loosehead Prop: Phil Brantingham, Rhys Carre, Eroni Mawi
All three are more than capable of doing a job in the Prem and sharing the workload, but other clubs have more celebrated looseheads. Depth rating 7/10.

Hooker: Samson Adejimi, Eoghan Clarke, Theo Dan, Jamie George, James Hadfield, James Isaacs
With two England internationals backed up by a plethora of youngsters, Saracens look well covered in this area. Theo Dan’s exclusion from England’s enhanced player contract group might be a blessing. Depth rating 8.5/10

Tighthead Prop: Harvey Beaton, Alec Clarey, Vilikesa Nairaum, Marco Riccioni, Marcus Street, Tietie Tuimauga
Fraser Balmain has gone and Sarries have replaced him, in part, with a much younger man in Exeter’s Marcus Street, someone who has shown lots of potential but now needs to string together consistent performances. Vilikesa Nairaum is one to watch, having starred for Coventry as a big ball-carrying prop last season. Marco Riccioni is not one to be messed with and will likely start as the first-choice No.3. Depth rating: 7/10

Lock: Nick Isiekwe, Maro Itoje, Olamide Sodeke, Kennedy Sylvester, Hugh Tizard, Harry Wilson
Sarries’ first-choice lock pairing of Maro Itoje and Nick Isiekwe takes some beating, but at some point in the campaign, England’s captain will need to take a breather, as he was way over his game-time limit last season. Itoje caught more lineout throws than any other player in the PREM last season, and Sarries need an alternative go-to source of possession. Hugh Tizard stepped up and got a fair few starts last season and has clocked up 50 PREM appearances, proving he is now more of an established talent than an emerging one. The other three locks listed only played a handful of games between them. Depth rating: 7.5/10

Back Row: Ben Earl, Mak Eke, Toby Knight, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Theo McFarland, Barnaby Merrett, Nathan Michelow, Andy Onyeama-Christie, Tom Willis.
The area where Sarries look strongest, especially as Itoje and Isiekwe can fill in if needed. Mark McCall has the luxury of five quality internationals to choose from – Ben Earl, the superb Juan Martin Gonzalez, Theo McFarland, Andy Onyeama-Christie and the irrepressible Tom Willis, who played on another level last term. Depth rating 9.5/10

Scrum Half: Charlie Bracken, Gareth Simpson, Ivan van Zyl
Only Gloucester’s Tomos Williams played more minutes than Ivan van Zyl in the PREM last season, so the onus is on him to stay fit and in form, while Charlie Bracken and Gareth Simpson continue to develop. Tellingly, Simpson only played 187 minutes of league rugby compared to van Zyl’s 1,197. Depth rating: 7/10

Fly-half: Fergus Burke, Louie Johnson
A torn bicep ruled Louie Johnson out for most of the first half of last season, so he’ll be desperate to make an impression this time around. Fergus Burke will continue to be a steady hand on the tiller, and with Owen Farrell back and Alex Lozowksi able to also play 10 once he’s completed his rehab, Sarries should be more than okay here. Depth rating: 8/10

Centre: Lucio Cinti, Owen Farrell, Olly Hartley, Cam Hutchinson, Alex Lozowski, Sam Spink, Nick Tompkins
If all his centre options are fit and available, McCall is spoilt for choice when it comes to quality and experience, and that’s without taking the ultimate utility back, Elliot Daly, into consideration. However, Alex Lozowski, Sam Spink and Daly are currently injured and Lucio Cinti is away with Argentina. Cam Hutchinson has come in on a 10-week deal to cover. Depth rating: 7.5/10

Wing: Tobias Elliott, Brandon Jackson, Rotimi Segun
Tobias Elliott was one of the breakout stars of the 2024/25 campaign, scoring seven tries in 16 appearances, although his strike rate tailed off towards the end. Rotimi Segun is always a handful and his record of a try every other league game speaks for itself. Meanwhile, Brandon Jackson played most of his rugby at Ampthill last season. U20s ace Jack Bracken should get a chance to shine, as Sarries are short of out-and-out wingers, while the versatile Lucio Cinti and Daly offer more experienced back-up. Depth rating: 6.5/10

Full-back: Elliot Daly, Max Malins
Makins lit up the Premiership the last time he was in black and it’s hoped that he won’t have lost any of his edge having had almost an entire year out with a ruptured Achilles. A fit and firing Malins will give Sarries some serious firepower. But with few other frontline options, Sarries could have done without Daly breaking his arm on Lions duty. Depth rating: 7/10

Gallagher PREM ratings table

1. Bath – 83pts
2. Northampton – 80pts
3. Leicester – 78.5pts
4= Bristol – 78pts
4= Sale Sharks – 78pts
6. Saracens – 75.5pts
7. Harlequins – 74.5pts
8. Exeter Chiefs – 70.5pts
9. Gloucester – 68pts