Saracens confirm list of 16 players leaving, including five internationals

Saracens have confirmed a lengthy list of departures at the end of the season, with a number of established internationals and long-serving squad members set to leave north London.

Among the headline exits are England internationals Tom Willis and Alex Lozowski, as well as Samoa back-row Theo McFarland and Italy tighthead prop Marco Riccioni.

Willis, who has developed into one of the most destructive No.8s in Europe, will join reigning Investec Champions Cup winners Bordeaux-Begles next season, while McFarland is expected to move to La Rochelle. Riccioni will head to Perpignan and Lozowski will remain in the Gallagher PREM with Sale Sharks.

The departures continue in the half-backs, with experienced scrum-halves Ivan van Zyl and Gareth Simpson leaving for the Sharks and Ealing Trailfinders, respectively, while fly-half Louie Johnson also moves on after two years at the club with limited game time. Ealing have been linked with the 22-year-old, according to RugbyPass.

Second-row Harry Wilson will join Exeter Chiefs after two seasons at the StoneX Stadium, with centres Sam Spink, Brandon Jackson and Ryan Jones also departing. Jackson is set to join Newcastle Red Bulls.

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Young forwards Barney Merrett, Charlie Barker, Matthew Branch-Holland and Lewis Young are among the other players leaving the club, while hooker Samson Adejimi has agreed to stay at Newcastle after joining during this campaign on loan.

The overhaul comes as Saracens prepare for the post-Mark McCall era under Brendan Venter, with several high-profile arrivals already confirmed.

England forwards Alfie Barbeary and George Martin will bolster the pack following moves from Bath and Leicester Tigers respectively, while Tomos Williams and Tom James arrive to add depth at scrum-half.

Stormers prop Corné Weilbach has also signed as Saracens look to replenish a squad losing significant experience and depth across the board.

While some of the departures, particularly Willis and McFarland, will leave sizeable holes to fill, the incoming cohort will add plenty of class.