Currently, Saracens is grappling with the impending contract expiration of several key players, raising concerns about potential departures from the club next summer.
Adding to the challenge, the London-based club is now restricted to having only one marquee player, a departure from the previous allowance of two. This lone star’s salary won’t factor into the overall salary cap budget of the club.
A potential mitigating factor in retaining top talent could be the Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) introduction of hybrid contracts. Under this initiative, £150,000 will be contributed to incentivize the retention of the best English players within the Premiership.
Nevertheless, the approaching conclusion of the season is poised to usher in a series of intriguing transfer sagas, presenting Director of Rugby Mark McCall with a complex set of decisions to navigate.
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#1. Maro Itoje
Itoje’s rise to the top of the rugby world has been truly meteoric, scooping up many individual accolades whilst contributing hugely at club and international level.
The lock, who is equally at home on the flank, is one of a number of success stories from the Saracens Academy, stepping up to the first team for his debut in January 2013 in the LV= Cup.
Since then he has made 150 appearances, and has developed into a world class option with astounding physicality and defensive attributes.
The four-time Premiership winner and three-time European champion’s international CV also makes for impressive reading. ‘The Pearl’ guided England U20 to their second-ever World Rugby Championship title before gaining a full cap in the 2016 Six Nations where Eddie Jones’ side were crowned Grand Slam champions, and he now has over 50 caps for his country.
He made three Test starts on England’s victorious summer tour of Australia and another Six Nations gong before becoming a British & Irish Lion in 2017 and 2021 featuring in all three tests on both tours.
Itoje was named European Player of the Year and Land Rover Discovery of the Season in 2016 as well as man of the match in Saracens’ maiden European Cup success.