Saracens have been signing up a number of the best Championship players ahead of there year in the second tier next season.
They were relegated from Premiership following persistent salary cap breaches.
Sarries had already been deducted 35 points for the current Premiership campaign and fined £5.4m for three seasons’ spending above the cap.
Incredible television this morning. Had to dry the eyes 🙈🙌🏻. @captaintommoore you are an absolute hero. Over £12m raised and it keeps going up. The Bedfordshire man inspiring us all 🙌🏻😊 #walkwithtom
— Will Hooley (@will_hooley) April 16, 2020
A number of their star players are expected to play a limited role next season, including Owen Farrell, meaning an experienced replacement 10 was required.
According to The Rugby Paper, they’ve snapped up USA international Will Hooley from Bedford Blues.
The fly-half was reportedly spotted at the clubs training centre, alongside Ealing Trailfinders centre Harry Sloan before the lockdown.
Cambridge born Hooley is a former England Under 20 international who came through the Academy system at Northampton Saints before going on to make 14 first team appearances and scoring 77 points.
It was this, along with a successful dual-registration with Birmingham Moseley, that attracted the Exeter Chiefs and Hooley was brought in to provide top quality competition for the No.10 role alongside Gareth Steenson and Henry Slade. He made his debut for the Chiefs against Clermont Auvergne in the 2015 Champions Cup and most recently featured in the Chiefs 36-14 Premiership win over Newcastle Falcons.
Things have only got better for Hooley at Goldington Road though as his fine performances caught the eye of USA Rugby – Will’s grandmother grew up in Hollywood – and he earned his first cap in 2018. Hooley was also part of the historic USA team which beat Scotland 30-29 to earn America their first ever win over a major rugby nation.
Four Saracens signings who were meant to be the business…but weren’t
Saracens have occasionally suffered misfortune in the transfer market when it comes to exciting signings that ultimately proved disappointing.
We’ve gone from the inception of the Premiership in 1997/98 because, as you all know, that’s when club rugby ‘started’.
Gavin Henson
What can you say about this man that hasn’t already been said? Henson had not played professional Rugby for 18 months before joining Sarries in 2010 but was an exciting addition nevertheless with the 33-cap Wales international making his debut on boxing day.
After failing to break into the team regularly, Henson secured the release from his contract in February 2011 and joined Toulon shortly after.
A deal that offered so much, but delivered nothing.