Saracens bolster coaching staff with two new arrivals at the StoneX

Flanagan arrives in North London with over a decade of coaching experience, having played as a fly-half for Pontypridd, Ospreys, and Cardiff before moving into coaching with Newport.

He went on to work with the Scarlets for nearly a decade, eventually becoming Head Coach at the Dragons in 2022. The 39-year-old brings a wealth of tactical knowledge and developmental experience, and says he’s eager to work within the Premiership environment.

“I am absolutely delighted to be joining Saracens, a club I have admired and followed for a long time,” Flanagan said. “This is a great opportunity for me to continue my coaching journey and work at an ambitious club that are looking to build on a successful legacy.”

Joining him is Giacobbi, who returns to Saracens for a second spell, bringing high-level experience from his time leading performance programmes at both Castres and Clermont. A former player with Racing, Beziers and Narbonne, the Frenchman will work closely with Head of Athletic Performance Tom Sherriff to oversee physical preparation and conditioning.

“I’m very grateful and excited to have the opportunity to be part of the Sarries family once again,” Giacobbi said. “I knew what it meant 10 years ago, and it means a whole lot more today.”

Director of Rugby Mark McCall praised both appointments, saying Flanagan’s rugby intellect and people skills made him a standout candidate, while Giacobbi’s return brings “a fresh perspective and outlook” to the club’s high-performance programme.