Saracens have announced Ben Earl and Max Malins have committed their long-term future to the club.
The Academy graduates have penned fresh terms at Allianz Park and will remain in north London until the summer of 2023.
Both players will continue their top-flight development with a season-long loan to Bristol Bears for the 2020/21 campaign before returning to the Saracens family.
✍️ Saracens is delighted to announce @BenEarlba has committed his long-term future to the club!
— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) March 6, 2020
He will continue his top-flight development on loan at @BristolBears next season before returning to the Saracens family.#TogetherSaracens ⚫️🔴
Earl joined the Saracens Academy in 2012 aged 14 and has progressed through the ranks to become a valuable member of the first-team squad.
Four years on from his first year, he starred for England Under-20s at the Junior World Championships and made his Sarries debut in the LV= Cup. The back rower has since made a further 55 senior appearances and his form has led to England selection.
He became the latest Academy graduate to earn a cap for his country in the 2020 Six Nations, coming on in England’s win over Scotland – a moment he shared with six other Saracens.
“It wasn’t a tricky decision to want to stay here long-term and it’s where I see me building my career,” Earl said.
“It’s a club I’ve been at since I was about 14-years-old, one that I know really well and somewhere I really feel part of the family.
EDITORS PICKS:
- 5 times Manu Tuilagi didn’t give a RUCK
- England: Who went to the most expensive school?
- 16 of Ellis Genge’s most hilarious tweets
- The Greatest Six Nations XV Of All Time
“We’re building something special here with a young group of guys and it’s something I want to be a part of.”
Director of Rugby Mark McCall said: “Nothing brings more joy to everyone at Saracens than seeing a young player grow in our system, play for our club and represent his country.
“Ben is an exceptional young man with a huge future in rugby. We are delighted he has committed that future to Saracens.”
Malins joined the Saracens Junior Academy in 2013 and tasted success with England Under-20s at the World Rugby U20 Championship three years into his Sarries journey, making his first-team bow a season later in the LV= Cup.
Adept at either fly-half or full-back, he has since progressed into the first team environment, making his Premiership debut in 2016/17 before enjoying the first of three European appearances – the most recent a man-of-the-match performance against Munster – in Saracens’ win over Glasgow Warriors last season.
“I’m very pleased to be staying at Saracens for the long-term,” Malins said.
“I started here in the Junior Academy, they’ve developed me as a player and I wanted to put my trust in them to take me to my maximum potential and make me an even better player.
“I came through the age groups with a lot of people who are here now. You grow these friendships which mean a lot to you and it would be very hard to chuck that away. I’m hoping to make a lot more memories in the future.”
McCall said: “We are thrilled that Max sees his long term future at our club.
“He is another bright young talent who has come through our Academy and is a player with great potential whose best days lie ahead.”
Full list of 2020–21 Gallagher Premiership transfers
This is a list of player transfers involving Premiership Rugby teams before or during the 2020-21 season.
BATH
Players in:
Players out: Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Sam Nixon (Bayonne)
BRISTOL BEARS
Players in: Semi Radradra (Bordeaux), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Mitch Eadie (Northampton Saints), Max Malines (Saracens – loan), Ben Earl (Saracens – loan)
Players out: Jordan Crane (retiring), Aly Muldowney (retiring), Mat Protheroe (Ospreys)
EXETER CHIEFS
Players in: Jonny Gray (Leicester Tigers), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Lyon), Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester), Corey Baldwin (Scarlets)
Players out: Enrique Pieretto (Glasgow Warriors), Nic White (Brumbies)
GLOUCESTER
Players in: Louis Rees-Zammit (promoted from Academy)
Players out: Callum Braley (Benetton)