Saracens player exodus set to see new-look squad in 2020/21 – but how different will it actually be?

Liam Williams is set to lead a long line of squad players out of the door at Allianz Park, but the reigning Premiership champions may yet have a familiar feel come the start of the new season

Jack de Menezes

Thursday 09 January 2020 08:01 GMT

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Saracens rocked by 35-point deduction and £5m fine for breaking salary cap rules

Mark McCall and Edward Griffiths combined this week to drop the latest bombshell in the salary saga that is dominating the Premiership season, with Saracens set for a player exodus in order to comply with regulations this season.

The reigning Premiership champions find themselves bottom of the table and 18 points adrift of safety after receiving a 35-point penalty and £5.36m fine for breaching the salary cap between the 2015/16 and 2018/19 seasons.

The club have been keen to draw a line under the situation and move on in the hope of clawing their way back into the relegation fight, but the arrival of interim chief executive Griffiths brought with it the startling yet hardly unsurprising revelation that current squad members will be needed to move on immediately in order for the club to comply with this season’s salary audit, which takes places at the end of the campaign.

With star full-back Liam Williams the leading candidate to make a swift departure – largely due to his agreed summer move to Scarlets and the fact that Saracens will save £230,000 on the year’s salary bill if he doesn’t play this season – and others such as Callum Clark, Michael Rhodes, Alex Lewington and Juan Figallo reported to be following the Wales international out of the door, the 2020/21 squad will have a very different look about it from this year’s defending champions.

There is also speculation that the claim of Saracens’ England contingent being safe at the club does not spread to George Kruis, with the lock being linked with a lucrative move to Japan after getting a taste of the Far East at last year’s Rugby World Cup.

On top of that, Saracens captain Brad Barritt is out of contract at the end of the season, as too is veteran scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth who at 37 years old this summer is expected to continue his steps into coaching.

The club are able to boast one of the most successful academy’s in Premiership history, although prominent forward Joel Kpoku has already agreed a deal to join Northampton Saints in the summer in a pursuit of more first team opportunities, with the 20-year-old locked behind Maro Itoje, Will Skelton. Nick Isiekwe and Kruis.

The exits are expected to free up as much as £800,000 on the Saracens salary bill, on top of the near £700,000 that the club regained last summer in the departures of Schalk Burger, Marcelo Bosch, Dominic Day and David Strettle. But that could still be in preparation for a high-profile summer signing, with Leicester Tigers’ Jonny May currently on the radar at Allianz Park regardless of their financial strife.

Saracens team in 2020/21

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1/16Saracens team in 2020/21

Saracens team in 2020/21

Saracens

Here's a look at how the Saracens squad could shape up in 2020.

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Saracens team in 2020/21

15. Alex Goode

The forgotten man of English rugby has missed most of the season so far through injury, but when at his best there are few full-backs in the Premiership who can rival him. Alternative options: Max Malins, Matt Gallagher.

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Saracens team in 2020/21

14. Sean Maitland

The Scotland international should survive the cull at Allianz Park and has proven one of Saracens’ most consistent performers since his arrival. Alternative options: Rotimi Segun, Elliot Daly.

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Saracens team in 2020/21

13. Duncan Taylor

Taylor is hoping to have put his horrific run of injuries behind him, and could prove to be one of the most important squad members currently at Allianz Park given his return feels like a new signing. Alternative options: Alex Lozowski.

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Saracens team in 2020/21

12. Nick Tompkins

His performances over the last 12 months make it very hard for Mark McCall to keep the English centre out of the starting XV, and with Brad Barritt’s contract up at the end of the season, a changing of the guard could be on the cards. Alternative options: Brad Barritt (if re-signed), Duncan Taylor, Alex Lozowski.

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Saracens team in 2020/21

11. Elliot Daly

The England and British Lions star has been utilised on the wing so far in his early Saracens career and with Goode set to return from injury as the No 1-choice full-back, it looks likely that's where he'll remain. Alternative options: Alistair Crossdale, Elliott Obatoyinbo.

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Saracens team in 2020/21

10. Owen Farrell

Farrell looks set to remain with Saracens in order to continue his reign as England captain, should Eddie Jones stick with him for the Six Nations. Alternative options: Max Malins, Manu Vunipola.

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Saracens team in 2020/21

9. Ben Spencer

Spencer has served a lengthy apprenticeship under Richard Wigglesworth, who could be heading into his final tour as Saracens’s long-serving scrum-half, but with future England honours on the horizon for Spencer, he will be the club’s No 9 for the foreseeable future. Alternative options: Tom Whiteley.

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Saracens team in 2020/21

1. Mako Vunipola

At 28 years old, Vunipola has another full World Cup cycle in him, and as a result is almost certain to remain at Saracens with his young family for the duration. Alternative option: Rhys Carre, Ralph Adams-Hale, Richard Barrington

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Saracens team in 2020/21

2. Jamie George

Like Vunipola, George looks set for at least one full World Cup cycle with Saracens, having stamped his mark over the England No 2 shirt in recent years. Alternative options: Jack Singleton, Tom Woolstencroft.

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Saracens team in 2020/21

3. Vincent Koch

The World Cup winner has proven his worth to the club to the point that the Springboks changed their selection rules to make him available, but Saracens would be foolish to let him leave now. Alternative options: Titi Lamositele, Josh Ibuanokpe.

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Saracens team in 2020/21

4. Maro Itoje

Itoje appeared to be at risk of the cull due to his high wages, but the signs suggest that the talismanic forward will be going nowhere as the club continue to build their team around him. Alternative options: Nick Isiekwe, Jonathan Kpoku.

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Saracens team in 2020/21

5. Will Skelton

The Australian lock is signed up for another year, and although he would be a candidate to help cut the wage bill as there would be plenty of suitors back home, Skelton is settled in London and looking forward to continuing with Saracens. Alternative options: George Kruis.

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Saracens team in 2020/21

6. Nick Isiekwe

With Rhodes set to leave the club, Isiekwe could well remodel himself as an out-and-out six for Saracens given the wealth of talent in the second row. That said, it is not a position where Saracens are blessed with options and could well see recruitment here in the summer. Alternative options: Andy Christie.

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Saracens team in 2020/21

7. Ben Earl

Another academy product who is proving undroppable this season, Earl looks destined to force himself into the England reckoning in the not too distant future. Alternative options: Jackson Wray.

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Saracens team in 2020/21

8. Billy Vunipola

Vunipola is unlikely to be going anywhere soon, given how much the club means to him and how much he wants to give back for the way they stuck by him during his difficult times on the sideline. Alternative options: Jackson Wray.

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So with that in mind, click through the gallery above to see how the Saracens depth chart could be looking in 2020/21.

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