By Darraghgirl
September 10 2015

This is the latest in a series of articles designed principally to keep the site alive until the new season starts (how much longer?) This time we look at the new players who will be joining Saracens this season.

It is usually a positive sign for a club when the annual turnover of players is low. It suggests a happy settled team with only minor tweaks required. Thus it is these days at Saracens (but who can forget the “clear-out” of the early Venter days!) Of course Saracens have a very healthy development squad and so many of our new generation players are “home grown”. So we have only a few new faces to meet at Allianz this season.

Michael Kenworthy Rhodes is a 28 year old Flanker born in Durban (well come on, we need to maintain our SAFA reputation, there isn’t a lot of Afrikaans spoken in the dressing room these days). Michael is actually no stranger to Saracens having played against them for Western Province in the friendly at Allianz last season. He was also Alastair Hargreaves’ next-door-neighbour when he lived in Natal. He started his career with Natal Sharks in 2008 before moving to Golden Lions in 2010. He has played for Super 15 side Stormers & Western Province since 2013. He was voted “most promising Forward” in the 2014 Western Province Awards. Michael has scored 21 career tries (and acquired 2 red cards). His most recent try was for the Barbarians against Leicester Tigers last November. He has signed for Saracens on a 1 year contract.

Samuel Vunisa was born in Suva and represented Fiji at U19 and U20 before taking Italian Nationality and he is currently with the Italian team preparing for the World Cup. He is 26 and plays in the back row. At 120kg he is definitely in the Billy Vunipola mould! Samu started his career with Taranaki before being signed on loan to the Italian team Calvisano with who he won the Italian Domestic League. He briefly returned to Taranaki before returning to Calvisano for another season. Fabio Ongaro (remember him) signed him for Zebre in 2013. He played his first game for Italy against South Africa in November 2014. He too is no stranger to Saracens as he played against them for Zebre in 2013/4 AND scored Zebre’s only try. In fact he scored 3 tries for his former club last season.

Baden Kerr is also 26 and was born in Papakura, New Zealand. He can play both Fly half and Full back. He spent 2 seasons with The Blues in Super Rugby but sadly a serious hand injury kept him on the sidelines for most of 2014 and Blues didn’t resign him. Baden has been playing with those other Blues “Bedford Blues” for the past 6 months although it has to be said their fans’ reviews are not particularly positive! Hopefully he just needs game time! Baden played for Saracens against the Army at HAC at the end of last season. He too has a one year contract.

Dave Porecki comes in as Hooker cover for the duration of the World Cup. The 22 year old Australian played briefly for Waratahs but has spent most of his career with Manly Marlins. His nickname is “meatball”. He has been training with the squad since July.

Bit worrying though - none of them have said the "Something Special" line!