By The Saracens
August 31 2021

The votes are in, they have been scrutinised, counted and the results have been independently verified (thanks once again to my Labrador Clara for her assistance in these matters). So here are the results of this year’s End of Season Awards. (Comments in brackets are randomly selected from those of you who voted). If you don’t agree with the choices then make sure you vote for your favourites next year! So without further delay………………….

1.        SARACENS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

So many stepped up during this season, so not surprisingly there were a number of suggestions. Sean Maitland had his supporters (Class) as did Owen Farrell (he demanded to play every game to help Sarries win promotion) and Elliott Daly (got better and better).The runner up was Aled Davies (biggest compliment I can give is we haven’t missed Wiggy as much as I thought we would)  but this year’s Saracens Player of the Season is (a guy who came out of retirement to play for his boyhood heroes and won himself another year’s contract to boot): TIM SWINSON

(Thanks to Barty for nominating the women’s player of the season: POPPY CLEALL)

2.        SARACENS YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR

It was lovely to be in the position to consider an encouragingly long list of candidates. Honourable mention to Sean Reffell and Andy Christie  but we had a tie for 2^nd place between Callum Hunter-Hill (really shows how good the coaches are at spotting talent) and Elliott Obatoyinbo (brilliant all season and only lost his place when Goodey returned). However your choice of Saracen’s Young Player of the Season was (Brad in the making) DOM MORRIS

(Thanks again to Barty for the women’s nominee SOPHIE DE GOEDE, 21 year old Forward cum fly-half who also shoulders the kicking duties)

3.        SARACENS OLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Vincent Koch got a couple of mentions but this one was really between 2 senior players. A number of you mentioned Sean Maitland (Is he really 33? What does he have for breakfast?) but there could really only be 1 winner in this category: (the very epitome of the Old warhorse). Saracen’s Old Player of the Year – and winning his 2^nd award – is TIM SWINSON (what a journey!)

Also from Barty, major shout out to ROCKY CLARK the women's team, absolutely ageless.

4.        SARACENS UNSUNG HERO

Some interesting suggestions here:- Alec Clarey was nominated (for the enjoyment he brought), Aled Davies (for his solid performances) and Jamie George (just for being “Jamie George”). Alex Lewington also got a couple of mentions (for quietly getting on with the job) but once again most of the votes were divided between 2 players. The runner up is (prop and water carrier extraordinaire) Baz Barrington but once again your Saracens Unsung Hero (never taking a backward step) is JACKSON WRAY

5.        SARACENS MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

There were mentions for Alec Clarey, Tim Swinson and Vincent Koch (against Jersey, he dug his heels in and the whole dynamic in the scrum changed from there - season defining moment for me) but there really was only ever going to be one winner in this category. (Once he found his feet we saw why he’s played for Wales), Saracen’s most improved player is ALED DAVIES

6.        BEST “ONE SEASON” IMPORT

As several of you said, many of out “one season wonders” didn’t get the chance to show what they could do because we had to win everything from the 2^nd game onwards. Alex Day was mentioned in despatches as was the “fearsomely eccentric” Alex Clarey and Will Hooley. Juan-Pablo Socino (it’s no surprise he’s been picked up by Tigers) was your runner up but for the 3^rd time in this year’s awards, (he stands head and shoulders above the others in every way), Saracen’s Best One-Season Import is TIM SWINSON (who of course has now extended his stay) –

7.        BEST SARACENS LOANEE

This was undoubtedly the tightest of all the categories – simply because all of our loanees acquitted themselves brilliantly and the award could easily go to any one of Max Malins, Ben Earl, Alex Lozowski, Nick Isiekwe and Nick Tompkins. One of you even mentioned Jack Singleton who has been snapped up by Glaws. But we did have a runner up and a winner. The runner up (on the strength of his England call) was Max Malins, but Saracen’s Best Loanee (simply to deal with the French media in the way he did) is ALEX LOZOWSKI

8.        FAVOURITE SARRIES PLAYER

We all have our favourites don’t we for whatever rational or irrational reason but interestingly your thoughts largely coalesced on the same 2 players: with the exception of Alex Clarey (anyone who doesn't say Alec Clarey for this now needs their head checked. Fun loving Geordie prop with some excellent advice on surviving a zombie apocalypse). The runner up (he’s head and shoulders above everyone on the park most times he plays) (the best player I’ve ever seen) was the incomparable Maro Itoje, but your Favourite Sarries Player (unhesitating in leading the charge to commit to Sarries during those dark days after the World Cup) (held in such high regard that his first club, Hertford, have named a stand after him) is JAMIE GEORGE

9.        RETURNEE WHO MADE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE

Another hotly contested category – which speaks legends about our international players who, to a man, wanted to play for their club in the Championship. Honourable mention to Nick Tompkins (looked delighted to be home and made an enormous difference) & Owen Farrell (insisted on playing every match) but again this one came down to 2 players – the same 2 as in the previous category. However this time the runner up was Jamie George (do you remember when we couldn't win a lineout or scrum?) which means the Returnee Who Made the Biggest Difference to Saracens (played every match as if it was a Test) was MARO ITOJE

       10. BEST MEMBER OF THE COACHING STAFF   

A new category – don’t know why we’ve never done it before! Interestingly most of the coaching staff attracted support: Dan Vickers (has to go to the man responsible for the mental well-being of the players), Adam Powell, Kevin Sorrell and Ian Peel all had their supporters but deservedly, your vote for the Best Member of the Coaching Staff (I would like him to emulate Sir Alex Ferguson) is the one and only MARK McCALL

       11. BEST OPPOSITION PLAYER

We came up against some very talented players in the Championship and I remain very sad we got to see so few in person. Watching games on TV doesn’t always do justice to the less showy players. You nominated Ryan Burrows (Coventry) and Danny Cutmore (Pirates) along with (inevitably) several Ealing players:- Max Bodily, Guy Thompson, Bobby De Wee & Simon Uzokwe. However, you selected the Best Opposition Player (very, very classy) as Cornish Pirate’s LUKE SCULLY

       12.   CHAMPIONSHIP SIDE MOST LIKELY TO DO AN EXETER (EXCLUDING EALING)

We may have excluded Ealing from this category but several of you still voted for them! However with nods to Coventry and Doncaster, just squeaking into first place, the Championship Side Most Likely to do an “Exeter” (they’d offer a new fanbase to the Premiership) – and not just because they were the only team to beat us in the League - is CORNISH PIRATES

        13.   PLAYER YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO SIGN FOR SARACENS

Many of you were very happy with what we have at Sarries but of course there are some players who would probably be welcome in any side! Former Sarries George Kruis and Liam Williams would both be welcomed back. A case was made for Brodie Retallick (I would love to see Tony Rowe's face if we were to field him and Maro together when we play Exeter). Josh Adams would be welcome in any side. Matthieu Jalibert  was another choice along with Wasp’s young Hooker Alfie Barbeary (purely for the sheer glee at the rage we'd see on their side) – I have to say I think that would be a great signing! However most votes went to a Springbok, currently plying his trade across the Channel in Toulouse: the Player You Would Most Like to Sign for Saracens (cos we like a bit of magic) is CHESLIN KOLBE

         14.    WORST LOCKDOWN HAIRCUT

A category suggested by the message board! If we include the women, Hannah Casey’s (aka Choppa) pink locks were cited along with Jonny Hill (the worst haircut in English rugby augmented by a dreadful attempt at a beard). Ali Crossdale’s (transformation from floppy-haired kid to thug) was worth a mention as was Mike Rhodes and Richard Barrington (unfortunately all his votes came from the same person!) But the narrow winner, for his abomination of a hairdo in the last game of the season, which he has apparently seen fit to retain, the owner of the Worst Lockdown Haircut  is ALEC CLAREY    

           15. BEST REFEREE

So we return to normality with the next category. We had several new faces, playing in the Championship, but we were also blessed with some of the old hands as well. Wayne Barnes (looked a class above) came close but it took my casting vote to separate the winners. So the runner up (just) was Luke Pearce (although he would have to win the best-looking referee wouldn’t he?) and this year’s title of Best Referee (calm, authoritative and consistent) (brilliant level of communication – something many referees seem to lack) goes to SARA COX (hope we see more of her in the Premiership

           16.    TOM FOLEY AWARD FOR WORST REFEREE

Many of you felt that most of our referees had done OK last season. Alex Thomas’s handling of our game against Richmond  was mentioned for his inability to award a card or a penalty try and how the mighty crumble! Hence last year’s winner, Karl Dickson, came close to going from hero to zero however it seems there was one even poorer than he (he doesn’t look any nearer to making the grade as a top Premiership ref). The Tom Foley Award for the Worst Referee for once does not go to the aforementioned but to IAN TEMPEST 

          17. BEST MEDIA PERFORMANCE BY A RUGBY BROADCASTER OR CELEBRITY (EXCLUDING PODCASTS)

Some good suggestions here including current and former players such as Poppy Cleall, Duncan Taylor, Baz Barrington (very good value), Maggie Alphonsi (incredibly impressed by the level of intelligence), Sam Warburton (decent) even Austin Healey. Nick Mullins was mentioned as was Nick Heath and the return of Miles Harrison was welcomed. Old favourite David Flatman came close but this year’s Best Media Performance by a Rugby Broadcaster or Celebrity (passionate and fascinating in equal measure) is SIR IAN McGEECHAN

         18.   BEST RUGBY PODCAST

This year, Podcasts get their very own category! There are plenty to choose from but among your favourites are House of Rugby, Rugby Union Weekly and The Huddle. In the end it all came down to 2 Pods which polled almost equally: The Rugby Pod and Fezcast. However, as Matt Bartlett declined to vote for himself and instead voted for the Rugby Pod, the favour is returned and despite what he says “there are far more professional and established podcasts out there”, the Best Rugby Podcast is our very own FEZCAST

         19. STUART BARNES  ANDY GOODE AWARD FOR THE WORST RUGBY PRESENTER OR PODCASTER

As the “Cockwomble” is out of favour with the broadcasters (although he is still spouting off in the Sunday Times) this category probably needs renaming. Ugo Monye was nominated (hopefully he will spend more time on Question of Sport), as was (the utterly one-eyed) Laurence Dallaglio. Sir Clive (I won the World Cup) Woodward is another you dislike along with Danny Care. But this one came down to a 2 horse race (don’t worry Matt, you didn’t receive a single nomination!) A former winner of the Best Presenter has fallen from grace. Will Greenwood (with his ridiculous Mohican Haircut, ability to talk utter rubbish and capacity for self parody) (he got far too excited during the Lions Tests) (he was supposed to be the expert) was your runner up but really, your choice as the Worst Rugby Presenter or Podcaster needs no explanation. This award is renamed in “honour” of ANDY GOODE

         20.    MICHAEL GENTLEMAN AWARD FOR THE BEST CONTRIBUTION TO THE MESSAGE BOARD

And finally – thank you to the large number of you who felt this award should go to all those of us who have kept the board going during this challenging year: DG, Innings, Jonny Brown, TT not forgetting Stumpy for his IT help, but I am making an executive decision and giving this award to our long-serving and recently retired editor. So the Michael Gentleman Award for the best Contribution to the Message Board goes to  TONY TAFF

That’s it for another year. Thank you to everyone who voted. The new season will shortly be upon us and we can all start to write about/talk about some proper rugby at last!

Go Sarries!