By The Saracens
June 30 2023

The end of the season saw the retirement of one of Saracens’ true warriors: Jackson Wray. Jackson was a real Saracen, the Men in Black being the only premiership club he ever played for. He was born on 10th November 1990 in Sunderland but his family moved south to Essex when he was a young lad. Although initially a footballer, he was persuaded by his PE teacher to try his hand at rugby. He represented his school (King John School) and his local club Westcliffe before  joining Sarries in 2008. He is grateful to his mum Diane for driving him the hour each way to training. 

He played for Sarries in the Anglo-Welsh Cup a couple of times but struggled to break into the first team. He spent a year on loan with Bedford Blues before making the Sarries’ first team in 2011/12. He never looked back. England may not have valued him (he received U16 and U20 honours but no full England Cap – what a travesty!) but Saracens did and Jackson was a cornerstone of the club through their most successful years and their most difficult ones. He was on the bench for the heartbreaking Premiership Final defeat to Northampton Saints in 2014 and then for the 2015 victory over Bath, Sarries’ 2^nd Premiership title. He was again on the bench when Sarries won their 3^rd title in 2016, beating Exeter Chiefs and finally started in 2018 when Sarries again beat Exeter, not to mention that famous victory in 2019 over the same opposition with that historic fourth quarter come back. He was on the bench on that historic night in Lyon in 2016 when Sarries finally became Champions of Europe by beating Racing 92.  He was there in Edinburgh when Sarries beat Clermont for their 2^nd European Cup win and inevitably he was there in Newcastle when Sarries made it 3 with a clinical demolition of Leinster. He was voted both Saracens’ Players’ Player of the Year and Fans’ Player of the Year in 2018.  Jackson was there during the dark days when the salary cap affair led to relegation to the Championship. He was captain of the side that lost to Cornish Pirates (and made us question whether our team could survive) and he was there for the 2 leg play-off against Ealing Trailfinders which confirmed our return to the Premiership. It was fitting that his final appearance was at Twickenham in this year’s final against Sale Sharks – which produced another winners’ medal for him. Mark McCall took him off a little early (following a yellow card for Robin Hislop) so he was able to receive the full ovation he was due. The team sheet will look very strange without him.

Jackson was a versatile player, happy anywhere in the back row. Maybe that diversity was one of the reasons he didn’t get international honours. He never made any of those shirts his own but was a very able substitute when Ben or Billy or Andy or Nick (or Jacques or Will or Michael, or Schalk or Ernst)  weren’t available. It wasn’t all sweetness and light though – I remember a famous run-in with Luke Pearce against Quins when the referee effectively fired Jackson as skipper and appointed Manu Vunipola to take over for the last couple of minutes. Jackson had his fair share of injuries, including a fractured skull last year, but he always seemed to bounce back. On his decision to retire he said:-

My body’s actually doing pretty well, but I’m always conscious that can turn quickly. I’ve worked really hard to create opportunity to have the choice for what’s next. So it just felt like now was the right time. So retirement just makes sense. Not that I won’t miss this place, it’s mental! It drives you mad some days and you love it others. It’s incredible and I’ll be very sad to leave, but at least I only live round the corner.”

Interestingly one of Jackson’s most memorable games occurred in diversity when the teams’ first fixture after the points deduction was down at Castle Grim.   “The Gloucester game was great after we got deducted points. Going down there and beating them was fantastic and a real performance; we fought for everything and were under pressure from the crowd and the media.  I’ll never forget that game. That really stands out for me as a highlight that season in terms of how we came back from that.”

With 309 appearances for Saracens, Jackson is one of only 4 Saracens’ players in modern times to achieve more than 300 caps (Alex Goode (359) & Kris Chesney (338) are ahead of him and Kevin Sorrell (304) behind him.

Jackson will take up a career in the City with Dowgate Wealth. Life will be very different for him but he has taken a positive step to retire at his time of choosing rather than letting others make that decision for him. We will miss him hugely.

Mark McCall said: “Jackson embodies everything that is good about Saracens; hard-working, tough, resilient, consistent and team-first always. He has had an extraordinary impact and influence on our club and is hugely respected and admired by all players and staff, past and present. Jacko has not only been at the heart of the club’s biggest moments but has also led the way in many international windows and our younger players have benefited hugely from his experience and his example in these periods. We want to thank him for all he has done for our club and wish him and his family all the very best for what comes next.”

Before this season’s final, Jackson said “To win this year would be a selfishly rewarding way for me to finish. It would be the completion of the journey – fingers crossed we can do that.” Not selfish but fully justified and the team did it for Jackson.

THANK YOU JACKO

Discussion started by TheSaracens.com , 30/06/2023 17:10

TheSaracens.com
30/06/2023 17:10

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:07:23:21:36:49 by Darraghgirl.

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Sara'sman
30/06/2023 18:01

And thank you DG for another beautifully written and well researched tribute to one of our greats. It is no insult to suggest that Jackson was never quite good enough to play at the very highest level at 6, 7 or 8, even though so often he was outstanding for us in each of those shirts. Always available to guide us through the decimated international periods, quietly guiding the next generation especially by example. And never complaining when reduced to a very impressive bench or support role.

Perhaps one of the greatest tributes to his worth, especially considering the bile anything Sarries related generates, has been the comments across rugby related threads. I've read many positive posts regarding him, but other than the ignorami hurling abuse for being Nigel's son (!) every one has been positive, many envious that he didn't play for their club.

His performance against Saints in the semi last season made me hope for a renewed contract. But I'm pleased he has been able to retire on his own terms. Thank you Jackson and best wishes with whatever comes next.

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OTsarrie
30/06/2023 20:47

Absolutely …

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Stopsy
30/06/2023 21:12

A player for whom I have the highest regard, a great career and I wish him and his all the best for the next adventures

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OldMarovian
01/07/2023 10:30

Good luck to him. Tbh I think playing for his Fathers team probably held him back ...

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AP
01/07/2023 10:44

Quote:

OldMarovian
Good luck to him. Tbh I think playing for his Fathers team probably held him back ...

300 appearances and the coaches have only now realised that he's not Nigel's son ...

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The Bard
01/07/2023 12:40

Excellent piece on an excellent player. You simply can’t build successful teams without guys like this around

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Banzai1314
06/07/2023 18:02

Would it be too difficult for the club to invite Jacko to the pre season event. It would be an opportunity to say “Thankyou”.

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Strangelove
06/07/2023 21:02

It was good to see him act as host for the webinar with McCall last week.

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