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Scarlets v Saracens Pre-Season Friendly Report

Scarlets did indeed pose rather a larger challenge than the previous pre season friendlies with played these past few weeks. To conclude our pre-season preparations, we got a scruffy but reasonable 14-26 win over Scarlets in Llaneli It certainly wasn’t the prettiest game of rugby and the conditions were squally blustery (see attached photos, the rain is sweeping in at an angle!) but with 4 different try-scorers, another impressive contribution from Sione Va’enuku and valuable minutes across the squad this was a useful test before the premiership season begins. Having taken up the very generous offer of hospitality in the Carwyn james lounge, a stay overnight at the Diplomat and coach travel to/fro the ground (my thanks to SSAaway and Scarlets for this), we made our way over to Llaneli on Friday afternoon. After a trip to the swimming pool and sauna, we put on our sarries jerseys and awaited departure to the stadium. On arrival, I must admit the staff were excellent and did indeed make us feel welcome, plus the food and drink was pretty tasty too! After many pints of Guinness and a few of the Double Dragon ale (a niche Scarlets one, I believe…) I filled in the score prediction form for 17-25 to us. I was very close as well, if only Scarlets had kicked a penalty at some point! The prize was a bottle of wine and to make things even more frustrating, the guy who did win it had the same forename as me, so I thought I did win until I heard the surname… Oh well maybe next time.We then moved to sit down 5 minutes before KO and observed Scarlets mascot high fiving various fans including our own Nige Eaton. Nice touch indeed from the Scarlets matchday team.
Scarlets v Saracens Pre-Season Friendly Preview

Right then. Down the M4 we go. It’s a Friday night under the Parc y Scarlets lights and I cannot wait. I viewed the Scarlets ticket/hotel packaged offered from the SSA and decided that it could be quite good fun to do. An unbeatable offer indeed, what with a hotel stay included and full welsh breakfast on the Saturday. Just the ticket after an evening of plenty of good rugby (hopefully) and beer (definitely). I should note that this is only the 4th time in 10 years we've encountered Scarlets in all fixtures (competitive or friendly) with the last time being 2 years ago, as pictured in the head image when we defeated Scarlets 40-21 at the StoneX in a pre season friendly. My thanks to David Loxham for the wonderful image of that outing. The precious time it was another mid season friendly at the StoneX in 2023 (another win) and then the time before was the last competitive fixture, a 22-22 draw in the European Cup when the likes of Chris Ashton was still a saracen (you can see Aled Davies who was quite a handy 9 for us if you look closely at the next picture).
FUN IN THE SUN

What a delightful afternoon. This was my first visit to Dillingham Park in Ampthill and hopefully not my last. Little DG and I took the shortish drive along the A507. Car parking was close by and free (as long as you minded the rabbit holes) and we met Mark McCall ! (Would have thought he was entitled to priority parking but there you go). A 5 minute walk through the park past the cricket pitch (with a vertiginous drop just feet from the boundary – wouldn’t want to be trying to stop a pull to square leg) and over the road led us through some beautiful sandy heathland (looked like excellent adder habitat although no self-respecting snake would have been within 100 yards of all those people). Entry was simple (and tickets just £10) and we found ourselves at one of the loveliest grounds I have ever been to. The pitch is cut into a hillside making it look like a natural amphitheatre with gently rising sandy banks on 2 sides allowing spectators to sit or stand and watch the game. Even more of a surprise was the dogs! You could bring your dog to the game and lots of people did: Dalmations, Labradors, Spaniels, Cockerpoos, Jack Russells – they were all there (what a shame I’d have brought my own if I have known!) The sun shone as we watched the last of the warm up. The PA was inaudible unless you were standing underneath it, which was how we picked up a change to the line up (more shortly) that Carre was being replaced by O’Driscoll.
Ampthill v Saracens Pre-Season Friendly Preview

If our first pre-season game against Cornish Pirates was about forging new friendships, this weekend is all about renewing old ones. The link between the two clubs has been extremely beneficial to both parties over the last few years. Sarries get game time for their up and coming prospects and “The Mob” get to fill out their squad with some Premiership quality.
Saracens v Northampton Saints Prem Cup Match Report

Sometimes the cliche is just too apt to avoid, so in the words of the late great Jimmy Greaves “it’s a game of two halves”. The final score of Saracens 96 - Northampton 42 might not seem too surprising looking at the two teamsheets, but I don’t think I have ever seen a game quite like it. With a total of 20 tries, 2 (I think) yellow cards and a move to uncontested scrums there was a heck of a lot going on. I have tried my best to detail what happened across the game but other recollections may vary!
END OF SEASON POLL 25-26

The votes have been counted and independently verified (well the dog did it as usual) and we are finally in a position to announce the results of our End of Season Poll (just in time before the new season starts!) So here we go........
SARRIES v NORTHAMPTON Preview

First of all a very big welcome to Nick who is the newest member of our editorial team. Please show him your appreciation for his preview After Friday’s warm up act here comes the main event, the start of the 2026/27 competitive season. It is fair to say that last season as a whole was (massive understatement coming up) a tricky one for Saracens, and nowhere was this more evident than in the Prem Cup. 3 wins out of 8, 2 of which came against a weak Newcastle side, was a poor return for a talented group. That set of results also included losses home and away to our opponents in Round 1 of this year’s competition, Northampton Saints.
Cornish Pirates v Saracens Pre-Season Friendly Report

Always nice to see a healthy win for the Wolfpack! We started off our season of rugby with a comprehensive win at the Mennaye. It was excellent that the pirates broadcasted this match on YouTube, many thanks to their media team for that one. Unbiased commentary also a blessing, please can we swap Austin healey and Andy goode for the pirates commentators? I was saddened I couldn’t make it to the Mennaye for this game but Friday night on bank holiday weekend in Cornwall presented a whole manner of problems travel wise, especially since I live virtually the opposite side of England. Ho hum. After a homemade oven baked pizza and a beer or two, I sat down to scope out how our team looked after preseason and what shapes/lines we could cut in attack. The team was an interesting one, with familiar faces and perhaps ones we don’t know quite as well. Vilikesa Nairau (last season signing rom Coventry I believe) was starting at loosehead, Eoghan Clarke (who I confess I’ve not heard of before) was at hooker, a talented young wing called Fraser Rawlins, new signing Alfie Barbeary at 8 (head shaved, ready to rumble) and Max Malins in his original position of fly half. A feisty team with the ball in hand and it was good to see more running rugby for the most part.
Cornish Pirates v Saracens Pre-Season Friendly Preview

It will be great to have rugby back finally. It feels like it has been far too long. Next Friday, we head to Cornwall for the final pre-season test, facing a Cornish Pirates side that will be highly motivated and driven in front of what could well be a sell out crowd.
Goodbye, and Good Luck - this year's womens squad departures

Ah, these season is one of goodbyes to some legends in our women’s squad. It’s never nice to say farewell and good luck, but it must be done unfortunately. We've reached the point where its fair to post a womens squad leavers article, and this year it's quite an emotional one. Having won the PWR though, we can at least say our leavers have gone on a high. I was going to do another piece separately for the joiners, but as far as I'm aware apart from maybe some academy players being promoted, we haven't signed anybody so will leave that for either further down the line or for a separate thread to be made about it.