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Saracens have announced that 11 members of its current squad have committed their futures to the club after signing new contracts.
In the backs, Noah Cato, Adam Powell, Neil de Kock, Kameli Ratuvou, Rodd Penney, Chris Wyles and James Short have all signed new deals while forwards Hayden Smith, Mouritz Botha, Justin Melck and Rhys Gill have joined them in extending their stay with the Guinness Premiership club.
The 11 players join Alex Goode and Andy Saull - the 21-year-old Saxons duo who agreed new deals before Christmas.
Saxons wing Cato, 21, and centre Powell, 24, are both delighted to remain at the club where they graduated from the Saracens Academy.
Cato said: "It was an easy decision for me and I'm really excited about what is happening at Saracens. We're moving forward every day and not only it is great to be part of that, but to be able to share that with a fantastic group of players who are also my friends is something special."
Powell added: "I've grown up at Saracens and this is my club so I'm delighted to have signed a new deal. We're really set up for an exciting second half of the season."
Fiji international Ratuvou and Springbok scrum half de Kock are both in their fourth season with Saracens while USA international Wyles, who grew up watching Saracens, also extends his stay. Short, 20, is promoted to the first team squad from the Academy while Penney has extended his contract having been a mainstay of the side on the wing and centre since signing in 2006.
Prop Gill was a new face to Saracens this season after signing from Cardiff Blues. "It was a big move for me to move away from Cardiff, but things have worked out so well for me, I couldn't have hoped for anything more," explained the Wales U21 international. "I'm delighted to be staying at what is an exciting time for everyone connected with Saracens."
Melck joined Saracens midway through last season and the back row's performances have earned him a new deal. It's also been a whirlwind two years for second row Smith who went through the US Collegiate system on a basketball scholarship before moving to the oval ball game and Saracens.
He hasn't looked back having and has just helped the US Eagles achieve qualification for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
"There have been a few times when I've had to step back, pinch myself and work out if it was actually happening and this new contract is another one of those times, because I'm delighted." explained the 24-year-old.
His second row partner Botha is another to commit his future to Saracens and, now English qualified, the former Bedford Blues lock is hoping to push for further honours. He explained: "It was a big step up from the Championship to the Premiership this season but things have gone really well for me and I want to keep pushing that bar even higher with Saracens and maybe even pushing for a place in the Saxons squad."
http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/12537.php
In the backs, Noah Cato, Adam Powell, Neil de Kock, Kameli Ratuvou, Rodd Penney, Chris Wyles and James Short have all signed new deals while forwards Hayden Smith, Mouritz Botha, Justin Melck and Rhys Gill have joined them in extending their stay with the Guinness Premiership club.
The 11 players join Alex Goode and Andy Saull - the 21-year-old Saxons duo who agreed new deals before Christmas.
Saxons wing Cato, 21, and centre Powell, 24, are both delighted to remain at the club where they graduated from the Saracens Academy.
Cato said: "It was an easy decision for me and I'm really excited about what is happening at Saracens. We're moving forward every day and not only it is great to be part of that, but to be able to share that with a fantastic group of players who are also my friends is something special."
Powell added: "I've grown up at Saracens and this is my club so I'm delighted to have signed a new deal. We're really set up for an exciting second half of the season."
Fiji international Ratuvou and Springbok scrum half de Kock are both in their fourth season with Saracens while USA international Wyles, who grew up watching Saracens, also extends his stay. Short, 20, is promoted to the first team squad from the Academy while Penney has extended his contract having been a mainstay of the side on the wing and centre since signing in 2006.
Prop Gill was a new face to Saracens this season after signing from Cardiff Blues. "It was a big move for me to move away from Cardiff, but things have worked out so well for me, I couldn't have hoped for anything more," explained the Wales U21 international. "I'm delighted to be staying at what is an exciting time for everyone connected with Saracens."
Melck joined Saracens midway through last season and the back row's performances have earned him a new deal. It's also been a whirlwind two years for second row Smith who went through the US Collegiate system on a basketball scholarship before moving to the oval ball game and Saracens.
He hasn't looked back having and has just helped the US Eagles achieve qualification for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
"There have been a few times when I've had to step back, pinch myself and work out if it was actually happening and this new contract is another one of those times, because I'm delighted." explained the 24-year-old.
His second row partner Botha is another to commit his future to Saracens and, now English qualified, the former Bedford Blues lock is hoping to push for further honours. He explained: "It was a big step up from the Championship to the Premiership this season but things have gone really well for me and I want to keep pushing that bar even higher with Saracens and maybe even pushing for a place in the Saxons squad."
http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/12537.php
