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Mark McCall launches centre search after serious Olly Hartley setback
By Neil Fissler
Gallagher Premiership Champions Saracens have started a search to replace Olly Hartley after the England hopeful seriously damaged his knee ligaments in the win over Gloucester last weekend.
The 22-year-old is set to miss the rest of 2024 after it was revealed he suffered ACL damage in the 46-24 victory in London, which has prompted director of rugby Mark McCall to open a search for another centre.
Hartley’s unavailability is a blow for Saracens who are chasing down Northampton Saints and Bath at the top of the Premiership table as they look to retain the crown they won with a 35-25 win over Sale Sharks at Twickenham last May.
The Whitgift School-educated midfielder, whose father Gary was a former England trialist, has been in outstanding form for Sarries and his try against the Cherry and Whites at the Stone X Stadium was his seventh in 20 games this season.
The inside centre joined Saracens on an academy contract in November 2022 after Wasps went out of business and he was close to England’s Guinness Six Nations squad after catching the eye playing for England A against Portugal in February.
McCall has been busy in the transfer market in the last couple of months, bringing in Sam Spink, one of Hartley’s former Wasps teammates, from the Western Force and Wales loosehead Rhys Carre from Cardiff.
Fergus Burke is also arriving in North London from the Crusaders later this year to replace former England skipper Owen Farrell, who is heading to Stuart Lancaster’s Top 14 giants Racing 92 next season.
McCall has also added the Newcastle Falcons pair loosehead Phil Brantingham and young fly-half Louie Johnson and has also spoken to veteran winger Jonny May about switching from Gloucester when his contract runs out at the end of June.
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Latest Comments
Hopefully Joe stays where he is. That would mean Les, McKellar, larkham and Cron should as well. It’s the stability we need in the state programs. But, if Joe goes, RA with its current financial situation will be forced into promoting from within. And this will likely destabilise other areas.
To better understand some of the entrenched bitterness of those outside of NZ and NSW (as an example 😂), Nic, there is probably a comparison to the old hard heads of welsh rugby who are still stuck in the 1970s. Before the days where clubs merged, professionalism started, and the many sharp knives were put into the backs of those who loved the game more than everyone else. I’m sure you know a few... But given your comparison of rugby in both wales and Australia, there are a few north of the tweed that will never trust a kiwi or NSWelshman because of historical events and issues over the history of the game. It is what it is. For some, time does not heal all wounds. And it is still festering away in some people. Happy holidays to you. All the best in 2025.
Go to commentsNot surprised to see Barretts rating. He has always been a solid defender for the ABs but not particularly effective in attack situations.
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