EL PERRY TO LEAVE SARRIES
Ellena ‘El’ Perry has announced that she will be leaving Saracens Women this summer.
The Saracens and England front rower has been at the club since she was 18-years-old.
She made her Saracens debut just a week after turning 18 at the start of the 2015/16 season and would go onto play in the Premiership final at the end of that same season.
The prop also made her England U20s debut in 2016, scoring against the British Army in her first appearance at age grade level.
Perry continued to progress and was a member of the Saracens Women squad that won the inaugural Tyrrells Premier 15s title in 2018, though she missed the final due to injury.
Later that year she made her full England debut in the November internationals, starting against USA in front of a home crowd at Allianz Park. She came off the bench against Canada and Ireland in the following weeks.
Her performances in the Autumn for England and at domestic level for Saracens left to her being awarded an EPS agreement at the start of 2019.
Despite an injury hit start to 2019, the dynamic prop made her return to the pitch in time for the final run of matches in the season and played an important role in the team’s 33-17 win over Harlequins Ladies at Franklin’s Gardens in the TP15s Final.
Perry said: "I would like to thank everyone at Saracens for everything they have done for me, both on and off the pitch. Since joining Saracens after my 18th birthday I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the club.
"The girls have been amazing, and I can’t thank them enough for all of the support they have given me throughout my time at Sarries.
"I would also like to thank all the coaches and medical staff, especially Alex Austerberry for the coaching and support he has given me this season.
"I was gutted to miss the Premiership final last year but to be able to win it this season with an amazing group of girls and while playing my last game in a Saracens shirt was very special."
Saracens Women head coach Alex Austerberry said: "I’ve work with El since she was a 14-year-old in the sessions down at Bramley Road where sometimes they got a bit tough and she had to dig to deep places as a youngster.
"The one thing about her is you can never question her commitment and work-rate. She’s a fantastic individual, she’s got great character and I think you can see by how she played that final, it meant everything to her.
"Whatever she was doing she was going to go out, giving it her all, in what for me was a complete performance. I’m hoping she goes on to fulfill her potential.
"Obviously she’s moving on from us but we will watch with a very close eye because she’s a very talented player, a great individual and hopefully someone we may see back in a Saracens shirt.
"We wish her all the best and we think she can go to some pretty special places as a player. She’s a great kid, someone with the brightest of futures ahead of her."
