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The festive fixtures will hopefully have whetted your appetite for more action in the New Year and January is going to be a big month for both Saracens rugby sides, Men and Women.

The ‘Men in Black’ head to Kingsholm for a clash with Gloucester that will give them the chance to make amends for their home defeat against the Cherry and Whites on exactly the same day last year, 6 January. Coming into Christmas, Gloucester were in the top four and well in the hunt for a play-off place. Kingsholm is always a difficult place to play and The Shed will no doubt be in full voice urging on their local heroes (7.45pm kick-off).

That game is on a Friday night and a day later Lotte Clapp’s ‘Women in Black’ will host DMP Sharks at the StoneX Stadium (2.00pm kick-off). The World Cup stars should be fully integrated back into the squad by then as the push to hold onto the Allianz Premier 15 title goes into overdrive in the New Year.

More and more fans are flocking to watch the women’s team, with season tickets already having rocketed from 31 to 790 this season. Don’t miss out!

The following weekend, Saturday 14 January, Alex Austerberry’s side head to the south-west for a re-enactment of last season’s final against Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park. (kick-off 3.00pm). That will be a crucial clash.

That same day, Mark McCall’s men will host Lyon in the Heineken Champions Cup hoping to complete the double over the reigning European Challenge Cup winners after their 28-20 triumph on French soil in Round 2. Perhaps we’ll see another superb kick from England and British & Irish Lions hooper Jamie George to pave the way for a stunning try!

Saracens Women are back in action at the StoneX on Saturday 21 January (kick-off 2.00pm) against Worcester Warriors. The European action continues for Saracens north of the border on Sunday 22 January (kick-off 5.30pm) when they face Edinburgh.

The January action is rounded off with a double-header against Bristol Bears on Saturday 28 January with the women heading to Bristol and the men hosting Pat Lam’s dangermen at the StoneX. The women kick-off at 1.00pm and the men, back on duty in the Gallagher Premiership, start at 3.00pm.

What a great way to kick-off a World Cup year in rugby!