Woolstencroft hopes for another fruitful campaign
Tom Woolstencroft enjoyed a fruitful first season at Allianz Park.
The hooker joined from London Irish last summer and helped Saracens to success in both the Gallagher Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup, appearing in the final of the former.
“I loved my first year at Saracens, I ended up playing more than I thought I would,” he said.
“With the nature of internationals and a big contingent of our squad being away for those, there is a big responsibility on other members of the team to step up.
“I actually really embraced that and enjoyed taking the club through those blocks and we got some really good results. They were some of my best weeks playing in those games.
“I think I coped with the step up. I hadn’t played as many Premiership games the year before when I was at London Irish so I was apprehensive at first but after the first few games I felt confident and got up to speed.”
Woolstencroft was also influential in Sarries reaching the Premiership Rugby Cup final where they came up against this weekend’s opponents Northampton Saints.
The tournament has kick-started the 2019/20 season and for the Somerset man it’s a chance to continue developing his game, especially with the likes of Jamie George and Jack Singleton at the Rugby World Cup.
“I feel the more game time I can get, the more experience I can get, especially in the set piece area, that’s only going to help me."
“I loved the Rugby Cup campaign,” he said. “It was a massive opportunity for the younger lads and guys like myself who haven’t really played loads of top quality rugby to put a marker down and show the coaches what we’re all about.
“In terms of where I’m at now, I still want to play as much as I can. I’m 24, nearly 25 and for a hooker that’s still relatively young and I think there’s still a lot of improvement I can make to my name.
“I feel the more game time I can get, the more experience I can get, especially in the set piece area, that’s only going to help me. Once I get that I think I can really develop and push for those starting positions and push for more hopefully.
“This season I want to get the same game time as last year when I got lots. That’s the nature of it, once you get a taste for it you don’t want anything less. After last season I want to keep pushing. When the internationals come back my job is to really push them and back them better players and myself a better player.
“You look at the Sarries side and it’s basically an international side, if you can establish yourself in that sort of squad then you never know what will happen.
“Once you’ve had a taste of success you want to replicate it but from our chats this season we need to keep focusing on improving.”
News
See all news
Kelsey Clifford signs new Saracens deal
Saracens Women are excited to confirm that Red Rose Kelsey Clifford has recommitted her future to the club by signing a new deal. The homegrown prop has come through the Sarries ranks and progressed to receive international honours in recent seasons. Having made her 50th appearance for the club back in January 2023, Clifford has […]
Eight Academy Players named in England U18s squad
Eight Saracens Men’s U18s players have been named in the 26-man England U18s squad for the upcoming U18s International Series. Matthew Branch-Holland, Jack Marshall, Jack Murphy, Noah Caluori, Finn Keylock, Ben Morrow, Fraser Rawlins and Asa Stewart-Harris have all been named in the side, with Rawlins looking to add to his two U18s caps and […]
Emma Hardy joins Saracens Women
Saracens Women are excited to confirm the arrival of former Loughborough Lightning centre Emma Hardy. Having made 85 appearances in the African Violet of Loughborough, Hardy’s arrival is an exciting one for Saracens, as the former England U20s player gets ready to link up with her new teammates. Hardy will combine her playing time in […]
Partners
See all partners
