On a rainy evening in pre-season, there was a thrilling glimpse of Saracens’ future as Jack Bracken put a brilliant try past Cornish Pirates. The London club have slid below their trophy-winning standards since they landed a sixth Premiership title in 2023 but there is mounting evidence that for Sarries, the future is now.
Bracken’s try against second-tier opposition at the Mennaye Field in Penzance shouldn’t be taken as high-level proof, of course, but the way the 20-year-old caught a clearing kick on the halfway line, and hurtled on a diagonal line straight to the far left-hand corner, was a symbol of the young talent that coaches and fans alike are raving about at Saracens. This reporter was on a terrace watching, directly behind Bracken’s coruscating angle of attack, and even the locals broke into applause.
Saracens were fielding a mix of veterans, Owen Farrell and Elliot Daly playing alongside exciting youngsters like Bracken’s 22-year-old scrum-half brother Charlie, although last season’s breakout star and new England cap Noah Caluori was missing with an arm injury. They’ll have to wait a little longer for the youngest Bracken, 17-year-old Lochlan – all are sons of ex-England No 9 Kyran – but Sarries’ head coach Joe Shaw is not hiding his enthusiasm.
