Saracens sure bonding trip won’t put them on a slide as team head skiing

Mako Vunipola in action during Sarries win over Sale Sharks
Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Chris Jones19 December 2016

Saracens will celebrate equalling European rugby history with a 13th successive Champions Cup victory by heading to the ski resort of St Anton today for one of their unique team-bonding sessions.

While many may view the three-day trip as an unusual way to prepare for their Premiership home game against Newcastle on Christmas Eve, captain Brad Barritt believes this kind of trip is key to ensuring the double European and English champions remain the team to beat.

Their 26-10 win over Sale yesterday equalled Munster’s 13-game run in the competition and puts the Premiership champions eight points clear in their pool after Scarlets beat Toulon 22-21.

“We have a strong culture and ethos and we recruit players who will be able to fit into it,” said Barritt. “When you are on these trips you have to impose your own personal respect. It is up to the individual to ensure he respects himself and the team. The intention when we go away on these trips is to create memories off the pitch that are going to make the relationships between the players strong.”

While the Sarries players insist they are merely in St Anton for high altitude training, there are a number of keen skiers in the squad, although Barritt doubts if any hire shop would have size 19 boots to fit Will Skelton.

The Australian lock helped set up a try yesterday for Owen Farrell, who collected 19 points in a match that saw England prop Mako Vunipola suffer what director of rugby Mark McCall insisted was just a sore knee, although it could restrict his efforts in St Anton.

Jamie Roberts scored three tries as Harlequins beat Timosoara Saracens 75-3 in the European Challenge Cup.

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