Saracens captain Alistair Hargreaves has backed his squad’s younger players to continue their development ahead of the 2015/16 Champions Cup.
The Premiership champion skipper has given the club’s younger crop of players a vote of confidence for this season’s Rugby Champions cup pointing out that they all have have another season of top-class European rugby under their belts after the club’s last-four appearance last season.
“Some of our younger players who started playing at this level three years ago now have a bit of experience and confidence behind them, and they now know what it take to win on these big occasions.”
“We’ve learned a lot from our last few years in Europe, and it’s important to remember that we are quite a young side on the European scene.”
Saracens have been drawn in a tough Pool, lining up alongside Toulouse, Ulster and new comers Oyonnax and Hargreaves is under no illusions that the tournament will once again test the Premiership champions’ European credentials.
“The Champions Cup is bound to be a really tough tournament again, with some world class teams, so we are looking forward to getting into it,” Hargreaves said.
“I think with the tournament tightening up in the last few years in terms of numbers, it has definitely notched it up a little bit in terms of how competitive it is.
“The calibre of player that each side can put out these days is just phenomenal, so we are going to have to be at our best to come away with points from every game.”
Saracens begin their campaign on early Saturday evening against Toulouse and then will face Ulster, two side’s they faced in 2013/14 European Cup in which Saracens were beaten finalists.
“We crossed paths with Toulouse a few years ago and they managed to do the double on us, something we haven’t forgotten about,” said the Sarries skipper.
“They have had a brilliant start to their season in France, but we have as well, and we will put out our strongest side.”
“It’s a hell of a turn-around, to go from Toulouse to Ulster, but it’s a fantastic privilege to play at a venue like that.”
“We will relish both opportunities but we will back ourselves,” he added.
The post Hargreaves backs Sarries youngsters to shine in Champions Cup appeared first on Rugby Week | Rugby Cup News, Rugby Club Fixtures and Rugby Video.