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Saracens coaches to share words of wisdom

Action from Saracens' match against a Bermuda Select XV in the Atlantic Cup at the National Sports Centre last year

Saracens will hold a “Coach the Coach” seminar at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess during the Aviva Premiership club’s fundraising week when they visit Bermuda next month.

Two of Saracens’ staff, Alex Sanderson, the forwards coach, and Andy Edwards, the strength and conditioning coach, will be sharing their knowledge at the free event on June 3 from 5pm to 7pm.

The seminar will cover a general overview of coaching sport and is designed to provide an insight into areas such as sport psychology and getting the best from available talent.

Some of Bermuda’s coaches will also present a perspective on how the advice and knowledge can be utilised by the local coaches and teachers in the audience.

Sanderson, a former Saracens player, was one of the youngest players to be appointed captain of a Premiership rugby team at the of 20. The former England player’s career was cut short because of injury at the age of 26 and he went straight into coaching.

He became the youngest forwards coach in the Premiership at just 29.

Like Sanderson, Edwards’s career also came to a premature end because of injury and has worked as a strength and conditioning coach since he was 20.

Saracens’ squad of 30 players arrive in Bermuda on June 2 and will be taking part in fundraising events throughout the “Big Game” week, which culminates with a match against a Bermuda Select XV for the Atlantic Cup at the National Sports Centre on June 7 at 7pm.

The Bermuda Select XV will include star names such as former internationals Nick Easter, who plays for Harlequins, Olly Barkley, who is now at Scarlets after making his name at Bath, and Mark Cueto, the Sale Sharks wing.

The Saracens players will visit schools for coaching workshops as well as hold a touch rugby tournament on June 4 aimed at raising funds for the Beyond Rugby charity programme and the Bermuda Rugby Football Union youth section.

Organisers have also arranged a charity golf event to be held at Tuckers Point Golf Club on June 5, when each team will be joined by a member of the Saracens squad in a fivesomes competition.

It is hoped that the Saracens’ visit will surpass than the $50,000 raised during last year’s inaugural trip to the Island.

Edward Griffiths, the Saracens chief executive officer, said he was delighted to reaffirm the team’s continued involvement in the project.

“Saracens are a club focused on core values of discipline, honesty, work ethic and humility,” he said.

“Being part of this initiative, and all that it stands for, is very much aligned with Saracens and we are excited to be part of it.

“Last year our squad received such a warm welcome to the beautiful Island of Bermuda, it did not take long to make the decision to return in 2014.

“We are delighted to be back in Bermuda and we are looking forward to catching up with some old friends and making new ones.

“Working alongside the local schools and communities we are hoping that we can inspire a new generation of future rugby stars.”

Patrick Calow, the BRFU youth development officer and co-ordinator of the Beyond Rugby programme, said: “We are absolutely thrilled by the prospect of having Saracens participate in the Beyond Rugby programme.

“Bermuda’s ability to attract a team of the calibre of Saracens will be of huge motivation to the kids in our programme and those in schools who maybe experiencing rugby for the first time.”

Saracens could arrive in Bermuda as the English and European champions. They will take on Toulon in the Heineken Cup at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on Saturday, and Northampton in the Aviva Premiership final at Twickenham on May 31.

To book a place at the seminar, e-mail SaracensinBDA@yahoo.com. For more information visit www.facebook.com/Saracensinbermuda.