Saracens duo re-sign but join Bristol on loan

Adam Kyriacou

Saracens have announced Ben Earl and Max Malins have committed their long-term future to the club, but the pair will join Bristol Bears on loan next season.

The Academy graduates have penned fresh terms at Allianz Park and will remain in north London until the summer of 2023.

Both players will continue their top-flight development with a season-long loan at the Bears for the 2020/21 campaign before returning to Saracens.

Earl joined the Saracens Academy in 2012 aged 14 and has progressed through the ranks to become a valuable member of the first-team squad.

Four years on from his first year, he starred for England U20s at the Junior World Championships and made his Sarries debut in the LV= Cup. The back-rower has since made a further 55 senior appearances and his form has led to England selection.

He became the latest Academy graduate to earn a cap for his country in the 2020 Six Nations, coming on in England’s win over Scotland – a moment he shared with six other Saracens.

“It wasn’t a tricky decision to want to stay here long-term and it’s where I see me building my career,” Earl said.

“It’s a club I’ve been at since I was about 14-years-old, one that I know really well and somewhere I really feel part of the family.

“We’re building something special here with a young group of guys and it’s something I want to be a part of.”

Director of rugby Mark McCall said: “Nothing brings more joy to everyone at Saracens than seeing a young player grow in our system, play for our club and represent his country.

“Ben is an exceptional young man with a huge future in rugby. We are delighted he has committed that future to Saracens.”

Malins joined the Saracens Junior Academy in 2013 and tasted success with England U20s at the World Rugby U20 Championship three years into his Sarries journey, making his first-team bow a season later in the LV= Cup.

Adept at either fly-half or full-back, he has since progressed into the first team environment, making his Premiership debut in 2016/17 before enjoying the first of three European appearances – the most recent a man-of-the-match performance against Munster – in Saracens’ win over Glasgow Warriors last season.

“I’m very pleased to be staying at Saracens for the long-term,” Malins said.

“I started here in the Junior Academy, they’ve developed me as a player and I wanted to put my trust in them to take me to my maximum potential and make me an even better player.

“I came through the age groups with a lot of people who are here now. You grow these friendships which mean a lot to you and it would be very hard to chuck that away. I’m hoping to make a lot more memories in the future.”

McCall said: “We are thrilled that Max sees his long term future at our club.

“He is another bright young talent who has come through our Academy and is a player with great potential whose best days lie ahead.”

Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam said: “We had a unique opportunity to bring in two rising English stars and we believe both Ben and Max will add further quality and depth to a really exciting squad that we are building at the Bears.

“Ben can play across the back-row and has been a standout performer in the Premiership this season, rightly earning his first cap in the 2020 Six Nations.

“Max is a 23-year-old with a bright future ahead in the game – he’s a versatile player who, along with Ben, caused a lot of havoc in our away loss to Saracens in December.

“I believe Ben and Max will benefit significantly from the experience of being part of our team and culture, as we strive to grow and compete on both fronts next season.”

Bristol