Which England rugby players play for Saracens and can they still be called up in the Championship?
ENGLAND will take to the Six Nations with plenty of Saracens stars, despite the club’s relegation.
But which squad members play for the club and will they still be able to receive call-ups if they play in the Championship?
Which England players play for Saracens?
The Saracens stars in the England Six Nations squad are as follows…
Owen Farrell (Fly-half)
Whether or not he stays at Saracens, England will be determined to make sure their captain is in peak condition to play in next year’s Six Nations.
Farrell normally starts at fly-half, but switches to inside-centre when George Ford is picked in the team.
Elliot Daly (Full-back)
Daly ended a nine-year stay at Wasps to join Saracens in the summer.
He currently plays full-back for club and country but could switch to outside-centre for Sarries once Alex Goode returns.
Mako Vunipola (Prop)
Brother Billy Vunipola is set to miss the entire Six Nations with a broken arm, but Mako will be in the thick of the action once again.
The Wellington-born Saracen remains undisputed first choice loose-head for Eddie Jones’ men.
George Kruis (Lock)
Second row George Kruis is a regular for both Saracens and England.
But that could all change following Saracens relegation, with a big-money move to Japan mooted which would rule him out of contention for the Red Rose.
Maro Itoje (Lock)
One of England’s key men, an image rights deal with Sarries which the Premiership controversially ruled to have be inflated was one of the reasons for them falling foul of the salary cap.
Itoje’s England future is likely to be safe wherever he plays next season.
Jamie George (Hooker)
The man who had the biggest challenge in English rugby passed it with flying colours.
Jamie George successfully dislodged captain Dylan Hartley from England’s starting XI and will be unlikely to relinquish his position in the side, whichever club he ends up at.
Ben Earl (Number 8)
Billy Vunipola’s loss was team-mate Ben Earl’s gain as he was called up to Eddie Jones’ squad in the same position.
The 22-year-old prospect could look for a loan next season as he is on the fringes of the England team and will hope for regular call-ups next term.
Jack Singleton (Hooker)
Singleton joined Saracens from Worcester in the summer and was called up to the England squad when Luke Cowan-Dickie was forced to leave the training camp for personal reasons.
But Cowan-Dickie has now returned and Singleton is out. Likely to seek a loan if Jamie George stays at Sarries.
Can Championship rugby players still play for England?
Until Saracens were relegated, England rugby’s position on Championship players was unknown as none had been picked before.
But the RFU have now confirmed that Saracens players WILL be allowed to represent England even if they play their club rugby in the Championship.
And it is believed England and the British Lions, who tour South Africa in summer 2021, could even benefit from Sarries’ drop to the second tier.
After they have discussed matters with Eddie Jones and Lions coach Warren Gatland, Sarries are set to draw up a reduced schedule for their England stars.
This would see the big-hitters take part in very few Championship games, but feature in friendlies against some of the Southern Hemisphere’s top sides.