Young back row Sean Reffell expressed his desire to kick on and help Saracens return to the Premiership at the first time of asking, after committing his future to the north London club.

The 21-year-old academy product - who has made 19 Sarries appearances to date and has been capped by England at under-18 and under-20 level - has signed a new deal until 2022, which will see him make the step up to the first-team squad ahead of the fresh campaign.

Reffell played twice in the Champions Cup and started Premiership fixtures against Leicester Tigers and Wasps during the 2019/20 season, and the exciting prospect is in no doubt that the best place for him to continue his development is with the three-time European champions.

He said: “I’ve been here since the start of my career and as soon as I was offered a contract I was very pleased. The coaches are always on hand trying to mould you into a Saracens player and are always there to help you.

“It’s a great opportunity for us as a team to come together next year. Everyone wants to help each other and I want to be a part of a team in the future that does that.”

The news of Reffell’s contract renewal follows another boost to Mark McCall’s squad, after centre Harry Sloan joined the Men in Black from Ealing Trailfinders.

Sloan spent two years in the Championship with Saracens’ London rivals after joining from Harlequins in 2018, and has since helped Trailfinders to successive second-place finishes in the second tier.

“It was a brilliant opportunity for me to join Saracens,” the 26-year-old said. “They’ve got a real rich history of success and a great culture and it was a pretty easy decision.

“My ambition is to get back playing Premiership rugby. I was lucky enough to go to Ealing and get some games under my belt which was always a problem with a few injuries in the past.

“I’ve kicked on a bit and I feel like Sarries is the best place for me to develop and hopefully perform to the ability I want to perform to.”