Saracens RFC Men’s Premiership Championship Team 1979 – 1986
Between 1979 and 1986 The Saracens RFC Men’s team were Premier League Champions and holders of the Patrons Challenge Cup for eight consecutive years. With few exceptions, the club’s record number of consecutive wins did not come easily and in some cases actually demanded titanic struggles against exceptionally tenacious and very determined opposition. The first of the eight wins illustrates the degree to which the Saracens were actually tested.
The 1979 final was played against the Wasps RFC at Lipsett Hall, Winnipeg. The Saracens fielded a team consisting of a fair mix of veterans and rookies; six of the players were new to first division rugby that year and seven were very recent graduates of St. John’s High School in Winnipeg’s North End. At the end of regulation time the game was all tied up at seven all. This was only the second year in which Rugby Manitoba had deployed a play-off system and had yet to plan for this contingency. The respective captains in consultation with the referee – a Mr Derek Milton – opted to play two ten minute periods of over-time. In the ensuing extended struggle the Saracens scoring seven unanswered points to take the title for the first of what would prove to be eight titles.
In the years that followed a number of the Saracens’ victories came only after battling through overtime periods or replaying games not settled in overtime. In the 1980 semi-final versus the St. James Club, a last minute try to the Saracens earned a draw and an opportunity to play St. James again. The Saracens won the second match and went on to defeat the Assassins in the final. Most famously in 1984, the Saracens managed to hold old rivals, Wasps, to a draw in over-time in the semi-final, forcing a mid-week rematch which they won. They then went on to defeat the Wanderers RFC in overtime in the final. This incredible three-hundred minutes of hard, highly competitive Rugby was played within a span of only eight days.
Some notable on-field achievements spanning the period from 1979 through 1986 that should be highlighted are:
The Saracens RFC successfully recruited excellent players during these halcyon years but in the light of this year’s fellow nominee Peter Press it seem only fitting to give some emphasis to a specific fact: More than half of the players whom played in one or more of the eight championship victories were graduates of Winnipeg’s St John’s High School, the school where Peter had introduced the game of Rugby.
This Saracens’ team was obviously blessed with some exceptionally gifted athletes and talented Rugby players, a number of whom no doubt will already be, or are soon to be, members of Rugby Manitoba’s Hall of Fame. Possessing this exceptional talent was of course a huge asset to the Saracens and it obviously contributed to the team’s run of successes. However, and as everyone knows, while talent is a necessary ingredient to the mix, it is not sufficient of itself to guarantee team excellence and high achievement.
Other factors clearly played their part here. The team consistently featured a mix of veteran and rookie players, bringing maturity blended with the eagerness of youth. Blessed with the presence of some excellent leadership qualities from veterans and rookies alike, the team also quickly developed a tenacious will to win, the hallmark of all long-term strong and successful teams. Completing this picture was the team’s unique quality of “teamness” that developed and solidified through the eight years, a shared commitment to play for the greater good of the team.
This essential component of the Saracens’ success allowed them to repeatedly present an unflagging and resolute effort that did not cease until the final whistle was blown and the game was truly over.
It is fair and honest to say that with its talented players, excellent on-field leadership, a strong and healthy team culture and a genuine grasp of the essence of competitive team sport, Saracens premier teams of 1979 through 1986 brought distinction and honour to the Manitoba game by virtue of the level of excellence it aspired to, and, in many instances, reached. The club’s achievement was to establish and maintain consistent playing excellence over an extended period of time. This then, was the Saracens RFC team of 1979 – 1986, a team deserving of a place in the Rugby Manitoba Hall of Fame.
Between 1979 and 1986 The Saracens RFC Men’s team were Premier League Champions and holders of the Patrons Challenge Cup for eight consecutive years. With few exceptions, the club’s record number of consecutive wins did not come easily and in some cases actually demanded titanic struggles against exceptionally tenacious and very determined opposition. The first of the eight wins illustrates the degree to which the Saracens were actually tested.
The 1979 final was played against the Wasps RFC at Lipsett Hall, Winnipeg. The Saracens fielded a team consisting of a fair mix of veterans and rookies; six of the players were new to first division rugby that year and seven were very recent graduates of St. John’s High School in Winnipeg’s North End. At the end of regulation time the game was all tied up at seven all. This was only the second year in which Rugby Manitoba had deployed a play-off system and had yet to plan for this contingency. The respective captains in consultation with the referee – a Mr Derek Milton – opted to play two ten minute periods of over-time. In the ensuing extended struggle the Saracens scoring seven unanswered points to take the title for the first of what would prove to be eight titles.
In the years that followed a number of the Saracens’ victories came only after battling through overtime periods or replaying games not settled in overtime. In the 1980 semi-final versus the St. James Club, a last minute try to the Saracens earned a draw and an opportunity to play St. James again. The Saracens won the second match and went on to defeat the Assassins in the final. Most famously in 1984, the Saracens managed to hold old rivals, Wasps, to a draw in over-time in the semi-final, forcing a mid-week rematch which they won. They then went on to defeat the Wanderers RFC in overtime in the final. This incredible three-hundred minutes of hard, highly competitive Rugby was played within a span of only eight days.
Some notable on-field achievements spanning the period from 1979 through 1986 that should be highlighted are:
- The Saracens won five Manipogo and five Snafu tournaments, and were undefeated in all eight WASP 7’s.
- Five Saracens players were selected to attend Canada Western Senior Men’s camps.
- The club toured New Zealand in 1980 returning with an honourable record of; played six, won 2, tied 1, lost 3.
- In the course of winning eight consecutive Premier Championship match games, the Saracens outscored their opponents 185 to 36.
The Saracens RFC successfully recruited excellent players during these halcyon years but in the light of this year’s fellow nominee Peter Press it seem only fitting to give some emphasis to a specific fact: More than half of the players whom played in one or more of the eight championship victories were graduates of Winnipeg’s St John’s High School, the school where Peter had introduced the game of Rugby.
This Saracens’ team was obviously blessed with some exceptionally gifted athletes and talented Rugby players, a number of whom no doubt will already be, or are soon to be, members of Rugby Manitoba’s Hall of Fame. Possessing this exceptional talent was of course a huge asset to the Saracens and it obviously contributed to the team’s run of successes. However, and as everyone knows, while talent is a necessary ingredient to the mix, it is not sufficient of itself to guarantee team excellence and high achievement.
Other factors clearly played their part here. The team consistently featured a mix of veteran and rookie players, bringing maturity blended with the eagerness of youth. Blessed with the presence of some excellent leadership qualities from veterans and rookies alike, the team also quickly developed a tenacious will to win, the hallmark of all long-term strong and successful teams. Completing this picture was the team’s unique quality of “teamness” that developed and solidified through the eight years, a shared commitment to play for the greater good of the team.
This essential component of the Saracens’ success allowed them to repeatedly present an unflagging and resolute effort that did not cease until the final whistle was blown and the game was truly over.
It is fair and honest to say that with its talented players, excellent on-field leadership, a strong and healthy team culture and a genuine grasp of the essence of competitive team sport, Saracens premier teams of 1979 through 1986 brought distinction and honour to the Manitoba game by virtue of the level of excellence it aspired to, and, in many instances, reached. The club’s achievement was to establish and maintain consistent playing excellence over an extended period of time. This then, was the Saracens RFC team of 1979 – 1986, a team deserving of a place in the Rugby Manitoba Hall of Fame.
