1. SARACENS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: With Jacko taking all the plaudits from those ‘apparently in the know’ it would be obvious to think it’s a stroll in the park for Jackson on this award… not so!  It is inf act his plucky sidekick that takes the podium.  Like Batman with Robin, Morecombe and Wise, Strawberries and cream and er… Barnes and Morris.  One without the other just doesn’t work…Described as the “Man that makes Jackson look good” and “Single handily turning around the season”  Neil de Kock was the run away leader in this years voting,  taking 62% of the vote in a category where only 3 names were mentioned.

Winner                   Neil de Kock

2^nd                           Glen Jackson

3^rd                           Kris Chesney                                 

 2. SARACENS YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR: If de Kock won at a canter, the winner of this award won with in a ticker tape procession.  Taking nearly 70% of the total vote there was only one winner here with 11 tries in 24 games. It’s our flying Fijian…With an ageing squad and game time at a premium for those aged under 23 the only surprise was Kameli didn’t poll more votes.   The boy from Fiji has upped sticks, moved to a new country, taken up pro rugby and established himself as arguably one of the best wingers in the league in less than 6 Months.  Who needs Cau Cau when you have the star of the next World cup?

Winner                  Kameli Ratuvou

2^nd                           Adam Powell

3^rd                           Tom Mercy & David Seymour 

3. SARACENS OLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Chesney recently commented that he’d never won anything at Saracens… well the wait is over big man! You’re the inaugural winner of Saracens.com old player of the year, in a tight vote he held off the bullocking rampages of England’s International Kevin Yates and the Bionic Captain Simon Raiwalui.  Described as having a ‘shirt number higher than his IQ’ by one brave voter, the winger come lock come blindside has had a wonderful season and well deserving of his award.Looking at such a great line up of players the question we’re going to have to ask ourselves is how do we replace them if they ever hang up their boots or retire to Bristol?!

Winner                  Kris Chesney

2^nd                          Kevin Yates & Simon Raiwalui

3^rd                           Cobus Visagie, Richard Hill & Shane Byrne  

4. GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP (non Sarries) PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Leicester’s man mountain Tuligali takes this one ahead of Leicester team mate, beard wearer of the year, and impossible for anyone under a size 54inch chest to have his name printed on the back of a shirt - Castrogiovanni. It does go to show that that while Leicester win all the negative rubbish prizes in these annual awards we can still appreciate their players…Tuigali has been outstanding all season, It’s unclear how many extra votes he received for running all over Ryan Lamb and Anthony Allen in the GP final and therefore making Stuart Barnes look like a total prat for his pre match comments. 

Winner                                 Alasana Tuigali

2^nd                          Martin Castrogiovanni3

^rd                           Dan Ward Smith & Marco Bortolami  

5. INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: No surprises here, yet again Dan Carter takes the award although this year he has to be content had to share it with the new saviour of Welsh Rugby James Hook.  Several of you have decided to suck up to Chris Jack before he arrives by voting him to second place narrowly pipping Marco Bortolami by one vote

Winners                                James Hook & Dan Carter

2^nd                          Chris Jack

3^rd                           Marco Bortolami 

6. FAVOURITE SARACENS PLAYER: Now it’s fairly obvious that peoples favourite Saracen is the player you can most relate to, for example; I myself like Seymour suggesting I’m young, athletic and have a lot of hair.  The rest of the readers of Saracens.com we can there for deduce are mostly large old bald men…

Winners                                Cobus Visage & Kris Chesney

2^nd                          Kameli Ratuvou

3^rd                           Kevin Sorrell, Dan Scarborough, Ben Skirving & David Seymour         

7. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN OPPOSITION PLAYER AGAINST SARACENS: This was surprising close, two locks dominated the voting here while a third just finished outside of a podium finish, which suggests that the signing of Chris Jack was exactly what the squad needed.No surprise that the standout performance goes to former Saracen Danny Grewcock for Bath in the Challenge Cup Semi Final where big Danny dominated around the fringes, and he and Borthwick (4^th place) ruled the lineout.  It was another lineout specialist that left such a memory on the sarries supporter that his two league performances were voted in 2^nd and 3^rd place, in total he actually polled more votes that Grewcock but unfortunately on two different days… still not good enough for England though.

Winner                  Danny Grewcock  Vs Bath (CC Semi Final) 2^nd                          Craig Gilles Vs Worc (Away)3

^rd                           Craig Gilles Vs Worc (home) 

8. THE "ALBANESE" - WORST PERFORMANCE BY AN OPPOSITION PLAYER AGAINST SARACENS: A lot of you were too Corinthian in spirit to suggest names for this award… however those that did, good on you!  Plenty of different names were offered up like sacrificial lambs but there can only be one winner!  Step Forward Tani Fuga a man who single handily gave 90% of his own lineout to Saracens, described as a rugby league Hooker, even one of the Northern boys would have made a better fist of it.  The game in question will haunt him for ever - His throwing into the lineout was so bad the quins props weren’t bothering to lift on their own throw, but getting ready to pack down for the resulting scrum… still at least he doesn’t play darts

Winner                  Tani Fuga – Vs Quins (home)

2^nd                           Paul Volley Vs Quins (home)

3^rd                           Lee Mears, Ian Balshaw, Shane Gehartey, Mark Cueto, Carlos Spencer, Paul Tupai

 9. THE MARTIN JOHNSON MEMORIAL LEAST FAVOURITE OPPOSITION PLAYER AWARD:  Unsurprisingly a Leicester player wins this year! It was one moment in particular. A piece of gamesmanship so pure Martin Johnson probably shed a tear…  The ball placed on the ground and Saracens retreating for a penalty.  Ellis walks upto the ball and kicks it forward, appeals to the ref who has his back turned that Saracens had taken the ball and not given it back, the referee buys it and marches Sarries back a further 10 metres. Genius.  I’m not a believer in Karma, but get well soon Harry.Referees and Sarries supporters will be pleased to see the back of Dallaglio when he finally hangs up his boots, although a career as a referees assessor looks on the cards as he always seems to know the laws better than they do anyway…Rumours of Delon appearing as a pantomime villain in Reading are as yet unconfirmed, although he has been offered the place of the genie such was the way he disappeared in front of 12,000 people when Ratuvou ran at him this season.

Winner                  Harry Ellis

2^nd                          Lawrence Dallaglio

3^rd                           Delon Armitage  

10. PLAYER YOU'D MOST LIKE TO JOIN SARRIES FOR NEXT SEASON You’re a shrewd bunch aren’t you?!  No wish lists of general superstar players, but looking at filling vacant positions, it was no surprise to see fullbacks and locks dominate the voting.   Although the 3 voters who voted for Jack… I guess you’ve probably already renewed your season tickets?!

Winner                  Juan Martin Hernandez

2^nd                          Josh Lewsey & Mike Brown

3^rd                           Chris Jack & Bakkies Botha    

There will be more results coming soon.

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