COUNTDOWN TO SHOWDOWN! Saracens stars on ‘bonkers’ double-header at Spurs Stadium
Sitting in the head coaches’ seats and media room at the impressive Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, two of Saracens stars Zoe Harrison and Marlie Packer tell our own crack team of Phoebe Music and Izzy Gilligan what to expect in the upcoming double-header happening right there at the Showdown.
We also hear from Saracens head coach Alex Austerberry – who is particularly thrilled by the prospect of seeing the ‘Bonkers’ headline act Dizzee Rascal between matches. And one of his star players Jess Breach is equally excited. As is her fellow Red Roses star Amy Cokayne from their Showdown opposition Sale Sharks, plus Sale head coach Tom Hudson. So mark your calendar… for March 28th.
First off, what does Jess Breach (above left) feel about events like this, which could help accelerate the growth of women’s rugby and expose new fans to women’s rugby?
Jess Breach: I think it’s massive. For us to play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and with the men, is huge.
The double header – Quins have been doing it for ages at big games and it’s always worked really well – so I think for us to have that opportunity to play in a football stadium is fantastic.
Hopefully to play in front of a couple more people that we do at StoneX Stadium, will be really cool.
It’s where the game needs to go really. I think we need to branch out into different sports, like football, or like different adventures like fashion and music. I think that’s really important.
Zoe Harrison feels this kind of double-header might also bring in men’s rugby fans.
Zoe Harrison: Maybe some of them don’t come and watch our games as much, but with us being before the men’s match, they might come in, they might see it, and then really want to come to our games.
Also, I don’t think these events just bring in the men’s fans, they bring in all sorts of fans, and people just want to have a day out, then they get to see both sets of games as well.
Saracens and England legend Marlie Packer could not be more excited for the upcoming event.
Marlie Packer: I’m buzzing to play the Showdown, us as Saracens women, we’ve never done a double-header with the men in such a big game like the Showdown, just because our rugby calendars have never matched at the same time.
When the boys are in the Showdown, we’re usually off-season, or we’ve got a rest weekend or something like that.
It’s super cool to be playing a double-header with the men and to be playing here at Tottenham Hotspur stadium with the facilities, the crowd the way it is.
Everyone’s buzzing for that and just can’t wait for it to come around.
Packer is also looking forward to the build-up, and focusing on the big day itself.
Naturally it will feel different, it’s not a regular stadium you’re going to be coming to, even though it’s just down the road.
I think the way we’ll probably prepare for that week is that actually, let’s not change anything we do. Let’s just make sure that we know what the occasion is going to be like.
For a lot of the girls they wouldn’t have played in front of this many fans, and for all of us we’ll never have played here.
So actually, enjoy those moments, capture them. But then when that starting whistle goes, we’re in it, we’ve got an 80-minute performance we need to put in.
Sale Sharks are a good team this season, they did ask questions of us in the game just before Christmas, but we need to make sure that we actually put a good performance in and play well.
Alex Austerberry, Saracens Head Coach agrees that this kind of event can help grow the game.
Alex Austerberry: I think it’s one of a multitude of ways that we’re trying to grow the game. You know, as a club, as a league, there’s lots of events, whether it be here at StoneX, which is still a very very special and unique stadium.
It’s a great atmosphere for the fans that come here, but also going to an iconic stadium, one of the best stadiums in sport. I very rarely get blown away by a stadium, but having gone there and just being around it, you know, it’s spectacular.
So, you’re going to attract people who might be the first time they’re going there, and that’s a factor, but also just the occasion.
The chance to see world leading players, across four teams, the opportunity to see Dizzee Rascal live… Crikey! If that doesn’t get you thinking that rugby is for you, then who knows?
It’s an environment that’s special, an occasion that’s truly unique, and an experience like no other.
And Austerberry hopes many will catch the rugby bug on March 28th:
Hopefully there’s something there that captures the imagination of anyone, whether it be the oldest, most ardent rugby fans to the newest person walking through the door. I think that’s what occasions like that do. It caters for so many people’s different kind of needs, wants, expectations and creates something that’s special.
And if you get the rugby bug at that event, then it’s more likely that you go to others, and that’s how we got to build the game. Also I think the time slot of the kick-off is very good, it allows families to get there, so we can build all the audiences. Then ultimately, as well, we might catch some fans who may not have seen a women’s game before, but are there for the day out, and think: ‘Oh, actually, this is something for me, this is this is high-quality rugby, and I want to get behind that’.
Hopefully we can then funnel that back into our home at StoneX as well, which as I say, is a pretty special place to be. The game against Quins and the final here last year showed that this place can really bounce.
So, it’s part of a collective drive from the club to make sure that we put all rugby on the best possible platform and that everyone gets an opportunity to access it. And that’s what’s exciting.
For Saracens’ opponents on the day, Sale Sharks (above), this is also a big opportunity. Head Coach Tom Hudson is stoked at the prospect.
Tom Hudson: It’s a different experience, different set of fans, different stadium. It’s something we’re not used to.
It won’t just be about the occasion; it’ll be about taking something from Saracens too. We’re super excited that Saracens and the league have managed to put it on and we’ll make sure we don’t disappoint.
Sale Sharks and Red Roses star Amy Cokayne is equally fired up.
Amy Cockayne: I think it’s great, the more occasions that the women’s game can have the better… and just get more eyes on it.
My brother’s friend is a Spurs fan so he’s going to come so he can go to the stadium! If there are fans that haven’t watched women’s rugby, or rugby at all before, hopefully it can help grow the game.
Come on down on March 28th – and here’s all the details:
Gates open: 13:30
Saracens Women v Sale Sharks Kick-Off time: 14:30
Dizzee Rascal performs live: 17:20
Saracens Men vs Northampton Saints Kick-Off time: 18:00
