Saracens Academy Coach - Forwards Specialist

Organisation: Saracens
Salary: Competitive - Dependent on experience and skillset of candidate
Location: StoneX Stadium & Training Ground
Contract type: Fixed Term (Full time)
Closing date: 5 September 2025
Interview date: 15 September 2025
Job Description: You will know Saracens as one of Europe’s leading rugby clubs. We have the most productive men’s academy programme in the country that currently produces more players for the Gallagher Premiership than any other academy programme.

Saracens Rugby Club is seeking a passionate and knowledgeable Academy Coach with forwards expertise to join our highly successful academy programme. This pivotal role focuses on nurturing and advancing the performance of our Senior Academy Forwards (ages 18–21), while also supporting the development of U17 and 18 Academy Forwards, with a particular focus on the classified England Academy Players.

The professional game is entering a very exciting time. In order to maximise the opportunities this new academy system presents, we have some punchy goals over the next 5 years to meet our academy vision: to build the greatest club side ever, built on the foundations of world class academy, that develops outstanding people.

PLAYERS
Identify, develop, and retain academy players ensuring a first team squad profile comprises of 75% home grown academy graduates by 2029.

STAFF
Invest in high quality coaching and performance staff who are committed to the academy's vision and are equipped to develop players holistically, to allow them to become outstanding individuals who live by the Saracens core values.

ENVIRONMENT
Implement a holistic approach to developing the whole person throughout the pathway. Develop the skills and understanding of players to enable them to add to the club's culture and be the standard bearers of the team by
ensuring a clear focus on the club's core values.

STAKEHOLDERS
Maintain, develop, and strengthen ties with schools, rugby clubs, and community organisations within the region, encouraging participation, support and enabling Saracens to identify potential players for the academy.

The Saracens Group mission is to put people first and enrich lives through sport and entertainment, so alongside our sporting ambition, our aspirations go beyond winning on the pitch. We are a group of businesses with a common goal and global ambitions. Backed up by a powerful economic and governance model; innovating, diversifying revenue streams and long-term thinking, we put people at the core of everything we do, striving to relentlessly live up to our values and operating in a sustainable environment. We will unashamedly be THE market leader and set standards.

We own London’s most beautiful & sustainable ‘boutique’ multi use venue. We will deliver genuine benefit to our local and global community by maximising socio-economic value. Our ambition is to ‘build from within’ and be the best possible place for people to be. We want to develop and care for our people better than anywhere else in the world and allow them to be the best they can be.

DETAILS

• JOB TITLE: Academy Coach – Forwards Specialist
• LOCATION: Player Development centres across Kent, Essex, Herts and North London, Old Albanians RFC Woolham Playing Fields, 160 Harpenden Road, St Albans, AL3 6BB, StoneX Stadium, Greenlands Lane, Hendon, London, NW4 1RL
• CONTRACT TYPE: Full time -3 Year fixed term
• SALARY: Competitive and depending on experience and skillset of candidate
• REPORTING TO: Academy Manager

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead coaching and development for Senior Academy Forwards (18–21), ensuring alignment with Saracens’ playing philosophy and performance standards.
• Coach the Saracens U17 and 18 Academy Forwards, with regular sessions including Monday evening squad training.
• Provide tailored support for U18 England Academy Players within their school environments.
• Conduct outreach visits to partner schools and universities to observe, mentor, and support identified academy players during training and match play.
• Collaborate with the wider Academy team to deliver and monitor Individual Development Plans (IDPs) for targeted players.
• Contribute to the holistic development of players, including technical, tactical, physical, and psychological growth

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Minimum RFU Level 2 Coaching Certificate (Level 3 desirable).
• Proven expertise in forwards coaching, ideally within a performance or academy environment.
• Strong understanding of talent development and long-term athlete progression.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and mentor young athletes.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel for outreach and match support.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive salary
• Opportunity to work within one of the UK’s most successful rugby environments.
• Access to world-class facilities and support staff.
• A collaborative and innovative coaching culture.
• Pathways for professional development and progression.

OUR PROGRESSION PROMISE

Saracens will recognise and accelerate people who:

1. Do great work and support other colleagues.
2. Put people at the heart of all we do and have a relentless focus on, and obsession, with delivering exceptional services.
3. Go above and beyond the expected, creating stretch targets over the simple objective.
4. Focus on their long-term development while achieving their short-term goals.
5. Focus and believe in the process of self-development to achieve personal goals.
6. Have an entrepreneurial spirit, taking controlled risks and learning quickly from past successes/failures.
7. Thrive in and promote a culture of hard work, discipline, honesty and humility to deliver results.
8. Manage projects, activities, and resources effectively, assuming personal ownership and accountability for results
9. Encourage open discussion of different ideas and views; welcomes and solicits feedback.
10. Instils continuous improvement mind-set and champion best practices.
11. Are relentlessly positive; harbouring a can-do attitude.
12. Prioritise inclusivity and celebrate diversity.

BENEFITS

Compensation
• Your manager reviews your salary every 24 months as a matter of course. However, proactive pay increases may be implemented to reflect growing responsibilities.

Health & Wellbeing
• Paid sick leave for both physical and mental health (up to 10 in your first two years).
• Our stadium and meeting rooms are fully accessible for disabled people.

Sports & Entertainment
• Complimentary or discounted tickets to all Home Saracens Team fixtures
• A 30% discount in the Castore shop.
• Partner discounts.
• Frequent socials.
• Ballot tickets for International Rugby Games.
• Opportunities for discounted tickets to Saracens games and events for you and your family.

Family
• Enhanced paid maternity, paternity, adoption or shared parental leave* subject to t&c’s

Commuting
• We’re a member of the cycle-to-work scheme
How to apply: Candidates should make their applications by submitting a up to date CV and a supporting cover letter addressing suitability to the role. Completed applications should be sent to Sangita Asani, People Business Partner at recruitment@saracens.net. Closing date for applications is Friday 5th September 2025. We anticipate interviews will take place from w/c 15th September 2025. Saracens Group positively welcomes and seeks to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment. We encourage applications from all candidates regardless of age, race, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or nationality. Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than the advertised date. This is to ensure our teams can manage application levels while maintaining a positive candidate experience. Once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications, so please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. If you have not been contacted by the dates of the anticipated interview dates, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful.